I am talking about outdoor potted plants I have other problems what to with very leggy looking very untidy lavender plant's what should l do should l prune them or leave as they are?
It depends on the plants and if they are actively growing. Some only need a little to help keep them ticking over through winter, others need relatively dry conditions, if they get too cold and wet it can kill them. You need to say what they are.
Lavender I think I would leave until the spring to trim, it may be too late now, new growth might get frost damaged. Also do you know not to cut into old wood they don't like it. This is a plant that does not like to be too wet in winter either.
I feed and water anything in pots that will be producing flowers over the winter - mostly bulbs, daffs, crocus, cyclamen and the like - tulip bulbs will probably not need feeding just yet - mine are still dormant, however in a month or so they will begin to make roots so will probably need a feed.
As the rain sets in for the winter some pots just have a feed/water once a week or fortnight - it really depends whether they are in a dry facing area or facing the direction of the rain. If you aren't sure, just scrape away the top inch or so of the pot, stick your finger in to see if the compost/growing medium is dry or damp. The pots don't want to be drenched but a good couple of hours of heavy rain usually is enough to keep them healthy for a week or so.
If the plants in the pots are finished for this year, then I don't normally water them often - it depends where they are going to be kept. Some of my pots that have finished but will come back into growth again next year will be kept in our unheated greenhouse, and will need to be watered if the weather is sunny as this will dry them out - again I do the finger compost test - don't let it dry out completely.
parvinkaurp
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Lavender I think I would leave until the spring to trim, it may be too late now, new growth might get frost damaged.
Also do you know not to cut into old wood they don't like it.
This is a plant that does not like to be too wet in winter either.