To Cut Or Not To Cut? FALL Perennial Edition
A good rule of thumb: Any spring or summer blooming perennial can be cut back in the fall without too much risk of not surviving winter. Best time to cut back perennials in the fall is after the first few frosts have set in.
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LEAVE STANDING
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CUT BACK
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Ornamental Grasses
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Daylily
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Sedum
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Hosta
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Joe Pye Weed
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Peony
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Coral Bell
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Bee Balm (Monarda)
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Hardy Geranium
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Salvia
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Lenten Rose
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Yarrow
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Dianthus
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Shasta Daisy
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Creeping Phlox
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Tall Phlox
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Garden Mum
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Catmint
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Groundcovers
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Iris
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Hen & Chicks
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Coneflower*
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Milkweed
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Black-eyed Susan*
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Foxglove
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Hollyhock
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Astilbe
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Hardy Hibiscus
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Blanket Flower
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Butterfly Weed
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Lavender
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Coreopsis
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*Not necessary to cut back unless desired. Keep in mind, many birds rely on seed heads of dried perennials for food.
Use bypass pruners or hedge trimmers for a clean cut about 3 inches above the soil to mark its location. You can add a light layer of mulch for added crown protection, especially for newly-planted perennials. Wait to fertilize perennials until spring!
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