November 7, 2023, 4:44 pm | Read time: 4 minutes

In the last month of fall, it’s important to adequately prepare the garden and plants for winter. Winter protection is a priority, such as wrapping pots with fleece and covering plants. However, a maintenance pruning before winter can also be appropriate. Sandra von Rekowski from the Federal Association of German Gardeners notes: “In November, not much pruning is generally done because temperatures can drop significantly, and frost could harm the plants at their wounds.” Nevertheless, some shrubs can still be pruned in November.

Which Shrubs Can Still Be Pruned in November

In November, there’s a risk that the first frost could affect the shrubs after pruning. But there are exceptions. “If there are overaged or diseased branches in the shrub, they can be removed in the fall. With the leaves gone, it’s much easier to see where pruning is needed,” von Rekowski explains to myHOMEBOOK. Additionally, the following shrubs can still be pruned in November if necessary.

Maple

Maple trees have a strong sap flow, which causes them to bleed at the cut sites. In spring, the maple is full of sap—so it should not be pruned then. Instead, late fall is more suitable, as the sap flow decreases somewhat. It’s important to ensure the weather cooperates: It must be dry, with no direct sun and no frost. As long as these conditions are met, the maple can be pruned—but the work must be completed by mid-January at the latest, as the sap flow will increase again.

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Before reaching for the pruning shears, one should first get a clear picture of the maple tree. The plant is sensitive and only tolerates unnecessary cuts to a limited extent. Diseased shoots should be cut back to healthy wood, and old branches should be left standing. Additionally, long shoots should only be cut back in the one-year-old wood.

Also interesting: The Best Pruning Shears for Trees and Shrubs Compared

Whether a maple should be pruned at all depends on the variety. Some are less tolerant of pruning and should only be pruned when absolutely necessary.

Pruning-Tolerant Varieties:

• Japanese Maple

Pruning-Intolerant Varieties:

• Red Maple
• Japanese Maple
• Norway Maple

Elderberry

Elderberry should also be pruned before winter—the first pruning measures can be taken after the harvest. Pruning in November increases the yield for the coming year and slightly curbs growth. Elderberry can reach a height of up to seven meters and a similar width over time. However, it is often bare at the bottom, making it less attractive and less productive.

With elderberry, older, harvested branches should be cut off, leaving the one-year-old ones. The old branches can be identified by their cracked bark, while the younger ones have smooth bark. If the elderberry is an ornamental variety, it doesn’t require regular pruning—only when the shrub becomes overaged and loses its shape.

Fall Raspberries

As the name suggests, fall raspberries bear fruit until fall. The last harvest is in November, depending on the weather—and then the first pruning can be done. There’s time to prune fall raspberries until January. The fruit shrub should be cut about a hand’s width above the ground for a bountiful harvest next year, as the berries fruit on one-year-old wood.

Unlike raspberry varieties that bear fruit in summer, fall raspberries can be pruned quite generously. They bloom and bear fruit on newly grown shoots. Summer raspberries, on the other hand, bear fruit on two-year-old shoots.

Roses

Roses in the garden can also be pruned in November. There’s only one condition: The pruning should be done before the first frost. By cutting back, diseased and dead plant parts can be easily removed. Additionally, the shrub is shortened to about 30 to 50 centimeters. It’s important to angle the garden shears slightly. The cut should be made about five millimeters above a bud. In botany, plant buds are referred to as the eyes of a plant.