Four plants to prune in October to get much better growth in spring

October is the start of frosty mornings, cosy nights and gorgeous red and gold leaves. It's also a great time to check your garden and make sure everything is ready for the next spring.

Pruning now means that your garden will be all set for fresh growth in the new year. However it can be tricky to know where to start and which plants can benefit the most. Richard Barker, horticultural expert and commercial director at LBS Horticulture, told Country Living about the best plants to prune now.

Peonies

His first suggestion is peonies, which are gorgeous additions to any garden. These big beautiful blooms only flower between late spring and early summer. They should be pruned after the first hard frost to allow the plant to transfer energy to its roots and continue to grow well throughout the year.

Hostas

Hostas are another plant that love a good prune. However, make sure you get the timing right. According to Richard, gardeners must wait until after the first frost when the leaves have turned brown and begun to die back. He told Country Living: "After removing foliage, dispose of it properly so that pests cannot overwinter in it, as hosta leaves can harbour slug eggs."

Roses

Roses are another popular plant in UK gardens that can benefit from a good prune in the colder months. Make sure you remove any dead flowers, diseased sections or browning foliage to give your roses the best chance they can get in the spring.

Bee balm

Richard's final recommendation for pruning is bee balm. October is a good time for this as the top section of the shrub should have mostly died back naturally. Pruning it down will leave it less prone to mildew and with a better chance of bouncing back in spring.

By getting out into the garden now, you can check all your plants and make sure they are prepared for the winter and in good form to flourish when the sun comes back again next year.