![]() How far down you cut your coneflower plant will depend on the variety you have and how established it is. Step 3 – Cut growth between 1” and 4” from the ground. Make sure you have a sharp and clean pair of shears for pruning and cutting back your coneflowers. Step 2 – Use sharp, clean pruning shears for cutting. Deadheading and cutting flowers in the summer is also an option. See information above about why you would choose to cut back your plants in the fall or the spring. Step 1 – Choose the time of year you prefer for pruning. Follow the steps below when you are cutting back your coneflowers. But it’s still important to know the proper way to prune them so that you can enjoy more blooms and healthy growth every year. Now we’ve come to the even more important question, “how do I properly cut back or prune my coneflowers?” The good news is that coneflowers are hardy plants, so it’s unlikely that a mistake in your pruning process will lead to the unfortunate demise of the plant. So get those scissors out, and enjoy those beautiful flowers inside and out. Deadheading is often done to keep the plant looking tidy, to prevent spreading by seed, and to encourage more blooms on the plant.ĭid you know that many species of coneflowers bloom even more profusely when the flowers are cut? It’s true, cutting your flowers to enjoy indoors can often result in even more blooms throughout the summer. You won’t want to cut your plant all the way back like you do in the fall or spring.ĭeadheading your coneflowers in the summer entails cutting flowers that have ended their bloom. When you prune in the summer, it is more like what we call “dead heading,” as well as cutting for bouquets. ![]() Pruning coneflowers can be done in the summer too! However, pruning in the summer does not look the same as it does in the spring or fall. And if, like me, you have a lot of coneflowers in your garden, you can choose to cut some back in the fall, and leave others for the spring. In the end, whether you chose to prune your plants in the fall or spring is entirely up to you and what you want for your garden. And, while some gardeners might see the spreading of plants as a downside, others see it as an upside – hey, free plants! Lastly, seed heads provide visual interest in the winter when most plants are dormant in your landscape. If your garden is large enough to allow for a little naturalizing by native plants such as coneflowers, you’re doing your local wildlife a favor by allowing the seeds to stand. First of all, these flowers provide important nutrition to your local bird population through the fall and winter months. On the other hand, I often recommend waiting until spring to cut back native plants like coneflowers for a variety of reasons. If you have a small garden that you like to keep tidy, pruning in the fall is for you. Native prairie coneflower species (ie Ratibida columnifera and Ratibida pinnata), for instance, will spread easily via seed if you do not cut back the seed heads. Cutting back the dormant stalks and seed heads in the fall will also decrease the chance of the plant naturalizing, or spreading. If you like to have a tidy garden through the winter, then you can cut back your coneflowers after they go dormant in the late fall or early winter. Keep in mind that a little bit of pruning can also be happening throughout the growing season as well as when the plants are dormant. See some seasonal guidelines below to get a better idea about what time of year you should be taking the shears to your plant. When is the best time to prune coneflowers? The answer to this can vary based on your garden goals and your approach to pruning. Follow the tips and get ready to see more beautiful blooms in the summer. So, if you’re wondering if you can prune your coneflowers, the answer is yes! You can get more information about when, how and why to prune below. When done right, pruning the plants can allow for a fresh start, lush regrowth and even more blooms in the summer. ![]() Cutting back and pruning your coneflowers is an important part of a healthy care routine. ![]()
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