GET MORE BLOOMS IN THE SPRING – FOLLOW OUR PRUNING GUIDE
Fall days bring cooler temperatures and changes in our gardens. Our perennials and shrubs start to look pretty sad as they get ready to die back and sleep all winter. If you are like many gardeners, fall means it is time to cut everything back!
If you have any of the plants below, avoid cutting them to the ground this fall, or in some cases, cutting them back at all.
WHY ISN’T MY HYDRANGEA BLOOMING?!
Often, gardeners mistakenly trim back their hydrangea bushes in the fall and take off their blooms for the next year. So many varieties of hydrangeas bloom on OLD and NEW branches. See our chart to discover if you should trim back your hydrangeas or not!
FOLLOW OUR GRAF GROWERS TIPS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR HYGRANGEAS
Hydrangea Macrophylla
- Do not prune back in the fall. Blooms on new and old wood.
- Varieties include ‘Endless Summer’ &‘Let’s Dance’ series
Hydrangea Paniculata
- Blooms on new wood. Prune late winter or early spring.
- Varieties include: ‘Limelight’, ‘Little Lime’, ‘Bobo’, ‘Little Quick Fire’, ‘Quick Fire’
Hydrangea Arborescens
- Blooms on new wood. Prune late winter or early spring.
- Varieties include: ‘Annabelle’, ‘Invinciball’, ‘Incrediball’
Climbing Hydrangeas
[ Hydrangea Petriolaris ]
- Blooms on old wood. Do not prune back.
Oakleaf Hydrangea
[ Quercifolia ]
- Blooms on old wood. Do not prune back.
Hydrangea Serrata
Blooms on old wood. Do not prune back.
SHRUBS
Leave these shrubs alone in the landscape when you are putting your garden to bed!
Lilacs & Azaleas
Prune after they flower in the spring, but before July 4th!
Rhododendron
Prune after they flower but before July 4th! If you prune now, you are cutting off all of their flowers!
Roses & Rose of Sharon
Leave alone for the coming winter. Clean them up in the early spring, around March & April.
PERENNIALS
Avoid cutting back these perennials until the appropriate time to ensure better blooms and growth next year!
Lavender
Wait until March to prune! Cut out any dead wood at the end of winter to ensure the best new flush for your lavender plants.
Russian Sage (Perovskia)
If the shape or health of the plant has been compromised, cut it back aggressively this fall, to roughly six inches. If not, leave it alone until early to mid-spring, removing any dead wood and cutting back to where you see new growth emerging. Remember, it’s a late breaking plant, so give your sage a little extra time to start growing.
Perennial Hibiscus
Cut this plant back to about six inches from the ground this fall. It will grow back from the stump, but leaving 6” above the ground gives you a marker to remind you that it is there. Perennial hibiscus will not break dormancy until at least June!
Summer and Fall Blooming Clematis
It is best to wait until spring to clean up any dead wood on these plants. You’ll have the go ahead when you start seeing a little new growth.
FALL IS FOR PLANTING!
Fall is an excellent season for planting due to our steady rainfall and cooler temperatures!
New Arrivals at Graf’s for Fall Planting:
- Anemones
- Arborvitae
- Boxwoods
- Hydrangeas
- Caryopteris
PLANTS TO ENJOY FOR FALL AND WINTER INTEREST
Ornamental Grasses
Enjoy the flowy plumes on your grasses all winter. Your bird friends will thank you too! Don’t cut them back until March at the earliest, or April at the latest.
Coral Bells
Keep these foliage-forward plants around to enjoy all winter. Their hardy leaves will look beautiful when the snow melts and everything else is cut back for winter.
Evergreens
Can be pruned in mid-spring, after the plants have begun to flush lush new growth.
Get Perennials, Trees, and Shrubs to spruce up your yard for fall! Shop GrafGrowers.com or shop in-store 7 Days a week!
1 thought on “Graf’s Fall Pruning Guide”
Great Info! Maybe now I’ll have those gorgeous blooms I’m always looking for!