Perennials Not To Prune In Fall

GARDENS BY THE BAY

DO NOT PRUNE IN FALL

We gardeners tend to be creatures of habit. For years I headed out in fall to prepare my garden beds for winter. Pruners in hand, I attacked almost all my perennials, cutting them nearly to the ground as gardening books at the time said to do. Then along came Tracy DiSabato-Aust, with her book The Well-Tended Perennial Garden - Planting & Pruning Techniques. Her wealth of knowledge jumps at you from every page. This acknowledged "Queen of Pruning" shares her observations, giving us all the benefit of her own experience.

I had no idea just how many plants would benefit from being left alone in fall and tidied up only after they put in their appearance when winter was over. In this book we learn not only when or when not to prune individual perennial species and cultivars but also why or why not.

The author reminds us that some foliage left unpruned in fall may provide winter shelter to some bird species. In addition she explains that ornamental value and winter interest can come, not only from the conifers and shrubs that are always left standing, but also from perennial seedheads (many provide food for different bird species), stem colour, evergreen foliage and even the basic structure and form of the perennials left upright in a garden over the winter months.

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NO FALL PRUNING RECOMMENDED & WHY

Break your old habits and leave the following plants unpruned or pruned back only to basal foliage for the winter. After all, who wouldn't follow advice that reduces the fall work load in the garden, provides winter interest and shelters and feeds many different birds! If you're afraid you'll cut back plants that should be left alone just do as I do. Insert short garden stakes in front of these clumps to avoid pruning them back accidentally. Once everything else has been done the stakes can be removed and stored away.

Acanthus: Bear's Breeches

finished bloom spikes may be cut off at the base
cut off any old foliage that collapses to the outside of the plant by late summer
leave new basal foliage over winter
cut off damaged foliage in the spring

Aconitum: Monkshood

Aconitum carmichaelii 'Arendsii' - Azure Monkshood

cut back to any new basal foliage after flowering has finished
leave this basal foliage over winter and cut off in spring

Ajuga: Bugleweed

plants are evergreen
do not prune foliage for winter
may need only dead-leafing in spring

Anaphalis: Pearly Everlasting

do not prune in fall for the winter
cut plant back only in the spring

Anthemis: Golden Marguerite

plants should be cut back to new evergreen basal foliage after flowering by late summer
leave this basal growth for the winter
prune off only damaged growth in spring

Arabis: Rockcress