From our point of view, the showy flowers you enjoy in late spring and early summer are an enormous energetic investment. Once the blooms fade, our work is not done. The remaining green foliage is our solar panel array, the primary engine for photosynthesis. Throughout the remainder of summer and into early fall, we are diligently using sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates. This process is not for immediate growth but for long-term storage. The sugars we produce are sent down to our crown and root system, where they are stored to fuel the development of next season's flowers and the initial burst of growth in spring. Cutting back our foliage too early starves us of this critical energy-gathering period, directly resulting in weaker plants and fewer, if any, blooms the following year.
We will tell you when we are finished with the foliage and ready for dormancy. The optimal time for you to cut us back is after the first hard frost in your region. A hard frost, typically when temperatures drop to 28-32°F (-2 to 0°C) for several hours, acts as a definitive environmental signal for us. It triggers the natural process of senescence. You will observe our leaves and stems beginning to die back dramatically—they will turn yellow, then brown, and become soft and wilted. This visual change is your key indicator. The frost has halted our physiological processes, and the foliage has completed its job for the season. It is now safe to remove it without impacting our energy reserves for the next year.
When you perform the cut, please do so with our health in mind. Using sharp, clean pruning shears or loppers, cut all of our stems down to within 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) of the soil level. It is crucial that you avoid cutting into the fleshy crown (the reddish buds at the base of the plant), as this is where next year's growth originates and is highly susceptible to rot and disease if damaged. Make clean cuts to avoid tearing the stems. This practice also helps to keep our overall form tidy and prepares us for a period of undisturbed winter rest.
An often overlooked but critical step from our perspective is the disposal of the removed foliage. Do not compost our cut leaves and stems. Throughout the growing season, our foliage can harbor fungal spores, particularly those of Botrytis blight (gray mold). If this infected material is composted or left around the garden, the spores can overwinter and re-infect the new, tender growth in the spring. The safest practice for our long-term vitality is to gather all the cut foliage and dispose of it in the trash or through yard waste removal. This simple act of sanitation is one of the most effective ways you can help us stay healthy and vibrant for decades to come.
