Your List of Perennials to Cut Back in Fall

Perennials to Be Cut Back in Fall

As the growing season winds down and the first frost approaches, it’s a great time for fall clean-up in your perennial garden. Cutting back certain plants in late fall is beneficial for healthy growth and helps prepare your garden for the following spring by having less to clean up. We are providing a list of perennials to cut back in fall and offers some simple fall clean up tips and things to think about.

Benefits of Cutting Back Plants in Fall

Cutting back perennial plants in the fall has several advantages:

– Encourages New Growth: Removing dead foliage and old stems promotes new shoots in the next year.

– Prevents Fungal Diseases: Clearing diseased plants and diseased foliage reduces the risk of fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew.

– Improves Winter Interest: While some plants provide winter interest with seed heads and ornamental grasses, cutting back others tidies the garden beds and enhances the winter landscape.

– Provides a Clean slate: When your Plants are cut back to the ground in the fall it makes for an easy spring clean up.

Plants to Cut Back in Fall

This is a list of common perennials to cut back in the fall that many gardeners have in their perennial gardens.

1. Bee Balm (Monarda)

Bee balm is prone to powdery mildew, so it’s a good idea to cut back old growth and remove flowers and foliage. Cut back the plant to ground level to prevent disease spread and encourage healthy growth in the next season.

2. Phlox Paniculata

Phlox paniculata can also be affected by powdery mildew, making fall cutback essential. Remove dead foliage and old stems, cutting the plant down to the base of the plant.

3. Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum)

For shasta daisy, cut back flower stems and old foliage to promote new basal leaves in the following year. Trimming back to soil level helps maintain a tidy look.

4. Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia)

Cut back the tall foliage of black-eyed susans to ground level to prepare for winter months. This prevents winter damage and encourages healthy growth next year.

5. Globe Thistle (Echinops)

Globe thistle can be cut back in late fall to improve garden appearance and prevent seed dispersal. Trim the plant height to ground level, ensuring a clean cut to avoid harming beneficial insects.

6. Hardy Geraniums (Geranium)

Hardy geraniums benefit from cutting back after the first frost. Remove old stems and foliage to prepare for new growth in the following spring.

7. Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium)

Cut back joe-pye weed to soil level to promote healthy foliage and prevent disease. This is especially important for maintaining a tidy perennial garden.

8. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)

Cut back russian sage to about 6 inches above ground level to encourage healthy growth in the following spring. Removing old growth and flower stalks helps improve plant health.

9. Garden Mums (Chrysanthemum)

After hard frosts, cut back garden mums to ground level. This helps prevent diseases and ensures healthy root growth in the next growing season.

10. Coral Bells (Heuchera)

While coral bells are evergreen perennials, removing dead stems and foliage is beneficial. Cut back any old growth to improve the plant’s appearance and health.

11. Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses, such as feather reed grass, can be left for winter interest but should be cut back in late winter or early spring. Trim to ground level to remove old foliage and promote new shoots.

12. Hostas

After your first frost your Hostas will die back to the ground on their own. This is the perfect time to remove the old foliage. You can also cut them back right before your expected first frost.

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Caring for your garden in Fall

Caring for perennials in the fall is essential to ensure they survive the winter and come back strong in the spring. Fall is a critical time for maintenance and preparation, as it sets the stage for healthy growth in the coming year. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to care for your perennials during the fall:

1. Clean Up the Garden

– Remove Dead Plant Material: Cut back dead, damaged and diseased foliage to prevent overwintering pests and diseases. However, consider leaving some stems and seed heads for winter interest and wildlife habitat.

– Weed Control: Remove any weeds from your perennial beds. This helps reduce competition for nutrients and prevents weeds from setting seeds.

2. Cut Back Perennials

– Cutting Back: Trim back most perennials to a few inches above the ground after the first frost. Plants like Daylilies, Hostas, and Peonies benefit from being cut back in fall.

– Leave Some Standing: Some perennials, like ornamental grasses and coneflowers, can be left standing for winter interest and to provide food for birds. Additionally, plants like lavender and Russian sage are best pruned in the spring.

3. Divide and Transplant

– Dividing Plants: Fall is an excellent time to divide overcrowded perennials, such as hosta, irises and daylilies. This process rejuvenates plants and encourages more vigorous growth.

– Transplanting: If you need to move perennials to a new location, fall is a good time to do so. Ensure that plants are well-watered after transplanting to help them establish roots before the ground freezes.

4. Mulch for Winter Protection

– Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch, such as shredded leaves, straw, or wood chips, around the base of your perennials. Mulch helps insulate the soil, retain moisture, and protect plant roots from temperature fluctuations.

– Depth: Aim for a mulch layer about 2-4 inches thick. Avoid piling mulch directly against plant stems to prevent rot.

5. Fertilize Sparingly

– Late-Season Fertilizer: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early fall to help perennials store energy for the winter. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, as they can encourage tender new growth that is vulnerable to frost.

6. Watering

– Moisture Needs: Ensure that perennials are adequately watered before the ground freezes. This is especially important for newly planted or transplanted perennials.

– Reduce Watering: Gradually reduce watering as temperatures drop and perennials enter dormancy.

7. Pest and Disease Management

– Inspect Plants: Check for signs of pests or diseases and address any issues before winter sets in. Remove any affected plant material to prevent problems in the spring.

– Sanitation: Clean up fallen leaves and debris that can harbor pests and diseases.

8. Plan for Spring

– Label Plants: Use plant labels to mark the locations of perennials. This helps avoid accidental disturbance during spring planting or maintenance.

– Note Changes: Take notes on which plants thrived and which struggled, and plan any changes for the next growing season.

9. Protect Tender Perennials

– Extra Protection: For perennials that are marginally hardy in your zone, consider providing additional protection. Use burlap, cloches, or temporary coverings to shield them from harsh weather.

– Lift and Store: Lift and store tender bulbs and tubers, such as dahlias and cannas, indoors over the winter in a cool, dry place.

10. Enjoy the Fall Garden

– Fall Interest: Enjoy the beauty of your fall garden, including the vibrant colors of late-blooming perennials and the textures of ornamental grasses.

Tips for Fall Clean-Up

– Compost Pile: Add plant debris, including healthy foliage and flower buds, to the compost pile for nutrient-rich soil in the next year.

– Dying Foliage: Remove dying foliage from herbaceous perennials to prevent diseases and promote healthy root growth.

– Local Wildlife: I can’t say this enough but leave some seed heads and plant material for local wildlife to enjoy during the winter months. The garden should be for both wildlife and us to enjoy.

Your list of perennials to cut back in the fall if far from complete but this should get you started! Cutting back your perennials is one way of ensuring a healthy spring garden. By removing dead foliage, diseased leaves, and old growth, you promote new growth and prevent fungal diseases in the following year. This fall cleanup practice is a great way to prepare your garden for the cold weather and enhance its appearance in the winter landscape.

Happy Gardening

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