How to cut back perennials in autumn

Garten & Pflanzen
How to cut back perennials in autumn


The most important points in brief

  • In autumn, pruning many perennials such as broom, phlox, coneflower, and herbaceous peony is advisable to promote growth for the next season; however, with some species such as lavender, bergenia, or sedum, it is better to wait until spring to prune.
  • For healthy and aesthetically pleasing growth of your perennials, we recommend using plant supports and climbing obelisks, such as the robust Catania climbing obelisk from ELEO, which stylishly keeps sprawling perennials in shape.
  • ELEO not only supports hobby gardeners with high-quality garden accessories, but also offers comprehensive service including advice, manufacturing, and assembly instructions.

 

Pruning Perennials in Autumn – Gardening Tips for Your Perennial Bed

As soon as the last days of summer have passed and autumn is in the air, many hobby gardeners are itching to make the first preparations for the next To meet the season's needs. This also includes cutting back perennials.
But which perennials can be cut back in autumn? After all, the different species have different requirements. We explain which perennials benefit from being cut back in autumn – and which don't.

White phlox, close-up

©Couleur/pixabay.com: One of the most popular perennials with magnificent blooms: the phlox.

These perennials benefit from being cut back in autumn. Autumn

Our top 4 perennials that can be cut back in the autumn months are:

  • Broom
  • Phlox
  • Coneflower
  • Peony

Broom (Genista)

Experts recommend cutting back broom annually to encourage flowering. Broom is divided into spring-flowering and summer-flowering varieties. Spring-flowering broom should be pruned in autumn. Alternatively, you can also prune it in spring. It's important that pruning is done during the growing season. Summer-flowering broom is only pruned in early spring.

Phlox (Phlox paniculata)

Early-flowering phlox can be cut back in autumn as soon as the plants have finished blooming. You can collect the seeds beforehand and scatter them loosely in the flower bed if you want to enjoy more phlox in your perennial border next year. Next, take your scissors and cut the phlox back to about a hand's breadth above the ground.

Coneflower (Echinacea)

Coneflowers also benefit from pruning in autumn, once they have finished flowering. Cut off the faded and withered stems. Alternatively, you can prune your coneflowers in spring before they begin to sprout again.

Peonies (Paeonia officinalis)

Peonies are divided into tree peonies (Paeonia suffruticosa) and herbaceous peonies (Paeonia officinalis). While the shrub variety forms woody, bushy branches, the herbaceous peony sprouts anew from the ground each year. The latter benefits from pruning until about mid-November. Before the first frost, take your shears and cut your herbaceous peony back generously – a few centimeters above the ground is ideal. Now is also the right time to install a plant support for your peony. This allows it to grow into the plant's crown next year.

ELEO Plant Support Grosetto, uncoated, with peonies

©ELEO Garden: Ideally suited for peonies: The ELEO plant support Grosetto made of sturdy metal.

Support your perennials properly – with climbing obelisks and plant supports

For optimal and abundant growth next season, your perennials will appreciate support – in the form of plant supports and climbing obelisks. ELEO Garden offers a wide selection of sturdy, decorative, and weatherproof plant supports. For example, the Grosetto plant support, with its classic basket shape, is perfect for peonies. The large Catania climbing obelisk Catania, on the other hand, optimally keeps sprawling perennials like broom in shape.

ELEO Catania climbing obelisk, hot-dip galvanised, in the garden

©ELEO Garden: The ELEO climbing obelisk

Bergenia, purple flower, close-up©Onkel Ramirez/pixabay.com: The Bergenia displays beautiful reddish leaves in autumn and should not be cut back.

These perennials are best left uncut in autumn. Cutting Back

Some perennials shouldn't be cut back in autumn, as pruning would be counterproductive. This includes lavender – even though it's not a perennial in the classic sense, but rather a subshrub. Some perennials are also attractive in winter and add beauty to your garden during the dreary season.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia):

Lavender isn't cut back in autumn, but rather during the summer months. As soon as the flowers fade – at the end of July or beginning of August – the shoots are cut back. It's important not to cut too deeply. A cut back of about a third is ideal. A more substantial pruning should then be done in spring so that the plant can sprout vigorously again.

Barren Strawberry (Waldsteinia fragarioides):

The barren strawberry is a low-maintenance and magnificent ground cover. Pruning is only necessary if the plant spreads too much. However, you should only prune the barren strawberry in spring. This encourages abundant flowering in spring and summer.

Bergenia (Bergenia):

The evergreen bergenia turns reddish in winter and is a beautiful eye-catcher in an otherwise sparse perennial border. Therefore, wait until spring to cut back withered leaves and enjoy this impressive perennial for as long as possible, as it doesn't actually require any pruning.

Sedum (Stonecrop):

Many varieties of sedum only display their full splendor in autumn when they bloom in red, yellow, or white. Therefore, enjoy the sight of this hardy perennial and wait until spring to prune it. Then you can cut back bare and woody shoots close to the ground.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Pruning Perennials in Autumn

Should you even prune perennials before winter?

Generally speaking, pruning in autumn can help some perennials (see above) grow, so they sprout vigorously again next season. However, pruning in the autumn months is not absolutely necessary. The main pruning for almost all perennials takes place in spring. It is important that you prune before or after the last frost (generally before November and after March).

The right time: Dividing perennials in spring or autumn?

Perennials that bloom in spring and early summer can be divided in autumn. Since the plants need their energy for flowering in spring, they have enough time to establish roots during the still mild autumn months. However, you should only divide perennials that bloom in summer and autumn in spring.

What do I do with the faded perennials?

Once your perennials have finished blooming, you can carefully prune them back by removing rotting leaves and dead shoots – this pruning is primarily for aesthetic purposes. Some perennials, like the peony (see above), can be pruned back more drastically. Otherwise, the withered foliage serves as natural protection for the plants against cold and frost in winter.


Tip:Also read our guide on quick autumn decorations for the garden. Here we show you beautiful DIY ideas and inspiration to showcase your garden in autumn.

Annett Zahn
by Annett Zahn Annett Zahn

Plants and herbs are my passion. From a young age, I was able to build up a wealth of knowledge in this area, which my garden constantly benefits from.

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