12 Perennials You Must Cut Back This Fall for a Gorgeous Spring Garden!

As fall approaches, gardeners face the task of preparing their perennials for the cold months ahead.

While many perennials can be left to winter naturally, certain plants benefit significantly from a fall trim. Pruning not only helps maintain the garden’s aesthetic but also promotes healthier plants in the spring.

Why Cut Back in Fall?

As autumn settles in, it’s time to consider cutting back your perennials. This essential garden task not only helps keep your garden tidy through the winter but also protects your plants from diseases and pests.

Prevent Disease:

Fungal diseases like powdery mildew thrive in damp conditions. Cutting back affected plants in the fall removes diseased foliage, reducing the risk of infection spreading.

Pest Control:

Fall cleanup helps eliminate pests, such as slugs and snails, that overwinter in decaying plant matter. Removing foliage from plants like hostas and peonies can prevent these pests from laying eggs and wreaking havoc in the spring.

Avoid Slimy Mess:

Certain perennials, such as daylilies and bearded irises, become mushy and unsightly after the first frost. Trimming them back before this happens keeps your garden tidy and prevents potential rot.

When to Prune?

Timing is crucial. It’s best to wait until after the first hard frost when plants have gone dormant. This ensures they’ve stored enough energy for winter. However, don’t wait too long, as mushy foliage becomes difficult to handle.

12 Perennials You Should Cut Back In Fall

Preparing your garden for winter by cutting back perennials is crucial for maintaining plant health and garden aesthetics. Here’s a detailed guide on why and how to cut back specific perennials:

1. Daylilies (Hemerocallis)

Daylilies can become unsightly as their foliage deteriorates in the fall. Trimming them back prevents rot and keeps the garden neat.

How to Cut: Cut back the leaves to about four to six inches above the crown after the foliage dies. This helps the plant conserve energy for spring regrowth.

2. Hostas

Hostas are prone to slug and snail infestations, which can overwinter in decaying leaves.

How to Cut: Trim the foliage down to three inches above the crown after the first frost, or when the leaves start turning brown. This prevents pests from nesting and keeps the plant healthy.

3. Bearded Irises

Bearded irises are susceptible to iris borers, which can hide in dead foliage.

How to Cut: After the first frost, trim the foliage to about six inches, shaping it into a fan. This not only deters pests but also prepares the plant for a strong spring bloom.

4. Peonies

Peonies are prone to powdery mildew and other fungal diseases, which can spread if the foliage is left over winter.

How to Cut: After the leaves yellow and die back, cut the stems to three inches above the soil. Dispose of the cuttings properly to prevent disease spread.

5. Bee Balm (Monarda)

Bee Balm can become overly dense, leading to powdery mildew and other fungal issues.

How to Cut: Prune to three to five inches above the soil level after flowering. This encourages strong growth and better air circulation in the spring.

6. Columbine (Aquilegia)

Columbine can self-seed excessively, leading to overcrowding.

How to Cut: After the second bloom, trim back the stems to basal leaves. This controls self-seeding and promotes healthier growth.

7. Summer Phlox (Phlox paniculata)

Summer Phlox is prone to mildew, which thrives in moist, decaying foliage.

How to Cut: After the blooms fade, cut the stems to three inches above the soil. This reduces the risk of mildew and prepares the plant for a vigorous spring return.

8. Catmint (Nepeta)

Catmint can become woody and overgrown, leading to less vigorous growth in the spring.

How to Cut: Prune late in the fall, being careful not to remove new growth at the base. This encourages fresh, robust growth in the next season.

9. Hollyhocks (Alcea)

Hollyhocks are susceptible to rust, a fungal disease that can overwinter in dead foliage. 

How to Cut: After flowering, cut the stems down to about five inches above the soil. This helps prevent rust and other diseases.

10. Japanese Anemone (Anemone hupehensis)

Japanese Anemones can become messy as the foliage dies back, making the garden look untidy.

How to Cut: Trim the stems to four inches above the soil after the first frost. This keeps the garden neat and the plant healthy.

11. Yarrow (Achillea)

Yarrow’s dried stems can harbor pests and diseases if left over winter.

How to Cut: Cut down to the basal clump, being careful not to disturb any new growth at the base. This promotes a healthy start in spring.

12. Ligularia (Ligularia dentata)

Ligularia leaves turn brown and mushy after frost, which can lead to rot and attract pests.

How to Cut: Trim the leaves down to the base after they turn brown and mushy, ensuring the crown is clear for winter.

When cutting back perennials, always use clean, sharp tools to prevent the spread of disease. Marking the location of pruned perennials will help you avoid disturbing them during early spring garden work.

This thoughtful approach to fall pruning ensures your garden remains vibrant and healthy year after year.

By following these guidelines, you’ll create a healthier and more beautiful garden, ready to flourish when spring arrives.