After a long summer, your plants are probably looking pretty ragged. This is the best time to remove spent annuals, and if you live in a warmer climate, plan winter annuals like ornamental kale and pansies. As you work to clean up your beds, leaves from healthy plants can be composted. If you have plants with diseased foliage, throw those away to prevent pathogens from being spread by your compost pile.
This is also a good time of year to give perennials extra attention. Some perennials can be cut back to the ground, including lilies and hostas, but do not trim back semi- or evergreen plants, like heuchera, because they offer winter interest in your landscape, according to Proven Winners. Plants with woody stems, including sage and butterfly bush, should also be left until spring pruning. In fact, fall is not the time for pruning larger woody plants like trees or bushes, either. Pruning before winter can weaken the plant and encourage disease. Only remove damaged or dead branches, if necessary.
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