Cut off faded perennials in bunches
In autumn, most of the perennials are just a shadow of themselves. During the season, the magnificent beauties have completely exhausted themselves and also diligently cared for offspring. Shortly before the onset of winter, all of the above-ground parts of the plant died. Now the ideal time window opens up for the maintenance of the pattern. How to properly prune retracted perennials:
- Recommended cutting tool: crescent bush, knife or secateurs
- Put on gloves to protect against toxic sap, as with Peonies
- Grasp wilted shoots in clusters with one hand
- With the cutting tool in the other hand, cut about 10 cm above the ground
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The safety distance to the ground prevents valuable winter buds from being accidentally cut off. Ideally, spread a thick layer of leaves and coniferous branches over the cut perennials so that the root ball in the soil is well protected from permanent winter wetness.
Do not cut perennials with a winter aspect
A wide range of decorative perennials adorns the winter garden with evergreen, brightly colored leaves or attractive seed heads. When dreary melancholy spreads in the bed, the indestructible perennials set eye-catching accents. At the latest when winter puts a snow cap on the seed and fruit stands, you will think back gratefully for not having used the scissors at this point. The following perennials are spared from the autumn pruning:
- Candytuft (Iberis)
- Golden strawberries (Waldsteinia)
- Purple bells (Heuchera)
- Bergenia (Bergenia)
- Height Sedum plant (Sedum)
- Red-leaved Milkweed (Euphorbia amygdaloides)
- Yarrow (Achillea)
Winter-flowering perennials, such as the unique snow rose, also known as, are also excluded from the autumn pruning Christmas rose (Helleborus).
Cut grass in spring
Ornamental grasses enchant the otherwise empty garden with their stalks and picturesque ears. For a pruning, make a note of the deciduous species only in early spring. Winter and evergreen Grasses just comb them out with your hands in late winter.
Before Godfather Frost finds its way into the garden, tie the clumps together loosely with string. In this way, the sensitive plant heart is well protected from moisture and severe frost. Animal winter guests appreciate grasses as a safe haven. Even hollow stems are often used by domestic insects as much sought-after winter quarters. Hungry birds get through the lean season safely thanks to the seeds.
Tips
In contrast to perennials, for most Bushes and trees an autumn pruning taboo. Cutting encourages twigs and branches to sprout with soft, herbaceous growth. The time window until the first frost is too short for the young shoots to mature and lignify. The fatal consequences are frostbite that can extend deep into the wood. The main date for pruning is - with a few exceptions - in late winter.