Comments on: When to Cut Perennial Plants Down | Gardening Advice

By: Rosie LaLonde

Rosie LaLonde — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 23:36:42 +0000

“ If it’s brown, cut it down.”????? Not true. Those spent stems have seeds for birds. Especially true for plants like coneflower and rudbeckia—-and the little brown rudbeckia heads look great all winter long.

By: Janet Leshin

Janet Leshin — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 21:34:08 +0000

I leave it until the Spring, I like seeing the birds sitting on the stalks and getting seeds.

By: Reader Last

Reader Last — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 11:01:24 +0000

I’m learning a lot from you about gardening. I love my flowers: roses, hydrangea, trumpet lelies, lavender. How do you protect the roses and hydrangeas in the winter. I live in OH. Zone 6 I think. Thank you

By: dorothyg13

dorothyg13 — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 13:49:55 +0000

I always learn something worthwhile reading your articles . Thank You

By: Nat

Nat — Tue, 02 May 2017 13:34:09 +0000

Wonderful article, thank you! I agree with everything said…I do prune everything back a bit, just to clean up for winter, the resting season… As a bird lover, I do leave some branches on the Butterfly Bushes and Clematis vines so the birds can shelter, and stems on the Black-eyed Susan’s so the birds can eat any remaining seeds. I will cut some seed-packed “heads” off the Bee Balm and Black-eyed Susans so as to purposely let them drop to the ground for natural reseeding. I’ve also found that cutting the Butterfly bushes down only half way, allows the “sap” to move back into the plant more gradually. When cutting these bushes, look carefully for Praying Mantis egg cases and save them for their spring hatch! Such fun watching the different seasons roll over in the garden!! 🙂