Late winter is one of the MOST important times in the garden — and knowing what to prune (and how!) can make all the difference.
In today’s garden walkthrough, I’m showing you:
• How to properly prune clematis (and how to avoid cutting off this year’s blooms)
• The right way to cut back perennial ornamental grasses
• How to begin transforming a Puffer Fish hydrangea into a tree-form hydrangea — and why it takes time and patience
Pruning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. When you understand the why behind the cut, everything gets easier — and your plants respond beautifully.
Whether you’re a brand-new gardener or just need a late-winter confidence boost, this guide will help you head into spring feeling prepared and empowered.
🌿 Shop our plants & learn more:
https://gardeningwithcreekside.com
🌿 Plan your visit to Creekside Nursery (Dallas, NC):
https://gardeningwithcreekside.com/pages/plan-your-visit
🌿 See our upcoming free workshops & events:
https://gardeningwithcreekside.com/pages/events-calendar
Thank you for gardening with us. 💚
23 Comments
Good morning Jenny 🌞
Good morning Jenny! Have a wonderful day.
Morning Jenny, love your energy. Will be enjoying Saturday doing the same here in SC. Brenna is so entertaining watching her chomping on the snow and ice.
That is funny about miss B’s “stick” 😊😊
Rainy here! Jerry and Jenny' good 🌄 morning! Have dandy beautiful day! Hugs 🫂 and love! ❤ 😊❤
Celebratng your sunshine. Same thing here in the Central Valley CA. We have Tule Fog patches in the winter – might last 3-5 days at the most, you can't even see the hood of your car when driving. This year, no one experienced anything like it here in sunny CA, it has not burned off since Nov. Unreal. Never happened before. Twilight Zone. We had the deepest, darkest London Fog, dripping fog, gray and dark, cold and chilled to the bone, and it lasted 24/7 since Nov. This past week the sun began to peak through for maybe 20 minutes … and yesterday we had the first day of sunshine, same as your sunshine in this video. It was like I had never seen the sun before. Wow, what a beautiful blue sky you have! I can appreciate it too. True story, that thick fog has always burned off after a max of 5 days … not this year.
Trying to do a little something each day, Jenny. Wanted to tell you, during the ice storm, our Lucy dog had a grand ole time with all the fallen branches. I have to pick up her “toys” most days. And yes, she brings in some big ones too.
Good info. Thank you!
Good Morning Jenny, I looked at my 10 day forecast and we have no freezing temperatures..YAY ❤
Good morning Jenny is it ok to fertilize now?
Good morning, Jenny! Let me just say, the way you talked about pruning your perennial grass made you sound like someone who sees the hidden architecture of a garden long before the rest of us notice anything, and it made me wonder… how do you decide which parts to cut back without accidentally removing the sections that give the plant its shape, and do you feel like pruning actually teaches you something about timing and restraint in the rest of life too. I’ve always struggled with knowing when to step in and when to leave things alone. One time I trimmed a plant so enthusiastically that it spent the next month looking like it was filing a complaint against me. Thanks for sharing your insight because you make the whole pruning process feel intentional instead of intimidating.
Cracked me up…..”If I could just get her to pull weeds!” 🤣
Brynna definitely has a great life at Creekside!
Brenna has so much fun outside with you. I loved watching her eat the snow. And that fence rail was very big. She was showing off for you. The pruning jobs were therapeutic for us and you. The plants are happy for sure. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us so we can keep our gardens healthy and happy ❤️🤞👍🙏🌷🪻😁🌸🐾
I use the felco curved blade knife to cut back smaller grasses and foliage. I can grab a good hand full and hold onto it while I slice through with the blade.
What about the leaves that are still on the type one and type two Clematis? Should the leaves be pruned off?
Enjoyed your explanation of how to approach. Much like roses and lilac and crepe myrtle
Hi 👋 Jenny
This Sunshine is definitely Gorgeous in Texas zone 8b. Thank you for ur knowledge🌞☀️
Thank you Jenny – I will watch EVERY pruning instruction video that you put up !!! I learn something new every time!!!
Should always wear eye protection when working that closely with rigid stems.
Gardener Exchange Program! Love it!!
Y'all got our snow…..we are So dry!…maybe a rain exchange program for you folks tired of snow/rain….we don't care…we will take it all 'bout now….or we won't have Spring!
Thanks for sharing.
I was so upset when my father cut my deceased mother’s clematis only to find it shoot up heartier than ever. Sun shining and warming up in east TN too! Spring is near & my absolute favorite time of year. Celebrating!!