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To cut or not to cut

blackcountry lassblackcountry lass Posts: 18
in Problem solving
I am never sure whether it is best to cut down my penstemons in spring and verbena bonariensis both of which have not died down at all this winter but look a bit untidy - do I give them a light trim or cut them right down?

Posts

  • BiljeBilje Posts: 811
    I'm in NE England my routine is to shorten Verbena Bon. I leave about 9 inches, and cut further back, to buds, in proper Spring. Some die but I seem to get a fair number of self sown seedlings in the gravel path😄.
    Penstemons  I leave until Spring before I cut back as they are green and cheery, I will have cut them back a little as the flowers faded in Autumn. 
  • blackcountry lassblackcountry lass Posts: 18
    Thanks Bilje - good to get a bit advice. 
  • cornellycornelly Posts: 970
    I normally prune back to the next shoot, never cut right back, and we have good results.
  • cornellycornelly Posts: 970
    Should have said Penstemons.
  • Sue & MuttonSue & Mutton Posts: 125
    I'm in Norfolk and it's really, really blowy here with the wind coming straight off the field. I used to  always lift all the dahlias and cut absolutely everything down November time. Come spring most of my decent topsoil had been blown away ..... but it did look tidy! For the last few years I've just taken cuttings of penstemons etc and  left everything, yes it looks a bit tatty, I might lose a couple of things to the frost and wind rock but what a great excuse to have a bit of a re edit! I'm sat here watching the goldfinches bobbing about on the verbena eating the seed heads and I know that what I think is a mess is great shelter for ladybirds and the like. I'd leave it.....
  • D0rdogne_DamselD0rdogne_Damsel Posts: 4,184
    I have taken loads of Penstemon cuttings, which tidied them up in the autumn and now I've noticed that those plants I  trimmed are short but much bushier plants, which I hope bodes well for the flowers to come. One mistake I made was not noting the colours of the cuttings so that is going to be a bit of a surprise planting this year.  :o  I also find the Verbena self seed very easily.  
    • “Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?” —Betsy Cañas Garmon
  • blackcountry lassblackcountry lass Posts: 18
    Great advice - thanks very much all.
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