Pruning perennials is difficult not only because of the effort and precision it requires but also because of the planning involved, such as figuring out when the right time to prune would be.
If you’re planning to go about pruning in early spring, here are 11 perennials that could potentially benefit from it, leading to gorgeous summer blooms:
11 Perennials To Prune In Early Spring For Gorgeous Summer Blooms
1: Sedums
Sedums are a spring special thanks to their majestic flower clusters blooming in shades like purple, blue, red, and sometimes green.
Pruning them in early spring is beneficial as it helps encourage new growth and improves air circulation around the dense plant, resulting in more blooms and reduced chances of fungal disease.
2: Bellflowers
As the name suggests, bellflowers offer bell-shaped blooms in prominent bright shades of purple, pink, and blue. This one is a relatively hardy perennial that can adapt to a variety of different conditions.
You want to prune bellflowers in early spring as clearing up dead and weak branches and foliage allows for better, undisturbed growth.
3: Black-Eyed Susans
Cutting back black-eyed Susans in the early spring gives the plant an opportunity for rejuvenation. Removing dead branches, leaves, and spent flowers lightens up the plant, preparing it for better and bushier growth in the summertime.
4: Butterfly Bush
The butterfly bush isn’t given that name for no reason. This perennial shrub is highly attractive to pollinators like butterflies and ladybugs due to its bright colors and nectar-rich blooms.
Cutting back your butterfly bush in early spring promotes fresh and healthy growth while removing any old foliage and branches that could be weighing the shrub down and keeping it from growing to its fullest potential.
5: Coral Bells
Coral bells offer uniquely vibrant flower spikes as well as distinct, large foliage that complements the blooms really well.
Because of the large, dense leaves, air circulation around the plant can become restricted. You want to trim down your coral bell plants around early spring and ensure airflow isn’t an issue so that new growth can be promoted and any chances of fungal disease spreading are contained.
6: Lavender
Not only is lavender useful for keeping pests and insects out of your garden, but it’s also a very productive herb that can make your garden smell better and brighten up your sweet and savory dishes at the same time.
Lavender in the garden can become weak and experience leggy growth as time goes by. It’s a good idea to trim it down in the springtime, which can help enhance airflow and potentially lead to more vigorous growth.
7: Coneflowers
Coneflowers are given that name due to their cone-shaped dark center that adds great visual contrast alongside the bright petals.
Many gardeners prefer cutting back this perennial in early spring, as removing dead growth and foliage helps lift some pressure off the plant and gives it a good runway for growth.
8: Russian Sage
With its vibrant blue and purple flower spikes, Russian sage resembles lavender, but, fundamentally, it’s quite different from it. Russian sage is much more hardy and resilient, meaning it can tolerate drought-like conditions and cold spells with ease.
Pruning this hardy perennial means setting it up for long-term success. The more dead wood and foliage the plants carry, the weaker and more leggy their growth will be. Cutting back encourages rejuvenation and pushes the plants towards better, healthier growth.
9: Blanket Flowers
To get your blanket flowers up and blooming, pruning is essential. This perennial is often weighed down by dead growth, damaged stems, and weak foliage, which is why early spring pruning makes sense, as it prepares the plants for a phase of fresh, new growth and blooming.
10: Yarrows
Whenever the topic of perennials is mentioned, I feel like yarrows typically fly under the radar and don’t get noticed as much as some of the other perennials out there. They deserve a lot more love and attention than people may give them.
These hardy perennials bloom beautifully in late spring and need frequent trimming due to their dense, compact growth. It can help improve air circulation issues and prevent common fungal diseases from deteriorating your plants.
11: Geraniums
Geraniums are tough, versatile, and can be planted however one prefers to plant them in the garden, going well with pretty much everything. The most important thing you want with geraniums is dense growth, and what better way of stimulating it than a good prune?
Remove any unwanted stems, leaves, and spent flowers from the previous blooming cycle. The plants should be uniform and tidy, leaving no room for fungal infections to spread and go unnoticed.
