The Spruce / Autumn Wood
Someperennialscan’t handle cold weather well.
But cutting back certain perennials can protect them from the cold and spark healthy growth come spring.
Read on to learn which perennials to cut back in the fall.
The Spruce / Autumn Wood
Tip
Cutting old and diseased foliage in the fall helps a perennial jumpstart new growth in spring.
Know your plant’s particular care requirements for the best results.
But healthy new growth can be left until spring.
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Limp foliage can cause the crown to rot and invite borers.
Cutting it back can also help stop unwanted self-seeding, preventing the plant from becoming invasive.
The plant will look fuller and healthier with some fall pruning.
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And if youdeadheadflowers throughout the growing season, it can promote more continuous blooming.
Bronze Fennel
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Bronze fennel (Foeniculum vulgare’Purpureum') accents many gardens.
The foliage provides food for swallowtail caterpillars, which can leave the stems completely stripped by fall.
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To prevent self-seeding, remove flowers after blooming.
Leave healthy foliage to absorb energy throughout the growing season, and prune after frost.
Corydalis
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It is hard to kill corydalis (Corydalis lutea).
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The seed heads can offer interest, but the foliage eventually heads downhill in the colder months.
Cut back dead foliage and remove debris.
Also, cut off any spent flower stems to maintain an attractive ground cover appearance.
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But when frost hits, it is as slimy as wet petunias.
It blooms on new growth, so do not be afraid to clean it up in the fall.
Frost will blacken and collapse the foliage of begonias (Begonia grandis).
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Deadheading does not improve their appearance, and the tall stems are guaranteed to break and flop.
So, cut back the plant to the ground for aesthetics.
After it is finished blooming, cut back the plant to basal foliage to maintain a healthy appearance.
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In warm zones, the foliage remains evergreen.
Leopard Plant
Leopard plants (Farfugium japonicum) are predominantly grown for their foliage.
Because it’s considered invasive in some areas, cut back the spent flowers before seedheads form.
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If conditions are dry, the foliage will begin to yellow and can be sheared to the crown.
But allow healthy new growth to remain through the winter.
If no yellowing is present, leave the plant for spring cleaning.
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However, some varieties will self-seed.
If that is desirable, let it go until spring.
Deadhead plants throughout the season to encourage reblooming.
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Plants will turn brown after frost, so prune dead foliage in the fall.
The foliage usually declines toward the end of summer and can be trimmed back.
Allowing older growth to flop would hold too much moisture around the crown over the winter.
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Peony
Peonies (Paeonia) need a cold period to set buds for the following season.
Healthy foliage will turn golden in fallthat’s your sign to prune!
Even if the plant is healthy, it will benefit from some thinning to increase airflow and prevent disease.
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They can become aggressive spreaders in many gardens under optimal conditions.
So cut back your plants before they go to seed unless you want plume poppies everywhere.
Pruning also encourages branching, reducing the plant’s need for support as it gets taller.
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The leaves will undoubtedly drop.
But if the stems remain, they can be returned to the ground.
As flowering ceases, it can be sheared to the ground.
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It will only turn black and ugly if left for spring cleanup.
For healthy new growth, ensure that the plant has regular moisture but good drainage over the winter.
However, many gardeners like to leave the seed pods and choose to stake the plants.
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Still, the foliage turns black with frost, so cutting back false indigo in the fall is recommended.
Yarrow
Yarrow (Achillea) dislikes sitting in cold, wet soil.
Preparing Bearded Iris for Winter Hibernation.
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Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.
Monarda and Powdery Mildew Resistance.
252-252, 2018. doi:10.1094/PDIS-08-17-1292-PDN
Begonia Diseases.
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Pennsylvania State Extension College of Agricultural Sciences.
University of Wisconsin Division of Horticulture.
Peonies with Powdery Mildew.
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University of Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Helenium - A Great Choice for the Late Summer Garden.
Lonnee, Debbie.Growing Perennials in Cold Climates.University of Minnesota Press, 2011.
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The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
