Gardeners are advised not to prune ivy in their gardens in September or October.

It’s one of those tasks that every gardener needs to do before winter sets in, but not everything in your garden needs to be pruned or cut back just yet.

Gardening experts are urging gardeners not to prune or cut back ivy plants growing in their gardens just yet, because of the benefits they can bring to your garden’s vital wildlife.

Although the hedge trimming ban was lifted at the end of August, gardeners are still being urged to consider leaving ivy alone for a little longer.

In fact, there are many garden maintenance tasks that green-fingered people could put off a little longer in order to protect nature.

According to the Woodland Trust, ivy is “one of the garden’s last sources of nectar” for late-flying insects, and birds “feast on its fruits during the winter”.

As a result, the association is asking gardeners not to prune trees “until the last fruits have fallen.”

The Trust said: “Do you really need to tidy up the last flowers, flower heads, fallen fruit, berries or dead shoots?

“Wildlife may still rely on them for food or shelter, so leaving some behind could be a lifesaver during the colder months. Ivy is one of the garden’s last sources of nectar for late-flying insects and birds feast on its fruit during the winter too, so wait until the last of the fruit has finished if you can to prune it.

“Consider putting out extra bird food or setting up a cozy house in a quiet corner.”

Of course, there are no rules, laws or fines governing this; gardeners are simply asked to do it to help nature.