From our perspective, the decision of when to cut back is not arbitrary; it is a direct response to the environmental signals we receive. As the days shorten and temperatures drop, we perceive these changes deeply. The sunlight, our primary energy source, becomes less available. This signals a fundamental shift in our internal processes: it is time to transition into dormancy. Our above-ground foliage, the leaves that have been tirelessly photosynthesizing all season, begin to yellow and brown. This is not a sign of distress but a natural withdrawal. We are actively pulling valuable nutrients—especially carbohydrates—back down into our crown and roots for storage. This stored energy is our lifeblood, the essential reserve that will fuel our explosive growth when the warmth returns in spring.
Patience is crucial. The ideal moment for you to intervene is after the first hard frost has definitively ended our growing season. A light frost may only nip the tips of our leaves, but a hard frost (typically when temperatures fall to 28°F/-2°C or below) blackens and thoroughly withers the foliage. This is our clear signal that the nutrient reclamation process is complete. Cutting us back too early, while our leaves are still partially green, is a severe detriment. You would be severing the very pathways through which we are trying to store energy, effectively robbing us of our winter sustenance and potentially leading to a weaker display next year. Waiting until the foliage is fully declined ensures we have successfully completed this vital energy transfer.
The method of cutting is just as important as the timing. You must use tools that are sharp and clean to make a precise cut. Blunt or dirty tools can crush our leaf bases and introduce pathogens into our crown, making us vulnerable to rot and disease. Grasp a handful of our wilted leaves and, using your sharp shears or secateurs, cut the entire clump down to within 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm) of the soil level. This height is intentional. Leaving this short stub serves a critical purpose: it marks our location and protects the sensitive crown tissue at our center from winter exposure, moisture, and soil-borne diseases. It acts as a miniature shield until the new growth emerges in spring to protect itself.
Once the cutting is complete, your job is to support our rest. Do not leave the piles of cut foliage on top of us or around our base. This decaying matter can become a haven for slugs, rodents, and fungal spores that could damage our crown during the winter months. Instead, gather and compost the healthy, disease-free leaves. A final, light application of mulch around our base (not directly on top of the crown) can be beneficial. A layer of shredded leaves or straw helps to insulate our root zone from the damaging cycle of freeze-thaw cycles that can heave us out of the ground. This simple act provides a stable, protected environment for us to rest and conserve our energy, awaiting the sure return of the sun.
