I have a variety of gauras but they are sprawling out or five feet along the ground. Should I have pruned them right down in the spring or is that what they do? What would happen if I cut them back now?
You'd lose all the flowers and maybe the plant. I cut mine back to the crown in March when I see the new growth starting. One was sprawly in habit for a couple of years so I put supports around it - like a peony cage support - but this year it's got the idea and is growing more upright.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I didn't cut mine back and they have flopped all over the place but I don't have the heart to cut back when they're flowering. Still, I will know better next year.
Lesson learnt. Thank you @Obelixx. Same with penstemons cowardly pruning. They stayed in leaf all this winter. Do I still wait until spring to remove current stems?
I cut back the most vigorous one back to about a foot soon after the last post ( cue bugle and flag). It has sprouted all along the stems and I think there may be flower buds in the ends😊 That was the bog standard white one. Now I'm going to go for the dark flowered one and the one with the variegated leaves. At least I know it's not going to kill them
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They stayed in leaf all this winter. Do I still wait until spring to remove current stems?
That was the bog standard white one. Now I'm going to go for the dark flowered one and the one with the variegated leaves. At least I know it's not going to kill them
Update: Masses of flower buds after a few weeks. Don't be shy. Prune it!