Twelve Perennials to Regularly Prune in the Winter Season
Twelve Perennials to Regularly Prune in the Winter Season
Annual Blooms are a vital component of a flourishing garden, offering color, texture, and pleasure throughout the growing period. Maintenance is required even during the winter months, as trimming back annuals once they've entered their dormant phase can help ward off issues such as pests and diseases. The garden appears more organized and tidy without any debris from preserved plants. Here, we've compiled professional suggestions on specific annuals you should prune back during winter.
- Kathy Jentz, the host of the GardenDC podcast, editor of Washington Gardener, and author of "Groundcover Revolution"
- Jan Johnsen, a landscape designer and the writer of "Gardentopia: Design Basics for Creating Beautiful Outdoor Spaces"
01 of 12 ## Lantana
The allure of lantana (Lantana camara) to pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies is undeniable, with its vivid blossoms in a range of hues and fragrance making it a top choice for gardeners, especially for container planting. However, its invasive nature can make it a problematic garden plant. If planted directly in the ground, it's a good candidate for winter pruning.
"The best time to prune lantana is in late winter or the early spring, as it is typically dormant at those times," says Kathy Jentz, editor of Washington Gardener and host of the GardenDC podcast. "Cut back the entire plant to about 6 to 10 inches from the ground."
- Zones: 7 to 11
- Mature size: Approximately 5 feet tall x 5 feet wide; smaller when kept pruned
- Care requirements: Full sun, well-drained soil
02 of 12 ## Wisteria
Perennial vines like wisteria steadily expand their territory year after year. Its lavender, white, pink, or blue composite flowers that hang gracefully from the branches are a sight to behold, but its ambitious nature requires careful management. To keep wisteria in its designated area, proper pruning is essential.
"Asian wisteria vines can be pruned back in winter when the plant is dormant, with most of the leaves having fallen off, thus allowing for better access and a clearer view of what you're cutting," says Jentz. "Any dead or damaged areas can be cut back to the trunk."
She recommends trimming back any vertical leaders reaching beyond your preferred height—they can be pruned by about one-third. "Finally, any side branches can be cut back to two to three buds, as that's where the new growth will emerge in spring." Note that some varieties, like American wisteria, should be pruned back in the spring, immediately after flowering.
- Zones: Generally 4 to 9, possibly zone 3 with some varieties of wisteria
- Mature size: The vine can spread over 30 feet in various directions
- Care requirements: Full or partial sun, moist, slightly acidic soil
03 of 12 ## Daylily
Daylilies add a burst of color to the garden with their vibrant blooms and charming colors, but winter—when the plant is finished growing for the season—is a suitable time for daylily maintenance.
"Daylilies should be cut back after the first frost," says landscape designer Jan Johnsen. "However, avoid cutting them back too early. The green foliage provides energy for the plant to thrive."
Johnsen suggests waiting for the foliage to die back naturally: "When most of the leaves have become brown and limp, it's time to cut back. Use pruning shears to make a clean cut and prune back to the base of the daylily plant."
- Zones: 3 to 9
- Mature size: 24 to 48 inches tall x 24 to 36 inches wide
- Care requirements: Full to partial sun, well-drained soil
04 of 12 ## Bee Balm
If you haven't already cleaned up your bee balm prior to winter, now's the time. The tall, spindly stalks that supported lush blossoms in the summer have now faded and crumbled. The plant will regrow from the ground up in the spring, but there's no need to keep the old stalks in place for winter.
- Zones: 3 to 9
- Mature size: 36 inches tall x 8 inches wide
- Care requirements: Full sun, plenty of water, well-drained soil
05 of 12 ## Catmint
Catmint is busy all summer as a pollinator haven, but when winter arrives, it needs a little help. "Another popular perennial damaged by the cold days of winter is catmint," says Johnsen. "The withered foliage should be cut back to 2 to 4 inches high after a first frost, or later in winter."
Taking care of your catmint ensures prolific growth, a pleasing scent, and attractive blooms in the next growing season.
Areas: 3 to 8* Mature dimensions: Around 24 inches tall by around 24 inches wide* Maintenance needs: Partial sun exposure
06of 12## Hosta
Hostas can be a significant addition to your garden, with their lush, attractive foliage contributing structure and balance to your flowers. However, maintaining their impressive size comes with certain obligations after the growing season has ended.
"In my opinion, one of the most important perennials to tidy up post-growing season is the hosta," says Johnsen. "Remove the aged and worn-out leaves about 5 inches above the ground following the first frost. This is crucial as decaying hosta leaves can offer shelter to slugs, which may damage emerging leaves in the spring."
Johnsen also mentions that rodents, such as voles, may try to build their winter residence in old hosta leaves. "This can be detrimental to the plant as rodents may subsequently consume hosta roots," says Johnsen.
- Areas: 3 to 8
- Mature dimensions: About 12 to 24 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide, with certain varieties potentially larger
- Maintenance needs: Generally partial to full shade, with consistently moist soil
07of 12## Coreopsis
Coreopsis is often called tickseed; regardless of its name, it's hardy, easy to cultivate, and provides an entertaining vertical splash of color in the form of a daisy-like bloom. This perennial benefits from retaining its old foliage throughout winter to protect the crown from the cold—so plan on trimming back your coreopsis very late in the season, just as spring is about to bloom.
- Areas: 4 to 9, occasionally an annual further north
- Mature dimensions: 2 to 4 feet tall, with taller varieties possible
- Maintenance needs: Full sun, well-drained soil, even somewhat sandy
08of 12## Bearded iris
If you enjoy flowers that produce large, sumptuous blossoms, you'll likely fall for irises. Bearded irises, in particular, come in a wide range of stunning colors, with drooping flower petals adorned by ruffled edges. Winter care can be crucial in helping discourage disease and pest problems and keeping your irises vigorous.
"Cut back the iris blades to 6 inches in late fall or winter," says Johnsen. "This prevents iris borers and fungal diseases from overwintering in the leaves."
- Areas: 3 to 9
- Mature dimensions: About 24 inches tall x about 12 inches wide
- Maintenance needs: Full sunlight, well-drained soil
09of 12## Peony
A peony's magnificent blooms and brilliant colors make it a must-have for any flower gardener. They also benefit from gentle clean-up after the growing season. While clean-up can be done in the fall, it can certainly be accomplished in the winter as well—just don't wait too long!
"In my opinion, peonies are the most crucial perennial to trim back," says Jentz. "By late summer and early fall, the leaves are looking worn and tattered. Often, they have a powdery mildew on them, so leaving them on is not beneficial to the plant." She adds that it's best to cut and discard affected parts of the plant, but refrain from composting them—if they do have a disease, you don't want it to spread.
- Areas: 3 to 9
- Size: Approximately 3 feet tall x 3 feet wide
- Maintenance needs: Full sun; moderate water; rich, well-drained soil
10of 12## Daisy
You might think of daisies as simply friendly wildflowers, but domestic gardening is also an option—and they're delightful! Once daisies wilt after frost, you can trim away a significant amount of spent foliage while preserving several inches of the stems above the ground.
- Areas: Varies, 3 to 9
- Mature dimensions: About 16 inches tall x 12 inches wide
- Maintenance needs: Full sun, well-drained soil
11of 12## Columbine
Aquilegia is known for either hanging blossoms or upright flowers, with a wide array of colors to choose from. Columbine blooms boast a distinctive bell that's absolutely breathtaking, and these hardy perennials deliver lovely colors year after year. Help them make it through winter by trimming them back almost to the ground and adding a touch of mulch for additional cold protection.
- Areas: 3 to 9
- Mature dimensions: About 24 inches tall x 12 inches wide
- Maintenance needs: Full sun or partial shade (depending on the variety); well-drained soil
12of 12## Yarrow
Yarrow is easy to cultivate, relatively tolerant of dry weather, and only demands minimal attention from the gardener. However, like many other flowering perennials, Achillea millefolium can benefit from some late-fall and early-winter tidying—this will allow space for next year's growth.
- Areas: 3 up to 9
- Mature dimensions: Ranging from 24 to 36 inches in height and 24 inches in width
- Maintenance tips: Requires full sun exposure and well-drained soil that should not be excessively moist
Martha Stewart, known for her expertise in home and gardening, suggests pruning back lantana in late winter or early spring to keep its size manageable and promote healthy growth. In Home Garden News, they discuss the specifics of pruning lantana, mentioning Kathy Jentz, the editor of Washington Gardener and host of the GardenDC podcast, as a source.
Gardeners should also consider pruning their daylilies after the first frost, waiting for the foliage to turn brown and limp before making a clean cut with pruning shears. Landscape designer Jan Johnsen, who writes for Gardentopia, offers these suggestions in Home Garden News.