Several of my plants have finished blooming and are looking quite straggly.Can I cut them back now or should i wait until we get more cold weather? Especially the Salvia leucantha Indigo Spires? I see a small rosette at the base and would really like to get rid of the ugly top. But not at the expense of losing the plant if it is better to wait until later in the "winter" The plants are all confused. A few of the daffodils have already started blooming so they are thinking it is spring already and are actively growing.I'm afraid if I cut back too soon new growth will be damaged and hurt the plants.
Perennial cutting back time?
I have already cut back many of my wildflowers, because i have a lot of them and need to spread the job over time.
I don't think they will be putting out much growth at this late date, but usually it is best to wait till after a freeze.
This message was edited Nov 29, 2009 8:33 AM
I have cut in moderation on things like Frostweed, Phlox and Salvia. I noticed like you teacup, there is still lots of green growth on them. But like you Josephine, I have so much to cut that I had to start somewhere. I have taken all but a few cannas, four o'clocks and others down to the ground already. Ones I know I won't loose.
btrw Josephine, the little nettle plant from Dale is blooming. Will get a picture today and share.
That is fantastic Sheila!! I would love to see it, did you plant it in the ground?
I didn't for fear of loosing mine, and they haven't bloomed yet.
Dale said they are very hardy, so I need to put them in the ground.
This message was edited Nov 29, 2009 1:42 PM
Hope teacup won't mind one quick photo. It is so tiny, only about a dime or nickel size cluster and much more purple than this photo too. It is cloudy and rainy out right now as you know.
I also haven't planted mine yet. Thought I would set the pot in the ground with it this year so as not to disturb the roots and replant in spring.
Sheila, I hate to disappoint you, but the plant in your picture is not False Nettle, although the leaf looks a lot like it, this is what False nettle looks like
http://www.cod.edu/people/faculty/chenpe/BLUFF/2007_07_22/Boehmeria_cylindrica.jpg
The plant you have is Conoclinium coelestinum, East Texas mistflower here is a picture
http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=COCO13
I probably gave you this one too, if I remember correctly, in any event I am glad the mistflower is doing well.
Josephine.
I am so amazed by the amount of knowlege on this forum. it's astonishing to me that you guys are able to identify so many plants! I try to keep any tags I get on the plants I buy so I can remember their scientific names so if I have a question I can be as specific as possible.
I was a little under the weather this weekend so took it easy and didn't get anything cut back, but did get to the nursery to get some mulch for some bare spots that have cropped up with the recent rains. it lloks like the next week will be much cooler so I'll keep an eye on things.
Does anyone know if daffodils bloom now, will they bloom again in the spring?
I don't think the same bulbs will bloom again in the spring, but I guess it could happen.
By the way, did you finish your Master Naturalist course? and are you active in the organization?
Maybe I got the tags switched. I have one that is a mystery and may be the one the tag belongs in, I will get a picture tomorrow of it.
Thanks Teacup for my interruption!
This message was edited Nov 30, 2009 6:08 PM
I bet that is what happened, it happens to me too.
Frostweed, I wasn't sure if your comment was meant for me asking about the master naturalist class. Perhaps my screen name is reminding you of someone else as I haven't had the chance to take any of those courses.
Yes, I was asking you Teacup, I guess i got confused about the name, sorry.