Pansies are a workhorse in the garden, putting on a color show during cold weather when many plants have already gone to sleep for the season. One way to keep them prolific is to prune them occasionally throughout the growing season. Doing so tells the plant to redirect its energy from producing seeds to producing more blooms for a prolonged flower display. To help you get the most out of your pansies, we spoke to gardening experts who shared their tips for when and how to cut back this charming winter flower.
Should You Prune Pansies?
Although pansies don’t require the dramatic haircut some other plants do, they still benefit from the occasional pruning. “Pruning pansies can help maintain bountiful blooms throughout the season and keep a more orderly appearance,” says Damon Abdi, assistant professor of landscape horticulture at Louisiana State University AgCenter. “Deadheading, or removing fading flowers, can encourage new blooms to emerge, whereas a more aggressive rejuvenation pruning can limit a leggy appearance where stretching stems detract from aesthetics.”
When to Prune Pansies
Timing depends on the type of pruning you’re doing. “Deadheading is fair game anytime in fall, winter, or spring—whenever you see a bloom fading, go ahead and pop it off (stem and all),” says Tabar Gifford, master gardener and partnership cultivator at American Meadows. The main goal of deadheading is to delay seed production so the plants continue producing blooms.
For shaping or trimming back leggy growth, late winter into early spring is the best time to prune. “The days get a bit longer, temperatures start to lift, and the plants are naturally gearing up for a big wave of new growth,” says Gifford. “A little shaping at that time helps them respond quickly, and it stretches their bloom season well into spring—right up until summer’s heat finally convinces them to take a break.”
How to Prune Pansies
There are two ways to prune pansies: deadheading and cutting back leggy growth. Ahead, Gifford explains how to do each technique the right way.
Deadheading
Deadheading is a straightforward pruning technique that involves pinching off spent flowers to halt seed production and redirect the plant’s energy to producing more blooms.
Examine the plant for blooms that look droopy, papery, or have lost their color.Follow each flower stem down, tracing the stem to where it meets a leaf or the plant base.Use your fingers or a small pair of scissors and take the entire flower stem off.Check the plant once or twice a week. If a stem looks soft or brown after a cold spell, trim it back to healthy growth to prevent disease.
Cutting Leggy Growth
Pansies can become leggy and lose their shape. To fix this, Gifford recommends cutting the stems back to encourage new branching and help the plant regain its rounded shape. “You’ll end up with compact, healthier pansies that hold their color beautifully in containers and beds,” she says.
Look for any stretched stems. They will appear long and skinny and flop outward.Using pruners or scissors, make a cut just above a pair of leaves. A general rule is to take off about one-third of the stem’s length.Water the soil around the plant. If temperatures are mild, feed the plants with a balanced or bloom-boosting fertilizer.
Pansy Pruning Mistakes
Avoid these common mistakes when cutting back your pansies so they continue to bloom prolifically from winter to spring.
Only Pulling Off the Petals
Many gardeners just tug off the faded petals of pansies as a quick and easy solution, leaving the seed pods intact and allowing the plant to put its energy into producing seeds instead of blooms. “The solution is easy: take the whole stem,” says Gifford. “Snip it back to a leaf or down to the base, and your pansy will shift right back into flower-making mode.”
Being Timid With Leggy Plants
It’s common to just snip the tips when a plant stretches, but those floppy stems won’t fix themselves, Gifford says. “Don’t be afraid to cut leggy stems back by about one-third, right above a pair of healthy leaves. A confident trim gives you a much fuller, bushier plant in no time,” she explains.
Pruning During a Hard Freeze
Wait until after a hard freeze to prune pansies, as cutting frozen tissue can cause more damage than it’s worth. “If your pansies have been through a deep freeze, wait for a milder day above freezing and let the plant thaw before pruning,” says Gifford. “The cuts heal better, and the plant bounces back more easily.”
Ignoring Mushy or Diseased Stems
Mushy or diseased stems can appear after cold snaps or heavy rains, and they can spread issues to the rest of the plant. When pruning, Gifford recommends clipping any soft or brown stems. “Good airflow helps too, so avoid crowding the plants or letting mulch pile up around the crown,” she adds.
Cutting Too Far Into the Crown
The crown is the heart of the plant, and cutting it too low can stunt or kill your pansies. “When doing a bigger cutback, leave about a 1/2-inch to an inch of growth above the crown, and trim stems individually instead of taking a flat cut straight across the top,” Gifford says.
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