posted
Stupid question...I'm new to gardening, but love it! I can make my perennials grow and look beautiful all spring and summer (sometimes), but what do I do when fall comes? Do I cut the stalks back to the ground or let them dry up and look ugly all winter? Last fall I cut them back, but someone told me that was a mistake.
Plants: 1 | From: North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
| Seeded: 24.88.175.107
posted
It's really just a matter of preference for the most part. I cut most of mine back in late fall except for the ones that are not reliably hardy...those I leave until early spring when I see new growth beginning to appear. Some like to leave the stems with the dried seedheads for birds, etc., or they like the look of the dried stems in the snow. Me, I think of it as one less thing I have to do in spring. :-)
posted
southernbelle, it depends on what type of plants you have. Some things we plant should be pruned right after they bloom. Other things should be cut back in the fall. What types of plants do you have and where in NC are you? This southernbelle is in Monroe.
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