The recent mild damp and windy weather has bought autumn to our gardens. The leaves are coming off the trees and plants are being bashed about by the wind.
If you have tall plants or climbers, they will be having a particularly hard time in this weather. The wind is catching those long limbs and twisting branches in ways they are not designed. All this puts a huge strain on the base and roots of the plant. The roots are trying to keep the plant stable in soggy ground that doesn’t give them much to cling to.
You can help your plants by trimming them now. For most climbing species, the books advise pruning and shaping in the winter, usually January, but a trim now will help the plant survive the winter storms better.
Last week we cut back this rose for a client. By taking the top couple of feet or ½ metre we removed all the long whippy branches that were making the plant wave dramatically in the wind. It will still need pruning in January when we will remove about a quarter of the uprights to open up the plant, encourage strong new growth and allow air to circulate. 
If you want to keep the height in your tree but are worried about wind damage, protect it by erecting a windbreak or by staking the plant. At minimum check your tree and stamp the soil down round the base of the trunk to help the roots gain purchase and keep it steady.
If you are not sure how to protect your plant from the wind, give Chopwell a call. Our friendly professional team can advise on all aspects of plant management and can help you clear all the leaves that may be over your lawns and paved areas.
Chopwell encouraging beautiful trees in Warwickshire
