Oh I don't know what to do now - when I asked if I should 'cut them back' I actually don't know how to do that, I've only just trimmed my first ever plant (a Salvia) - looking at mine, what do you think I should do? leave them until the flowers have gone and then cut down for bushier plants next year? I keep watching videos on how to cut plants but it's never close enough to see what they are doing - is there like a standard way to prune a plant (is pruning the same as cutting back?) or do different plants require different techniques or am I totally overthinking this?
Can I have a round of applause for digging 8 years worth of silt/mud with a hand trowel from a 100' stream .... (not sure if it's that long but it's taken me four days). I can barely move
Pruning is like a trim (a light hair cut) to tidy things up or to help it grow more/stimulate growth/allowing more light to the newer shoots/cutting off old branches and leaving the new ones to grow etc etc.
Cutting back is more of a total shave of the head. You chop off almost all of the plant above ground and it will come back all fresh and lovely as a “new plant” - almost like a miracle.
For most herbaceous perennials you will cut them right down to the ground and the plant will regrow (the miracle).
Depending on where you are and your conditions you could do this once the plant has finished flowering or in the autumn or you could leave it to get on with it, and having a bit of structure in the garden, provide shelter for bugs, seeds for birds and protection for the plant itself (the bit underground that it will rejuvenate from) over winter, and cut it back in spring.
Example: here are my daises in April when I cut them right back
I used to find this very confusing. Now I just play it by ear.
I cut back most of my herbaceous perennials in spring or if they pee me off at any point between November and April (weather permitting) if they look tatty/snap in the winds etc or if slugs are using them as a winter retreat.
I don’t have to prune much as I currently only have two mature shrubs. I’ve recently planted seven new ones in the new garden so pruning will be for next year (hopefully).
I hope this helps. Someone else will be able to explain it in their own way if not.
And well done for the manual labour. Feels good doesn’t it?
Green Man - firstly, what you doing up so late? Or have you just got up - (I'm still up - sleep issues). thank you SO much for your explanation and the photo's (gorgeous plants). I'm still learning (which is why I'm on here every day lol). I'm in West Yorkshire and right now it's very dry which is why I've been able to dig out the stream, the pond is next (got someone coming to help with that) - not looking forward to the smell but it's gotta be done. You're right about it feeling good after BUT I've got trapped nerves and am in agony so trying to get it all done before my spinal op - but yeah, it's so satisfying ... just look how much mud was in the stream ..
Not only do I have to learn about plants I now have to educate myself on pond/stream maintenance - might be an expert one day ....
@ren.b - just leave them [V. bons] if you're not sure. The top growth gives protection, as with many plants. You can cut back in spring, and the cut material will give you more plants. You can ask about that at the time if you aren't sure, but they come away very easily as cuttings. Wet cold is more difficult for them than dry cold. That goes for lots of plants I'll give a round of applause once I've put my mug of tea down.... @TheGreenMan - keep it potted, would be my advice. Small plants of any kind are always more vulnerable. I stick them in among other planting, but they still don't always survive, so they're better in a greenhouse or cold frame. It doesn't take much to knock them back, so in your climate, I'd play it safe. Once you have lots of them - experiment a bit, but if you only have 1 or 2, err on the cautious side.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
If it helps, I just cut one back down at the bottom of the garden, the side shoots may produce flowers but they're on borrowed time now. At least it won't be producing as much seed
This one is growing directly out of the wall, it seems to enjoy lime mortar...
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
Fairygirl - thank you! You just know I'm going to be asking you how to do cuttings in the Spring lol ... I'm sure it would be much easier for you to come and stay with me for a week than answering all my questions in here .... Just realised I've got another patch of stream to dig out - God it never ends ....
Yes - just snip down to a leaf joint when you trim them back See that long stem on the left in @Loxley's photo? That would make a few good cuttings. Almost anything you take off can be turned into one Enjoy the digging
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I've FINISHED the stream!!!! Andrew said it is about 300 feet long, I am never ever going to let it build up like that again. Water looks horrific so am hoping for a good downpour now - you know you're a gardening nut when you start praying for rain ... tell you what though, I'm struggling to find information on pond clearing/maintenance for non fish ponds without a pump. Got a guy coming to clear out the silt by hand but am wondering about investing in a vacuum but don't think they're recommended for bigger ponds. How do I tell how much water it holds? Was thinking about getting a skimmer for the leaf debris but they seem to need pumps ....
Hi, ren.b, hope it’s not your back keeping you awake after all the stream digging! I have just bought two verbena bonariensis. Still in their pots, partly as a result of reading this thread, the spot I had in mind for them was obviously all wrong. Good luck with the cuttings, I’m keen to try taking some, but like you, I’m a real amateur and never sure what to do.
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I don’t have to prune much as I currently only have two mature shrubs. I’ve recently planted seven new ones in the new garden so pruning will be for next year (hopefully).
I'll give a round of applause once I've put my mug of tea down....
@TheGreenMan - keep it potted, would be my advice. Small plants of any kind are always more vulnerable. I stick them in among other planting, but they still don't always survive, so they're better in a greenhouse or cold frame. It doesn't take much to knock them back, so in your climate, I'd play it safe. Once you have lots of them - experiment a bit, but if you only have 1 or 2, err on the cautious side.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
This one is growing directly out of the wall, it seems to enjoy lime mortar...
See that long stem on the left in @Loxley's photo? That would make a few good cuttings. Almost anything you take off can be turned into one
Enjoy the digging
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I have just bought two verbena bonariensis. Still in their pots, partly as a result of reading this thread, the spot I had in mind for them was obviously all wrong.
Good luck with the cuttings, I’m keen to try taking some, but like you, I’m a real amateur and never sure what to do.