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While spring and fall are common times for pruning, some perennial plants also benefit from a mid-season trim during the summer. When done correctly, summer pruning can encourage a second round of blooms, prevent plants from becoming too leggy, and keep your garden looking its best throughout the season. Let’s take a look at why and how these perennial plants should be pruned in the summer:
1. Salvia
As the glorious flower spikes of salvia plants fade, cut them back by about one-third. This helps to keep the plant compact and encourages a second flush of blooms. When summer pruning salvias, make sure to avoid cutting into the woody stems.
2. Coreopsis
If your coreopsis plants are starting to look unruly, they can cope with being cut back by about one-third in the summer to maintain a tidy appearance. Regular deadheading throughout the summer helps to extend the blooming season and prevents the plant from self-seeding too aggressively.
3. Catmint
Once established, catmint grows vigorously, and trimming back the entire plant by one-third after its first flush of flowers will encourage a second, more robust blooming cycle. This also helps keep the plant bushy and prevents it from sprawling too much.
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4. Lavender
After the first bloom, lightly trim the flowering stems of lavender plants back by a few inches to encourage a second, lighter bloom later in the season. Avoid cutting into old wood, as lavender does not regenerate well from that point.
5. Phlox
Summer pruning increases air circulation and reduces the risk of mildew in phlox plants. Regular deadheading will also encourage the plant to continue blooming long into the summer.
6. Blanket Flower
Shearing back blanket flower plants by one-third will encourage fresh, bushy growth and continued flower production.
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7. Daylilies
Once daylilies have finished blooming, remove the spent flower stalks to tidy up the plant and redirect energy into new growth. If the foliage starts to look ragged, you can also trim it back to encourage fresh leaves.
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8. Shasta Daisy
Deadheading spent blooms will extend the flowering period of Shasta daisies and prevent the plant from self-seeding. In late summer, you can cut the plant back by about one-third to encourage a tidier shape and prepare it for a second, smaller bloom.
9. Russian Sage
Prune Russian sage when the flowers begin to fade and the stems start to look woody. Cut back the stems by about one-third to maintain the plant’s shape and prevent it from becoming too leggy.
10. Yarrow
In late summer, cut the flowering stems of yarrow back to the basal foliage to tidy up the plant and prepare it for winter.
11. Penstemon
After the first bloom, trim back penstemon flower spikes to encourage continuous blooming. If the plant starts to look leggy, you can also prune it back by one-third to promote bushier growth.
12. Coneflowers
Prune and deadhead coneflowers when the petals begin to fade and droop to encourage more blooms. If the plant starts to look untidy, you can also cut it back by about one-third in the summer to maintain a compact shape.
13. Bee Balm
After the first bloom, cut back bee balm by about half to encourage new growth and reduce the risk of powdery mildew. This will also stimulate the plant to produce a second, smaller bloom later in the season.
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14. Speedwell
If speedwell starts to become leggy, trim it back by one-third in midsummer to promote fresh growth and maintain a more compact shape. Regular deadheading of faded flowers will extend the blooming period and keep the plant looking neat.
15. Geranium
After the first bloom, shear back the entire geranium plant by one-third to encourage a second flush of flowers and fresh, bushy growth.
16. Astilbe
Once the flowers have faded, remove the spent flower spikes to keep the astilbe plants looking neat and prevent them from expending energy on seed production. In late summer, you can also cut back the foliage if it starts to look tired or diseased.
17. Hosta
Regularly remove yellowing or damaged leaves of hostas throughout the summer to maintain the plant’s appearance and health. After blooming, flower stalks can be cut back to the base to keep the plant looking tidy.
18. Coral Bells
After the flowers fade, remove the spent stalks of coral bells to direct energy back into the foliage, which is the plant’s main attraction.
19. Sedum
Pinch back the growing tips of sedums in early summer to encourage bushier growth and more flowers. In late summer, dried flower heads can be removed to maintain the plant’s appearance and prevent self-seeding.
20. Balloon Flower
If balloon flowers become too tall or start to flop, you can cut them back by one-third in midsummer to maintain a more compact shape.
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21. Lobelia
After the first flush of blooms, trim back lobelias by about one-third to encourage a second flowering and keep them from becoming leggy.
22. Delphinium
Pruning delphiniums in the summer prevents the plant from becoming too top-heavy and potentially toppling over.
23. Black-eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susan plants can be pruned back by one-third in the summer to maintain a more compact shape.
24. Chrysanthemum
Pinch back the stems of chrysanthemums in early summer to encourage bushier growth and a more abundant fall bloom. Continue to deadhead throughout the season to extend the flowering period and keep the plant looking neat.
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25. Lamb’s Ear
After flowering, prune back the flower stalks of lamb’s ear to prevent the plant from becoming too leggy and to maintain its compact, tidy appearance. Removing damaged or yellowing leaves throughout the summer also helps keep the plant looking its best.
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