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    Home » Gardening

    Pruning Perennials: During the Fall or Spring?

    by Patti Estep · Sep 24, 2023

    Dried hydrangea flowers on the shrub.
    Dead rudbeckia flowers over a bird on a branch.

    Learn when to cut back perennials. Should you do it in the fall or in the later winter or early spring?

    Hillside coneflowers garden.

    When to Cut Back Perennials: Fall or Spring?

    Do you cut back your perennials as part of your fall cleanup? Maybe you’re a neat and tidy person who cannot stand the idea of messy foliage past its prime. Maybe you’ve been taught that pruning perennials in the fall is the correct way to prepare your garden for next year. 

    Of course, it's always a good idea to deadhead perennials during the season as their blooms fade. Often this will encourage lots of new blooms for perennials such as salvia and catmint. However, I'm talking about cutting back the entire plant for the year. Do you cut them back before winter or at the end of the winter before new spring growth shows up?

    Dried hydrangea blossoms on shrub

    Here’s my secret. Most of my perennials don't get cut back in the fall. I leave pruning perennials until late winter or early spring when winter is coming to an end, and it's warm enough to get outside and garden.

    large hosta with dead flowers

    I’ll be honest, by the end of fall I’m tired of tending to the garden. We usually have some great weather in the fall, but it is often short-lived followed by cold and snow.

    However, by March, I can’t wait to get out and clean up the garden beds. This is just about the time I can start to see signs of new shoots or new growth.

    rudbeckia seed heads

    So, is this a bad thing? I did some research and found out that many well-known gardeners follow my practice of late winter pruning.

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    Here's What the Experts Say

    In this article from The Royal Horticultural Society the writer states, “Cutting back herbaceous perennials during autumn restores order and tidiness to the garden. However, this removes potential winter interest, in the form of height and structure, plus food and habitat sources for wildlife.”

    Learn whether to cut back your perennials in the fall or spring.

    Another article from Purdue University's Horticultural Extension examines exactly this question, “Cut back perennials, now or later?” Here the writer also agrees that there are many benefits of leaving perennials for winter interest and shelter for wildlife. However, she also notes that any diseased or pest ridden plants should be dealt with sooner, rather than later.

    Perennials like rudbeckia aka black eyed susan and echinacea or purple coneflowers have attractive seed heads and provide food for the birds so I always leave them until the spring before pruning.

    Finally, in this last article from Martha Stewart Living, the writer states, “Perennial plants need to be cut back each year, but when you choose to do it depends on your gardening style.”

    Old peony foliage

    When Should You Cut Back Perennials in the Fall?

    As mentioned above, I will definitely cut back the peony shown above.  The leaves look bad and appear to have a little fungus issue going on. In this case, I will use my clean pruners to cut back all of the stems to the ground.

    I'll check for any other plants that have powdery mildew or pest issues and cut them back too.

    However my typical routine for any normal, healthy-looking perennial, means waiting until late winter or next spring to prune.

    Patti signature

    More Gardening Tips

    • Fall Garden Dos & Don'ts,
    • Planning Next Year's Garden
    • Tips for Preparing Your Spring Garden
    • Easy Summer Gardening Tips
    Shrub in the winter covered with ice.
    « Homemade Unsweetened Applesauce
    Make a Whimsical Felt Leaf Garland for your Fall Mantel »

    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Michelle

      August 28, 2017 at 9:38 am

      I'm glad to read that pruning later in winter is good for pollinators! I'm also usually done with gardening by late fall so any excuse to delay a task is welcome. 🙂

      Reply
    2. Angie Rose

      August 23, 2017 at 3:58 pm

      I'm right there with you! By the end of the season, I'm so tired of working out in the garden. I always feel like I need a break. I devote all of my garden time to planting bulbs, and not always cleaning. I'd rather the wildlife have something to enjoy. I also agree with you how you cut back anything diseased looking. If it could have negative ramifications on my garden health, out it goes! Awesome article Patti & such great info!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        August 23, 2017 at 4:34 pm

        Hi Angie,

        Glad to hear from another like minded gardener. Bulbs are something I sometimes forget about too so thanks for the reminder.

        Reply
    3. Shelly

      August 22, 2017 at 2:22 pm

      I usually trim back all my plants in the fall. My hubby hates to see them looking messy and so we try get it done in late fall. But we do leave a few plants to trim in the spring too. That way it's spread out and not too much work all at once.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        August 22, 2017 at 3:18 pm

        Hi Shelly,

        I totally get that some people, even husbands, like it neat. You idea of splitting up the job is a smart one too.

        Reply
    4. Jami

      August 22, 2017 at 1:46 pm

      I'm with you and leave most ornamentals to prune in the late winter - except for peonys like you since that fungus is worse if it's left longer. It all depends on when I get tired of looking at all the brown hydrangea blossoms, ha!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        August 22, 2017 at 3:16 pm

        Hi Jami,

        I get it. Sometimes the view needs a little sprucing up.

        Reply
    5. Diane Williams

      August 22, 2017 at 12:39 pm

      Yay! I'm terribly lazy about Fall pruning. I am so relieved to know it's a benefit to wildlife to keep the deadheads on til Spring. We have huge bird population and maybe the old dead growth will support and attract them more closely. Thanks so much!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        August 22, 2017 at 3:16 pm

        Hi Diane,
        I'm so glad you like this method. To each his own but I do think the birds will like it.

        Reply
    6. Carole West

      August 22, 2017 at 8:16 am

      Great info -Down south everything is based around temperature because they fluctuate at the drop of a hat. So I actually trim both seasons but some have to be done right after that frost because they look pitiful but now I might have to rethink some of that... However with that being said my blackberries are done right after they finish producing fruit. I take it on a plant to plant basis..

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        August 22, 2017 at 9:06 am

        Hi Carole,

        That totally makes sense for your area and what you are growing. Just part of experiencing gardening in your own space and doing what seems right for you.

        Reply
    7. Mary Minard

      August 23, 2016 at 1:08 pm

      Now it all makes sense, I violate 4 of the 7 rules so that explains why I've lost more than 1 or 2 plants over the years lol. Thanks for setting me straight -- I can do better.
      -Mary

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        August 23, 2016 at 1:33 pm

        Hi Mary,
        We all lose plants. No worries. Hopefully some of these tips will help.
        Thanks for stopping by,
        Patti

        Reply
    8. roylene fischer

      October 08, 2015 at 10:04 am

      I have a very large Hydragage (spelling) , it has always blooms all year, but this year it only bloomed in the spring. I did cut it back last fall as it is so large it takes over the little space I have. Should I not prune it in the fall and if not when would be a good time to transplant it. Thank you

      Roylene

      Reply
      • Patti

        October 08, 2015 at 11:04 am

        Hi Roylene,

        If your hydrangea is a macrophylla then it probably blooms on old wood which could be the cause of limited or no blooms. These types of hydrangeas have big leaves and large flower heads with the nickname mopheads. It's best to only prune as needed. If it is getting too large try pruning individual canes down to the base instead of pruning all around. Transplanting is tricky but I like to transplant this kind of bush in the very late winter or very early spring around April here in Pennsylvania. If you live somewhere very different from me that may change and the best thing to do is ask someone at a local nursery. Good luck.

        Reply
    9. Angie Rose

      September 16, 2015 at 1:00 pm

      Thank you for sharing helpful info on this. I'm always wondering what other gardeners do when it comes to pruning plants. When I first started gardening, my approach was to prune everything back in the fall. Now, I tend to think about the wildlife and pollinators who seem to enjoy my uncut plants. After my daylilies and hostas bloom, I often notice dragonflies enjoying the parts of the plant that have past their prime. Now I tend to do a small cleanup in the fall, and then the rest in spring that way I don't get overwhelmed. Hope you are having a wonderful week 🙂

      Reply
      • Patti

        September 16, 2015 at 1:11 pm

        Hi Angie,

        I totally agree. Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your week.
        Patti

        Reply
    10. JO Ann Miller

      September 15, 2015 at 10:17 am

      I have a large peony bush that as ju d t bloomed constantly since ealy spring. It was a bare root division pl a nt I had I ordered online last year and just planted this past spring . It has really grown in width in every direction and is quite top heavy but I think I remember the paper thT came with it said to wait for two to three years before deviding. I was suppose to be probably at least a three year old plant that it came from. I would like to know if I should go ahead and device it or possible just dig a big whole around it without disturb the root and just move it farther back in the bed since it hs grown so much and fast it now hangs outside of the bed a lot. I know that they are suppose to have the branches cut back considerably after blooming ,but as large as it grown this one season it will be totally hanging out of the bed onto the lawn next spring if I don't do something. I am afraid to do much of anything in fear of messing up the blooming fir next spring and am not really sure how to device the root if it does need to be done. This is my first peony and it has been gorgeous and I sure don't want to lose it. Please advise. Thank you

      Reply
      • Patti

        September 15, 2015 at 11:22 am

        Hi JoAnn,

        How lucky are you. I love peonies. They are probably my favorite. Peonies are supposed to be divided in the fall, though I'll admit I have divided them in the spring. I would suggest that you go ahead and move it now. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind. It's better to dig the new hole twice as large but no deeper than the root ball of the existing plant. Also, peonies tend to like being planted shallow rather than deep. Here's good link about dividing them: http://www.hortmag.com/weekly-tips/dividing-peonies-in-the-fall.

        Reply
    11. DOLORES GREINER

      September 15, 2015 at 6:43 am

      thank u so much for this info

      Reply
      • Patti

        September 15, 2015 at 6:47 am

        Hi Dolores,

        You are very welcome. Thanks for stopping by,
        Patti

        Reply

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