Can I prune these to the ground with winter coming?
Maybe stupid question. These are totally dead. I can prune them to the ground, since new flowers/stems will grow out next year right? (Whatever region Rocky Mountains of US is)
I leave everything until the spring, bugs hibernate in hollow stems and birds eat seeds. Once the temperature gets above 10c in the spring I cut everything back.
pearsareawesome
Yes but better for bugs to leave them. If you don’t care about bugs – just think that hosting bugs over winter can prevent pests in spring bc their natural predators may have survived the winter
simone3131
Sedum are one of my favorite perennials to leave up through the winter since they provide a lot of winter interest in the garden and look pretty covered in snow. But if you’d rather look at nothing, you can cut them back. They are hard to kill if that’s what you’re worried about.
myrcenol
Yes but they look awesome all winter- id leave them until spring.
CitySwampDonkey
Wait till spring
riot-
Reminds me of dried flower arrangements. The bronze sculptural shapes look great against the snow. Can’t imagine cutting it back is a better look, how droll!
CypripediumGuttatum
If you really want them gone you can cut them back to 4” so bugs can hibernate in the stems and so they can catch snow (if you get snow). I just leave everything till spring, after the air is filled with flying critters.
I garden with it in mind that dead plant material that isn’t diseased isn’t trash, it’s organic matter that can decompose to feed the plant it came from the next year. If I do trim in spring or fall I chop and drop.
ProfessionalTax1821
Not stupid and yes you could prune them to the ground you could lay them flat on the beds and they would provide habit and organic matter or they could be removed if that is your aesthetic
XYZ1113AAA
I would uncover the base of the plant. I bet new buds for next year have already sprouted. If so they will want sun and air circulation. You can either cut old stalk right above new growth, or leave them for winter height in the garden. These do good either way.
tillandsia0614
I’m team wait till spring. If you have deer in your area, leaving the stalks up will prevent them from eating the tender new shoots. And they keep good winter interest in the garden!
toomanylegz
When you prune them in early spring leave at least two inches above ground so the new stems have some support.
DuragJeezy
It’ll look better as is when it’s covered in snow. But sure you can chop & drop if you want
GingerIsTheBestSpice
I leave mine up because I don’t know about you, but in Jan Feb March everything everywhere is just snow and it’s nice to see the dried flower heads! Also it’s good for bugs and nature, and also-also I have enough to do in the fall! It’s one thing I can put off till spring
LadyoftheOak
I leave my garden.
Intelligent_Peak_335
Break em off at ground level they’ll grow back in spring
16 Comments
Absolutely. Cut those Sedum down.
I leave everything until the spring, bugs hibernate in hollow stems and birds eat seeds. Once the temperature gets above 10c in the spring I cut everything back.
Yes but better for bugs to leave them. If you don’t care about bugs – just think that hosting bugs over winter can prevent pests in spring bc their natural predators may have survived the winter
Sedum are one of my favorite perennials to leave up through the winter since they provide a lot of winter interest in the garden and look pretty covered in snow. But if you’d rather look at nothing, you can cut them back. They are hard to kill if that’s what you’re worried about.
Yes but they look awesome all winter- id leave them until spring.
Wait till spring
Reminds me of dried flower arrangements. The bronze sculptural shapes look great against the snow. Can’t imagine cutting it back is a better look, how droll!
If you really want them gone you can cut them back to 4” so bugs can hibernate in the stems and so they can catch snow (if you get snow). I just leave everything till spring, after the air is filled with flying critters.
I garden with it in mind that dead plant material that isn’t diseased isn’t trash, it’s organic matter that can decompose to feed the plant it came from the next year. If I do trim in spring or fall I chop and drop.
Not stupid and yes you could prune them to the ground you could lay them flat on the beds and they would provide habit and organic matter or they could be removed if that is your aesthetic
I would uncover the base of the plant. I bet new buds for next year have already sprouted. If so they will want sun and air circulation. You can either cut old stalk right above new growth, or leave them for winter height in the garden. These do good either way.
I’m team wait till spring. If you have deer in your area, leaving the stalks up will prevent them from eating the tender new shoots. And they keep good winter interest in the garden!
When you prune them in early spring leave at least two inches above ground so the new stems have some support.
It’ll look better as is when it’s covered in snow. But sure you can chop & drop if you want
I leave mine up because I don’t know about you, but in Jan Feb March everything everywhere is just snow and it’s nice to see the dried flower heads! Also it’s good for bugs and nature, and also-also I have enough to do in the fall! It’s one thing I can put off till spring
I leave my garden.
Break em off at ground level they’ll grow back in spring