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October 9, 2013

What to Prune Now and What to Save for Later

We’re in the home stretch. That is, we have about a month left to get all of our outdoor fall garden activities finished up before it’s too cold to be able to do much of anything in the garden. Your flowering perennials are finishing up so now what? I’ve created a quick, go-to guide for a number of popular perennials to give you some pointers on what you should do with them now that their flowers have withered in preparation for winter. Remember to always use clean (sanitized), sharp shears.

Perennial

What to do with it

Why?

Achillea (Yarrow) Cut back early fall New growth will start before heavy frost getting a head start for next season
Aquilegia (Columbine) Remove damaged leaves (leaf miner) and debris from plant base Plants can harbour miner nymphs over winter and debris can collect fungus
Ascelpias (Butterfly Weed) Cut back in spring Foliage provides winter protection
Aster Cut back in late fall/early winter after flowers have died To maintain vigour and flower quality (you can also divide them every few years in the spring)
Brunnera Remove dying foliage in winter Foliage rots in winter leaving a messy spring clean up
Buddleia (Butterfly Bush) Cut back to ground every spring Blooms on new wood – cutting back to ground provides only new wood leaving you with many flowers
Coreopsis (Tickseed) Deadhead throughout blooming season to encourage new blooms;prune back dying plant to encourage new growth Seeds heads provide birds with winter food
Delphinium Cut stalks to the ground when finished blooming  You may get a second bloom before winter hits; if you do, cut that back before winter
Dicentra (Bleeding Hearts) Nothing required Plant will die back completely mid-summer/early fall
Digitalis (Foxglove) Remove central flower stalk after it has finished blooming; remove dead leaves and spikes in the spring Encourages side shoots and more flowers
Echinacea (Coneflower) Cut down in spring Stems provide winter interest
Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed) Cut back after frost has killed foliage or in spring before plant starts to grow You don’t want to cut this plant while it isn’t dormant
Gaillardia x Grandiflora (Blanket Flower) Cut back spent stems Improves general hardiness
Hemerocallis (Daylily) Cut back in fall Winter will leave you with a messy mush to clean up in the spring
Heuchera (Coral Bells) Cut back in spring Foliage provides winter protection
Hosta Cut back flower stems once flowers have finished (collect seeds if you desire); cut back leaves before heavy frost Removing flower stalks will force energy into root and leaf growth; frost and cold damages leaves leaving them mushy in spring and can harbour diseases
Bearded Iris Cut back after heavy frost Foliage provides protection for fungal diseases
Lavendar Fall – well before danger of frostSpring – after flowers have been spent You do not want to expose the old growth to frost or freezing temperatures
(Leucanthemum) Shasta Daisy Cut stems back to ground after flowers are finished Harbour slugs, earwigs, aphids, and leaf spot diseases
Ligularia Cut back before frost Frost leaves foliage a mushy mess
Lupin Cut back damaged foliage in spring Encourage new growth, and protects plant through winter
Malva alcea (Hollyhock) Cut back in fall Tall stems will break in winter and foliage will become mushy in spring
Monarda (Beebalm) Cut back in fall unless mildew has taken over then cut earlier Foliage harbours mildews
Paeonia (Peony) Remove golden coloured foliage after first heavy frost Foliage harbours mildew and plant needs cold to set buds
Phlox paniculata (Phlox) Cut back heavily and destroy foliage in fall Extremely prone to mildew problems – destroy foliage to prevent more next year
Polygonatum (Solomon’s Seal) Leave alone or prune back tall stems Foliage falls after frost, stems can provide winter interest if you leave them
Primrose Prune top foliage in late fall or early spring; remove dead foliage in spring Tops will die back here as they are not likely to overwinter very well
Rudebeckia (Black-Eyed Susan) Cut down in spring Stems provide winter interest
Sedum Can be pruned in early spring before new foliage begins to grow Tall varieties provide winter interest
Sempervivum (Hens and Chicks) No need to prune but remove hens or chicks as area becomes crowded Overcrowding creates increased competition for water and nutrients
Veronica (Speedwell) Prune to the ground in fall Plant will rot throughout winter leaving a messy spring clean up

 

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Mark Cullen is an expert gardener, author & broadcaster and holds the Order of Canada. His son Ben is a fourth-generation urban gardener and graduate of Guelph and Dalhousie University.
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