Should You Cut Back Your Perennials in Fall?

As fall settles into Hackettstown, it can be tempting to grab the pruners and clean up every perennial in the garden. But before you cut everything to the ground, take another look. Some plants benefit from fall cleanup, while others are better left standing until late winter or early spring.

Leaving selected stems and seed heads can also provide valuable food and shelter for birds, beneficial insects, and other wildlife throughout the colder months.

What Should You Cut Back in Fall?

Fall is a good time to remove plant material that could contribute to disease or pest problems.

Consider cutting back:

• Diseased or heavily spotted foliage
• Plants affected by fungal problems
• Damaged, broken, or rotting stems
• Soft, collapsed growth
• Spent annuals
• Weeds before they set seed

Remove diseased material from the garden rather than adding it to a home compost pile.

What Should You Leave Standing?

Not every perennial needs a fall haircut. Many plants continue contributing to the garden long after their flowers have faded.

Consider leaving healthy stems and seed heads on plants such as:

• Coneflowers
• Black-Eyed Susans
• Asters
• Goldenrod
• Sedum
• Ornamental grasses

Their dried forms can add texture and movement to the winter landscape while also providing benefits for wildlife.

Seed Heads Can Feed the Birds

Those faded flowers aren’t necessarily finished doing their job.

Seed heads from plants such as coneflowers and Black-Eyed Susans can provide a natural food source for seed-eating birds. Leaving them standing allows birds to visit the garden throughout fall and winter.

As a bonus, dried seed heads can look beautiful when covered with frost or a light snowfall.

Stems Can Provide Winter Shelter

Some beneficial insects use hollow or pithy plant stems as nesting or overwintering sites.

Instead of removing every healthy stem in fall, consider leaving some standing through winter. Waiting until spring to complete your cleanup can help make your garden a more welcoming habitat.

Don’t Forget Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses are often worth leaving alone in fall.

Their seed heads and foliage add height, texture, and movement to an otherwise quiet winter garden. They can usually be cut back in late winter or early spring before fresh growth begins.

A Little Mess Can Be a Good Thing

A perfectly tidy garden isn’t always the most wildlife-friendly garden.

Allowing some healthy leaves, stems, and seed heads to remain can create shelter and food sources while protecting the soil through winter. You don’t have to leave the entire landscape untouched. Focus cleanup around walkways and highly visible areas while allowing other sections to remain more natural.

Save Some Cleanup for Spring

Fall garden cleanup doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing job.

Remove diseased and unhealthy material now, tidy areas that need attention, and leave beneficial stems and seed heads standing. When warmer weather returns, you can finish cutting back remaining perennials before new growth gets underway.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I cut all my perennials back in fall?

No. Many healthy perennials can remain standing through winter, especially those with attractive or wildlife-friendly seed heads and stems.

Which perennials can I leave standing?

Coneflowers, Black-Eyed Susans, asters, goldenrod, sedum, and ornamental grasses are good candidates for leaving through winter.

Should diseased foliage stay in the garden?

No. Removing diseased foliage and affected plant material can help reduce problems carrying over into the next growing season.

Why leave perennial stems over winter?

Some beneficial insects can use hollow or pithy stems as nesting and overwintering sites.

When should I finish cutting back my perennials?

Many remaining perennials can be cut back in late winter or early spring before fresh growth begins.

Visit Donaldson Greenhouse & Nursery

Fall cleanup is also a great opportunity to evaluate your garden and make plans for next year. Stop by Donaldson Greenhouse & Nursery for plants, gardening supplies, and inspiration for your Hackettstown landscape.

Donaldson Greenhouse & Nursery
178 Airport Road
Hackettstown, NJ 07840

Current Hours
Monday through Saturday: 8 AM to 6 PM
Sunday: 9 AM to 5 PM