General

Wait until early spring to cut back your ornamental grass and perennials. Studies show these plants exhibit increased survival and winter interest.

Shrubs

For most summer blooming shrubs cut back by hard in mid -spring. This promotes more flowers and re-energizes the plant. Most other shrubs (including shrub roses) require an occasional pruning to cut any interior crisscrossed branches out and to lightly shape the shrub.

Ornamental Grass

Leave them standing over the winter for seasonal interest. In mid-spring cut them back to 8-12”, removing any dead stems in the middle of the clump. Exceptions are blue fescue and blue oat grass; cut the seed heads off in mid-spring and scratch out any dead material in the center.

Perennials

To improve winter hardiness leave all perennials standing until spring, then cut old stems just above emerging spring growth. Lavenders: cut back old growth by 1/3 in spring after new growth begins. This promotes increased vigor and more flowers. Penstemons: do not cut back all of them in spring. Leave a few plants to re-seed. Russian sage: cut back to 12-15” in mid-spring. Remove any surrounding suckering stems to limit the spread of the plant.