Now is the perfect time to take out the pruners and get started on your garden transformation, ensuring that you can achieve an even more spectacular display next year. By beginning this process today, you set the foundation for a flourishing and vibrant garden that will truly stand out in the seasons to come.
Many individuals typically associate pruning with tasks that happen during the late winter months or early springtime, viewing it as a necessary chore to prepare their plants for the growing season ahead. However, taking the time to cut back certain perennials in the fall can yield significant advantages for both the plants themselves and the overall aesthetics of your garden. It may come as a surprise, but there are several plants that you can—and indeed, should—prune at this time of year to promote better health and growth in the future.
Tamara Hogan, a knowledgeable plant expert at Fast Growing Trees, points out that a large number of perennials benefit from a good trimming. She emphasizes that for those perennials that do not offer any visual interest through the winter months—such as daylilies, hostas, and lavender—cleaning them up in the fall is an excellent practice. In addition to those, it is advisable to prune back any plants that may have the potential to become damaged or split under the weight of snow, which includes popular varieties like peonies and different types of ornamental grasses. Thus, taking action now not only prepares your garden for winter but also enhances its appearance during the colder months.
Why You Should Cut Back Some Perennials in the Fall
The plants are prone to disease
Certain plants are especially susceptible to powdery mildew and other diseases, which can flourish as they wilt and enter dormancy in damp, cool weather. Pruning these plants can promote stronger, disease-free growth for the next season. Hogan advises, “Consider your plant’s seasonal challenges. If it’s prone to pests or diseases, trim it back in the fall to prevent overwintering.”
The flowers self-seed and spread easily
Self-seeding plants are an excellent choice for enhancing your landscape with more flowers. However, if you prefer to control their spread, prune the flowers before they set seed.
For a wildlife-friendly garden, consider allowing the blooms to drop their seeds, which can provide food for birds and other animals during the winter months.
The foliage that’s left looks unattractive
Evergreens enhance the landscape throughout the year, but even winter-decaying plants can contribute interest. For example, ornamental grasses dry to a straw-like hue, adding lovely texture, while hydrangea blooms retain their appeal well into winter. However, some plants may blacken, become soggy, or otherwise transform your garden from a winter wonderland into a horror show.
You want to have fewer gardening chores in the spring
For some plants, pruning in spring or fall is inconsequential, but you may prefer a tidier winter landscape to begin spring with a blank canvas.
How to Prune Fall Perennials
Fall pruning follows rules similar to late winter or early spring pruning: make clean cuts, remove any dead or diseased parts, and avoid cutting off what the plant needs to thrive next year. “Remove all dead foliage,” Hogan advises. “After a frost, this will reveal what needs to be taken down.”
Use clean pruning shears or bypass pruners
To prevent spreading diseases between plants, clean your pruners with rubbing alcohol before moving on to the next plant.
Decide how far to cut back your perennials
For some perennials, like self-seeding varieties, you may only need to trim the flowers. However, if you’re cutting back to prevent disease or reduce unattractive foliage, you might need to cut deeper.
Regardless of how much you trim, leave a few inches of plant above the soil. This preserves the crown and protects the roots, according to Hogan. It also helps you identify your existing plants during spring planting, preventing accidental disturbance of your favorite perennials.
Time the pruning right
According to Hogan, you can prune perennials during fall cleanup. This hard pruning signals the plant to conserve energy before winter freezes. Reserve tree and shrub pruning for when they are fully dormant, which prevents new growth that could be damaged in winter. Pruning too early may prompt tender new growth that won’t survive the cold. For self-seeding plants, trim the flowers early to prevent excess plants in the spring.
Perennials to Consider Pruning in Fall
01 of 10 | Peonies
Peonies are susceptible to diseases, so a fall pruning helps prevent issues in the coming year. After a frost, unpruned plants can decay and create an unsightly, disease-prone mess.
You can prune peonies back to near the ground, as next year’s growth will emerge from the roots rather than last year’s branches.
02 of 10 | Coneflowers
Coneflowers are wonderful additions to your garden, and one of their great benefits is their ability to remain throughout the entire winter season. As the flowers eventually go to seed, they provide essential nourishment for birds that are overwintering in the area. This not only aids the local wildlife but also adds a touch of natural beauty to your winter landscape. However, if you find yourself wanting to manage the growth of your coneflowers more effectively, you have the option to remove some or even all of the flowers after they have fully bloomed. This process can help to ensure that your garden does not become overly crowded or unruly. Additionally, if you prefer a tidier and cleaner appearance in your garden during the colder months, you might consider cutting back the plant’s stalks all the way down to the ground. This practice can promote healthier and fresher growth when spring arrives, giving your garden a revitalized look as the new season unfolds.
03 of 10 | Hostas
During the winter months, Hosta leaves tend to wilt and take on an unappealing appearance. This dieback not only compromises the aesthetic value of the plant but also creates an inviting habitat for various unwanted pests, including rodents and slugs. Slugs, in particular, pose a significant threat; as temperatures warm in the spring, these pests will emerge from their hiding spots, eager to feast on the tender, new leaves of your hosta, leading to potentially serious damage.
To prevent these issues from arising, it is important to take proactive steps in your garden maintenance. Once you observe that the first hard frost has occurred and the Hosta leaves have deteriorated and appear lifeless, you will want to trim back the foliage. Cutting back the leaves to just a few inches above the ground will not only help improve the overall health of the plant but also reduce the chances of these pests making your hosta their meal. By undertaking this simple task, you can better protect your hosta and prepare it for the growing season ahead.
04 of 10 | Phlox
Phlox is a type of plant that tends to be particularly susceptible to the development of powdery mildew, a common fungal disease that can affect its overall health and appearance. To mitigate the risk of your phlox plants encountering this issue, engaging in fall pruning becomes a beneficial practice. This involves cutting back the plants after experiencing the first hard frost of the season, which is an indicator that it’s time to prepare them for the winter months ahead. During this pruning process, it’s advisable to trim the plants down close to the ground, leaving just a few inches above the soil level. This small portion of the plant will serve as a helpful marker to ensure that you can easily locate your phlox when spring arrives and new growth begins to emerge. By following these steps, you can promote healthier plants and reduce the likelihood of powdery mildew afflicting your garden.
05 of 10 | Daylilies
Daylilies tend to leave behind unsightly stalks once their blooming season has concluded. Because of this, it is advisable to remove those stalks in the fall to maintain a tidier and more appealing garden throughout the colder months. By pulling them out at this time, you can ensure that your garden looks clean and well-kept, enhancing its overall appearance and making it more enjoyable to look at during the fall and winter.
06 of 10 | Bee Balm
Similar to phlox, bee balm is also susceptible to the development of powdery mildew, a common fungal issue that can impact its health. To mitigate the risk of the disease establishing itself, it is advisable to trim the plant back to just above the soil line. This cutting back process not only helps in preventing the potential spread of the mildew but also promotes a more robust and vigorous growth for the upcoming year. Taking these steps will contribute to the overall vitality of the bee balm and ensure it thrives.
07 of 10 | Bearded Iris
These striking bulb plants are known to add vibrant splashes of color to your garden during the late spring and early summer seasons. However, they can be susceptible to a variety of diseases and pests that have the potential to harm your beautiful plants. It is important to keep an eye on them to ensure they remain healthy and thriving, as prevention and maintenance can make a significant difference.
One effective gardening practice is to eliminate spent blooms at the base of the stalk when the early summer arrives. This not only helps keep your garden looking neat, but also encourages the plants to channel their energy into new growth. After you have done this, it’s advisable to hold off until the arrival of fall. Once a few frosts have occurred, you should proceed to remove all remaining foliage from the plants as well. This helps to prepare your garden for the coming winter and sets the stage for next spring’s growth.
08 of 10 | Lavender
If you haven’t yet removed the lavender flowers after they have bloomed throughout the summer months, there is still time to care for your plant. In early fall, you can take the opportunity to trim back the ends of the lavender plant. This will not only help maintain its shape but also encourage it to grow even denser and healthier in the upcoming year. When you do make your cuts, you should aim to snip each branch approximately an inch below the bloom. This careful pruning technique will promote a more robust growth, ensuring your lavender thrives in the seasons ahead.
09 of 10 | Yarrow
As the lovely yarrow flowers begin to fade and lose their vibrant appearance, you may notice that the overall look of the plant also becomes less appealing. It can give off an unkempt appearance that detracts from the beauty of your garden or landscape. If you find that this decline in appearance bothers you, one option you have is to take some time to cut the yarrow back close to the ground. You can do this by trimming it down, leaving just the leaves that are situated at the base of the plant. This method can help rejuvenate the yarrow, making it look neater and allowing new growth to emerge.
10 of 10 | Black-Eyed Susan
The black-eyed susan, also known as rudbeckia, is a fantastic self-seeding plant that has the potential to enhance the growth and beauty of your garden. This vibrant perennial can introduce new life and color to your outdoor space. However, if you prefer to maintain control over the number of plants in your garden and do not wish to have additional growth from self-seeding, a simple solution is at hand. As the blooms begin to fade and lose their vibrancy, you can easily trim them away to prevent the plant from spreading too much. Additionally, as the colder months approach and the frosts start to affect your garden, it is advisable to cut back the entire plant by about one-third. This will help to keep the black-eyed susan healthy and manageable while preparing it for the upcoming winter season.
