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Need Help From My Trusted Advisors Again

ren.bren.b Posts: 164
in Plants
Hi
I'm not sure what to do with the plants pictured below with regards to trimming them now they have stopped flowering - I know what they are but not too sure WHEN or how far to cut back the flowering stems.
The first picture is my 'Cats Pyjamas' (Nepata)
The second picture is a plant called 'Armeria Sweet Dreams' - the flowers are dying and on long stems.
Last picture is a Thalictrum.
Any advice is very welcome.




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Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I cut the Thalictrum flower stalks right down to base at the earliest opportunity or they self seed everywhere.
    The others, just cut the dead flower stalks off as low as you can get them. 
    Or you can wait for them to dry right out and collect some seeds first. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • ren.bren.b Posts: 164
    Forgot to add this one to the list - I have two different types of Geum - 'Mrs Bradshaw' and 'Double Blazing Sunset' -

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Same,  cut the flowering stalks right down when they’ve died. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited August 2022
    @ren.b With your Geum just check there are no tiny buds developing further down the stem before you cut. Keeping upto date with deadheading is a good way to encourge more flowers. I would do this as you go along. I check for dead heads every couple of days now that I am retired and have more time it makes a big difference and takes your garden into autumn.
    There are some plants that I don't deadhead including Phlomis, Verbena and Santolina these will stay through winter. I think the best way to look at it is if a flower dies in an attractive way keep when it reaches the end of it's flowering season.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Apart from those that self seed to cause problems the following year, l also leave attractive stems and dried flowers over winter.  They can provide food and shelter for wildlife and keep interest in the garden.  I stopped deadheading Buddleja, for example, when l noticed small birds feeding on the seeds in autumn.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Asters are another birds will eat the seed on these.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • ren.bren.b Posts: 164
    So for the plants above - just do I just follow each individual stem (that has dead flowers) right down to its base and cut there?
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