Reduce the potential for plant diseases and pests while making your garden look more tidy through Winter
Perennials that perform well in the Spring when cut back in the Fall include:
- Bee Balm (leave for the birds unless the plants have powdery mildew, then prune hard and dispose of all debris in the trash - not compost)
- Blazing Star (Liatris) - wait until it dies back naturally to give this plant more time to store energy for Winter
- Catmint - prune to 4-6 inches above soil for a tidier look
- Daylilies - cut back dead foliage after first frost has naturally died back on its own
- Phlox - cut back so powdery mildew can't develop. See note about powdery mildew above
- Hostas cut and dispose of decaying leaves and any flowers to ward of pests that lay eggs in Hosta foliage during Autumn
- Irises - wait to prune until after first frost when leaves turn brown and die
- Lavender - cut back immediately to a few inches above woody stems (don't cut back the woody stems)
- Peonies - cut back to a few inches above ground now through first frost to prevent powdery mildew which these are susceptible to
- Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) - deadhead spent blooms in late Fall and cut plants back before Winter to keep the plant healthy and energetic come Spring
- Salvia - cut back to the ground and they may give you double the blooms come Spring. Cutting back also prevents them from developing woody stems.
Make sure your pruning shears are clean and blades are sharp for best results. With diseased plants, clean blades after each cut to ensure you don't spread the disease.