10/02/2026
One of the things I get asked about yhe most is pruning and up keep of plants. There really isnt a beat time to do everything. Gardening/ landscaping to keep things looking their best is a process. Not a once a year task. Once frost hits and perennials are dormant its time to clean them up. Shrubs can be pruned in fall, but the best time to sheer evergreens is late winter very early spring because new growth will be pushing soon and will make the shrub look better. The tips usually turn brown on every greens after they have been cut/ sheared. I do prune a lot of shrubs in the fall so I am not saying don't just keep in this in mind. Best time to prune for size (cutting off a lot of the plant is definitely late fall once its dormant before its pushing out in the spring. For conifer evergreens (spruce, arborvitae, juniper, cypress, etc) NEVER cut past the growth line exposing bare branches. They will not push back out most of the time. This does not apply to broadleaf evergreens like boxwood, holly, laurels, etc. As always if you have questions just ask. Im always here to help!
Daylilies — remove yellow/brown foliage once it collapses; cut to a few inches above the crown.
Hostas — wait until frost turns the leaves yellow/brown, then cut them to the ground. This is especially useful where slugs/snails are an issue because the dead foliage gives them hiding places.
Peonies — cut herbaceous peonies nearly to the ground once foliage declines, particularly if there has been any leaf spotting or mildew.
Phlox — cut down after it finishes and starts dying back; definitely remove foliage if powdery mildew was present.
Bee balm/Monarda — can be cut back after frost, especially if mildew was an issue.
Catmint — trim back tired/dead foliage after frost.
Salvia — once top growth is killed by frost, it can be cut back, although I often leave a little crown protection until spring.
Iris — remove brown/diseased foliage now; healthy green foliage can remain until it naturally declines. Clean debris around the rhizomes.
Hardy geraniums — browned, floppy foliage can be cut back.
Shasta daisies — cut declining stems down after frost.
Coreopsis — dead stems can be cut back once dormant.
Yarrow — cut declining stems back, unless you want the dried flower heads for winter texture.
Astilbe — can be cut back after frost, although the dried plumes look good through winter.
Bleeding heart — if the foliage has already yellowed/died, remove it.
Solomon's seal — cut down once foliage yellows.
Liatris — can be cut after seed heads are finished, although birds may use the seed.
Garden mums — don't prune hard in October while they're flowering. Deadhead if needed, but leave stems through winter and cut them down in spring.
Hardy hibiscus — wait until it is completely dormant/frost-killed. Then you can cut it to roughly 6–12 inches, or leave stems until spring so you can remember where the late-emerging crown is.
I typicalls cut my Liriope down in winter when it starts to look burned. Usually between late Jan and mid Feb. Important note about liriope: If we get a late frost and it burns the new shoots and makes them look white, go ahead and cut them again and let them start all over. This cutting will NOT kill or hurt them.
*yes I used AI to create this image. I'm a gardener not a graphic designer! 😉
