Act Now to Have Beautiful Fall Color  

Do your Asters flop over every fall right when they are about ready to bloom?

What about your fall blooming hardy Chrysanthemums?

Now is the time to give them a haircut! Soon it will be too late! Around July 4th is the cut off time to shear back any tall late summer and fall blooming perennials. This may cause the bloom time to occur a few weeks later than normal. Shearing them back by 1/2 to 1/3 of their height will result in a nice, neat, more compact plant which will not flop over under the weight of their beautiful flowers. PLUS, shearing also increases the production of flowers resulting in an amazing and massive show of color in the garden!

Prune for Rebloom!

You can cut back (to the ground) the stems of many early summer blooming perennials after they finish the first flush of blooms to encourage fresh growth and more blooms.

• This works well with Achillea, Nepeta, Salvia nemorosa, shasta daisies, Scabiosa, Stokesia, Tradescantia, Verbena, and Veronica.

Deadheading

Deadheading or removing faded or spent blooms will usually prolong the blooming period of most perennials. If you have the time, its well worth the effort!