Really the title should simply read WHEN to cut back the too tall late summer bloomers to prevent flopping. Most gardeners already know how to cut stuff, but this is part of our How To series. The rest of these instructional posts can be seen on the side bar, Categories, How To. (Shown above: Vernonia gigantea, backed by Japanese blood grass, September, 2010)
A list was started several years ago of those plants that appreciate having their stalks cut by no more than half around mid-May here to induce branching and to prevent needing to be staked later on. If we wait too long to cut them, that branching results in flowering so late that many are threatened by frost before being allowed to fully open. If the chore is done too soon, the plants will still be too tall come bloom season and will fall over with the weight of the flowers. (Shown above: Sedum ‘Matrona’, September, 2010)
Number one on the list, and if we only get around to cutting one genus, it must be the Vernonia gigantea syn V. altissima that came with the property. As you might guess from the name, this is a reach for the stars plant, growing to twelve feet in height when mature and happy. Even with the cutting it will be well over six feet, but with more branching. There are other, shorter Vernonias, like V. lettermanii ‘Iron Butterfly’ that should need no such treatment. Or at least that is the assumption since this is its first full growing season here. If need be, it will be added to the cut list. (Shown above: Vernonia gigantea in bud, August, 2009)
Next up is the passalong species Phlox paniculata. This hard working late summer into fall bloomer helps give color to the garden and offers nectar for hummingbirds and pollinators at a time when there are few blooms about. Some of these will be allowed to bloom with the daylilies, to help unify the disparate hues of the daylily hill, and will be deadheaded after bloom with hopes of more flowers that can beat the late October frosts. But most will get a whack by half to present color later on. (Shown above: Phlox paniculata in front of Rudbeckia lanciniata, August 2009)
Asters and Goldenrods, the tall ones that came with the property and the New England Asters, shown above, that were ordered as plugs from Seed Savers years ago, will stand up straighter and offer bushier and therefore more floriferous delights for the pollinators in fall if shortened now. The general rule for what to cut is anything getting tall right now that blooms after the fourth of July. Some seedlings, as many of these are, will not need cutting this year. Look for strong, stout stems on eligible cuttees. (Shown above: Aster novae-angliae, June 2010. I do not recognize some of the name changes made by taxonomists who show contempt for the human race with the names they choose to replace perfectly sensible ones.)
Mums are next on the list. We do not cut the Sheffield Pink variety, known here as the Sheffies. They are sprawlers anyway, but the tall button yellow unidentified mum and those growing on the daylily hill will be shorn. Those growing with the daylilies need to be kept shorter anyway to allow for the shorter Hemerocallis plants to be better seen at their peak. White Daisy, Soft Yellow, Ryan’s Pink and Pink Grandchild will get this treatment.
Last year the Japanese Anemones were cut all the way to the ground in a fit of control freakism since they were blocking the pathway. That resulted in no blooms. This year they may not be cut at all. To cut or not to cut is still a work in progress on this one. Perhaps the best compromise is to cut them quite short where they are growing along the path edges and between the step stones.
Other plants that might get a trim are the tall Sedums, Gaura and Verbena bonariensis, shown above. I have not found deadheading to be of much value in prolonging bloom of Echinaceas or Monarda here, so will leave those to form seedheads for the birds and winter interest.
You may have different plants that need a haircut at a different time than those mentioned here. Results will vary according to climate, so you can make adjustments as needed as to the timing. But cutting the talls whenever is right for you will be a garden chore that will have big payoffs in the months to come. Knowing which ones to cut is the key, as is when to cut. Good luck out there! Snip, snip.
For other How To posts written by Fairegarden, look for How To on the sidebar page listing or click here.
Frances
Dear Frances, Thank you for the reminder to cut the Iron weed~It’s already trying to touch the sky. Bonnie Verbena has already begun blooming and it’s nearly 5 foot tall! Ir’s such a treat seeing these late summer bloomers. The first photo is my favorite. I love purple and red together. xxoogail
A good lesson learned…not to cut back anemones. Just dig them up and move them. 🙂
Snap. I was just reading about cutting perennials as it will be time soon to give them the ‘Chelsea’ chop, cutting back around the time of the Chelsea flower show. I think Chelsea chop sounds a bit pretentious but all the same, we know what it means. Apparently if you grow plants in groups of three, five and so on, cut the front one or two etc. which will bring them into bloom 4 to 6 weeks later extending the flowering season and the grouping will look balanced. Anyway, that’s my two penny worth or two cents worth if you like.
Those white/pink mums look wonderful by the way, oh, and dead heading echinacea doesn’t seem to do much to increase blooming for me either.
I’ve read of a variation of the Chelsea Chop Rob mentioned, and that’s to cut back the outer shoots of a clump and leave the center to grow tall. Every time I’ve tried it though, I’ve been too timid in the number of outer branches trimmed and then the middle flopped over anyway.
But I needed this reminder to actually get out and do it 😉
I follow Tracy deSabato-Aust’s advice and stagger the height of the cutting, leaving the back tallest, the middle next tallest, and the sides and front shortest. I also cut some more than once, such as those super-tall ex-asters. Sometimes, the deer even do the cutting for me.
I agree with Lisa. If you really hate someone, give them a Japanese Anemone. ;^)
I think your explanation of how you trim some and leave others of the same plant and how this staggers bloom is very good. It is sometimes hard to know what to cut and when, but you learn over time. Some things I just let sprawl, but those new planting of certain asters and such, I don’t know what I’ll do yet. 🙂 ~~Dee
This is such a good reminder Frances. I’m growing Phlox paniculata for the first time this year and hadn’t realized I should trim them. Usually I let a plant go for a year before I figure out what’s best for it. I recently added some more phlox, which were pretty short, probably because they’d been in little pots too long. Maybe I’ll leave those. Wish I had a great place for Vernonia – I love yours!
Good post on cutting and trimming.
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I’ve been trimming a little off the sides of my Russian Sage to create more of a mound shape later. I’ve been at my mums and sedums twice already, but may have to go another round with them before July 4th.
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Newcomers to my garden– I just planted solidago ‘Fireworks’ and the foliage is so lovely and it IS the first year in my garden…should I trim? I just planted the taller form of Joe Pye as well and wondering the same thing. My shorter, ‘Little Joe’ is barely above ground right now. I’ve already put supports around my crocosmia, oriental lilies…and the coreopsis ‘Redshift’…because of all the rain! The coreopsis is getting too tall, too quickly this year.
Thanks for the reminder, Frances. In my area, June is usually the month for cutting back plants like these. I cut my asters back for the first time last year and was so pleased with how they turned out–my friend Beckie complained about hers flopping over in the fall, but mine didn’t after being trimmed. I actually pulled out some asters today because they were hiding the PPPP. Judging by all the tall seedlings of those and the Obedient Plant, I won’t miss a few:)
I usually cut back fall bloomers around Memorial Day. This year, with all the rain, they are ready to be cut back now.
I have mums blooming now but they should be clipped until, I believe, July for Fall beauties. I will clip after blooming to see how it comes out.
Great post, very helpful. We must keep our ladies prim & looking their best.
I have a pink mum but I don’t think it’s the Sheffield Pink variety. I sure would like one, I can’t find it around here. Mine is vase shaped.
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I’m in Oklahoma and my New England Asters JUST started blooming. That makes late October here. I expected them to bloom in the Fall but they just kept growing. I love them, but when I try to look up punning times I always read a time not good in Oklahoma. In my case should they be pruned back in Dec or Feb ( which is when I prune my roses)
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So Frances…I was about to ask if you have any luck digging the J.Anemones to pot up and then I reread your answer to one of your followers stating you have given some away.That answers my question about digging them successfully but is there a time that’s best to do this? I do want to get them out of my paths and have friends who want them but….and I know this will be amusing to those of you for whom they are ‘thuggy’….I’ve not had great success at getting them to live once I get them out.
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