Marietta Daisies Garden Club
- mariettadaisies
- Oct 2, 2025
- 4 min read
Cutting Back Perennials?
How to Do It the Right Way Without Risking Next Year's Blooms
from The Spruce
Cutting back perennials is one of those garden chores that sounds simple—grab the pruners, snip, done—but the reality is more nuanced.
Some plants thrive with a fall trim, others depend on their winter foliage for protection, and a few reward you with bonus blooms if cut at just the right time.
The trick is matching the plant to the snipping schedule that gives it the best shot at a healthy return next season, while also taking advantage, when appropriate, of winter wildlife and landscape benefits.
Learn more about which perennials benefit from being cut back, when to do it, and why timing makes all the difference.
When to Cut Back Perennials Safely
When to cut back perennials depends on the species, plant health, your local conditions, and what you’re looking to get out of your seasonal landscapes.
After the first frost for most perennials: A hard cut back once frosts have killed the tops of your plants allows the roots to reclaim energy from the fading foliage. It also means your landscape will look tidier in winter, rather than there being a load of unsightly, slumping, sloppy stems that are harder to clean up in spring.
Fall for disease and pest prevention: This applies to plants like bee balm, peonies, rudbeckias or hostas that are susceptible to fungal issues or overwintering insect infestations.
Early spring to retain winter interest and be wildlife-friendly: Ornamental grasses, sedum, coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and plants with sturdy seed heads can be left standing through winter to feed birds, shelter beneficial insects, and add height and structural interest to the winter landscape.
After spring frosts to protect tender perennials: The old stems offer the sensitive crowns of species like penstemons and garden mums insulative winter protection. Plus, you don't have to worry about tender growth being killed off by cold.
Early or mid-summer to encourage repeat blooming: Alchemilla, hardy geraniums and other late-spring or early-summer bloomers benefit from being cut back after the first flush of flowers to promote fresh foliage and the possibility of a second bloom later in the summer or fall.
Immediately after blooming for short-lived perennials: Lupines and foxgloves are examples of species that often benefit from being cut back immediately after the lower blooms fade. By diverting energy away from seed production, it promotes healthy, leafy growth, setting the plant up for success the following season
Don't Miss
4 Mistakes to Avoid When Cutting Back Perennials
Cutting back perennials the wrong way or at the wrong time can stunt growth, reduce blooms, or even kill the plant over winter. Here are some common rookie errors to avoid.
Disposing of cuttings carelessly: Don’t leave disease or insect-infested plant material lying in your borders or add it to your compost pile. You risk reintroducing problems next year.
Cutting with dull or dirty pruners: Crushed stems and unsterile clippers encourage disease.
Cutting back too early: Early pruning can trigger fresh shoots that are not winter-hardy and can be killed by frost. You might also miss a flush of flowers on late bloomers like sedum or coneflowers.
Cutting back too hard in spring: If your perennials produce healthy new growth earlier than expected in spring, trim lightly to keep tidy rather than hacking back.
How to Prune Perennials the Right Way
How you prune your perennials depends on whether you’re opting for a fall or spring cutback. In the fall, cut stems down to about two inches above the soil with sharp, sterile clippers. If you cut too low, you might not see the plant when it’s time to do some spring border digging.
A power hedge trimmer will do the job faster when you have a clump of large perennials or bunches of tall, thick-stemmed ornamental grasses.
Cutting the stems at a slight angle prevents water from pooling inside hollow stems. If this freezes, it can damage the crown of your perennial.
When cutting back perennials in the spring , if there is emerging new growth, trim around or above this rather than cutting back hard.
After cutting your perennials back, amending the soil with organic matter and covering it with a layer of mulch can help protect your plants and give them a kick start next season.
FAQ
Can I prune too much and kill a perennial?
Yes, cutting stems back too much can kill a perennial under certain circumstances. Stressed plants and tender perennials with delicate crowns can struggle to recover from a hard cut back. Heavy pruning during active growth removes the leaves a perennial needs to make and store energy. This stress can stunt growth, reduce blooms, and even kill the plant.
What perennials shouldn’t be cut back in fall?
Don’t cut back low-growing evergreen species in the fall. Hardy geraniums, hellebores, and phlox are best left until the spring to tidy as they add color and interest through the winter. Tall ornamental grasses and species that retain attractive dried seed heads or foliage are also worth having around for their aesthetic value.
How do I know how far down to cut?
You can cut back most perennial stems to around two inches from the soil. However, if you’re cutting back in spring and there are signs of new growth, it’s best to cut above or around this.
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