Guide for Cutting Back Verbena: Optimal Time to Trim for Abundant Flowers Next Year
In the world of gardening, one plant that stands out for its beauty and resilience is the perennial verbena, particularly the Verbena bonariensis. Here's a simple guide on how to prune this charming plant to ensure a healthier, more vibrant garden.
Early Spring Pruning
When the chill of winter begins to wane and new shoots are yet to appear, it's time to prune your perennial verbena. By cutting back all old, woody stems down to ground level, you stimulate vigorous new growth and encourage more flowers during the growing season.
Benefits of Pruning
Pruning offers several advantages: 1. Removal of old, dead wood that may harbor pests or diseases. 2. Stimulates vigorous new growth for a fuller plant. 3. Promotes better flowering by encouraging more flower-producing shoots. 4. Helps maintain the plant's shape and overall health.
Steps to Prune Perennial Verbena
- Wait until early spring, before any new shoots begin to appear.
- Using clean, sharp garden secateurs, cut all old and woody stems down to the ground level or about 15 cm above ground if shoots have just started to emerge.
- Remove the cut stems from the area to keep the site tidy and reduce disease risk.
Tools Required
- Sharp garden secateurs or pruning shears (essential for cutting woody stems cleanly)
- Gloves (optional, to protect hands while handling stems)
- A bucket or garden waste bag to collect cut material
Additional Notes
- Deadheading spent flowers during the blooming season is optional with Verbena bonariensis. It can keep the plant tidier but is not necessary, especially if you want to encourage natural self-seeding.
- Leave some stems standing through the winter to provide frost protection and habitat for beneficial insects, then cut back in spring.
Pruning your perennial verbena will reward you with healthier plants and better displays later in the year. A pair of secateurs, like the WOLF-Garten Bypass Secateurs, are necessary for pruning verbena. Don't forget to clean your tools regularly with a garden tool cleaner, such as Gardening Naturally's Natural Citrus Cleaner, to maintain their sharpness and prevent the spread of diseases.
Sophie King, our Gardens Editor, joined the team in June 2024. She shares growing hacks for every space, from herbaceous borders to balconies, with a love for gardening and a passion for trying out various vegetables and flowers.
While Sophie King's passion for gardening extends beyond the perennial verbena, her expertise also shines in the realm of interior design, transforming homes into stylish havens. In fact, she believes that a well-tended garden is the perfect extension of a home's lifestyle, blending seamlessly into the home-and-garden aesthetic.
