As winter approaches, you’ll need to cut back some of the perennials in your garden. Removing any drying foliage will help these plants stay intact during the season so that they can rebloom down the line. However, not all of your perennials need pruning at the same time. This guide to which perennials to cut back in the fall will help you understand which plants to prune when the time arrives.
ACHILLEA (YARROW)
This perennial offers a unique texture that draws the eye of anyone admiring your garden. However, to prevent disease, make sure to prune your achillea plants back to the basal leaves in the fall.
NEPETA (CATMINT)
You can cut back your nepetas in one of two ways: by cutting back the plant by half or cutting it down to a few inches above the ground. Either works, but the former will allow the plants to return sooner.
PEONY
Peonies are lush additions to any garden, but over time, they can accumulate some powdery mildew. Suffice it to say, mildew isn’t very pretty. To prevent that from happening, cut back peonies to the ground when the plant begins to darken to a shade of yellow, gold, or brown.
PHLOX
This plant provides your garden with some truly unique petal designs, but just like peonies, your phlox plants can be prone to powdery mildew. To avoid this disease, cut them down to a couple of inches above the ground in the fall.
SALVIA
This plant is a great choice for gardeners who want a vibrant way of attracting wildlife such as hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. To keep your woody salvia healthy enough to rebloom the following year, cut it back to about a few inches above the ground, just like the nepeta.
Knowing which perennials to cut back in the fall will help you effectively maintain their life cycles for years. If you don’t take the steps to properly prune these plants, they’ll not only become eyesores, but also begin housing nasty diseases that you don’t want anywhere near your garden. At the Gentlemen’s Backyard, we can help you design your garden with a wide variety of plant life, such as succulents and highbush blueberry plants. Whichever type of plant you add to your garden, make sure you know the pruning protocols prior to the purchase.