Autumn is a busy season in the pruning calendar, the perfect time to remove old growth and to get plants into shape. Many plants that have played a big role in creating a gorgeous summer garden will need pruning in order to return next year.

Fruit bushes will benefit from thinning out, while perennials should be cut back to the ground. Tender plants such as lavender and rosemary will also benefit from being pruned, as they won't withstand a winter prune, which is just around the corner.

Gardening expert Monty Don wrote in an October blog post: "Prune climbing roses. Climbing roses flower on shoots grown in the same spring, so they can be pruned hard now.

"Start by removing any damaged or crossing growth or any very old wood which can be pruned right back to the ground.

"The main stems should be fanned out at an equidistance as horizontally as possible, tying them to wires or a trellis.

"Then all the side shoots growing from these main stems, which produced this year's flowers, can be reduced to a short stub or a couple of leaves."

Finally, gardeners should make sure it is all tied firmly in to avoid winter damage. Pruning climbing roses now will enable them to provide "maximum" flowers.

Buddleja davidii is normally pruned hard in the spring, but gardeners can cut it back by half now, according to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

This will help neaten the appearance of the shrub as well as prevent wind rock.

Shrubs, including Cornus alba and Lavatera, can also be pruned half now, and again in spring.

The experts at Crocus said: "Boston ivy and Virginia creeper will need new shoots tying into their supports for the first couple of growing seasons after planting.

"Once established, prune anytime from now until Christmas to keep the plant within bounds, paying particular attention to stems that are encroaching on windows, guttering or roofs.

"Old and neglected plants respond well to severe pruning and can be cut back to plump buds about 1m from the ground at this time of year."

If summer passed by without a trim to your lavender, hold off until spring if you have tender varieties such as French, Spanish and Italian.

English lavender can be pruned in October by deadheading spent flowers and trimming back green, new growth to encourage a compact shape and prevent woody stems.

But, avoid cutting into old, bare wood as lavender does not regenerate from old wood. All varieties need to be pruned regularly to help them thrive, and it's almost impossible to rejuvenate a neglected plant once it has been left too long.

Rosemary, which is great for cooking, should be cut back after flowering but before winter sets in.

Clip the plant back using clean secateurs to tidy, deadhead and reshape the plant all in one go. Like lavender, never cut back into old wood, as this can kill the plant.

Prune fruit trees now to help improve their shape and yield. When pruning them, make sure to remove all dead and diseased wood.

You can also thin out the branches to help improve circulation and sun penetration, which will help them to grow well.

Currant and gooseberry trees will benefit from being thinned out. Summer-fruiting raspberries can also be pruned after they have fruited, by cutting the canes to the ground.

October is the last chance to trim deciduous hedges to keep them looking tidy over the winter, according to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

They said: "Once a hedge has reached a height and width you are happy with, maintain it with regular trimming to remove nearly all young growth.

"This is usually carried out once a year on informal hedges, and once, twice or three times a year on formal ones." While you may need to delay pruning to avoid disturbing nesting birds, October is a great time to prune hornbeam, hawthorn and beech hedges.

Ornamental trees such as acers and sorbus provide beautiful autumn colour as other plants begin to fade. As soon as the leaves have fallen, make sure to prune these trees while they are dormant, usually between October and November.