From our perspective, the foliage you see is not merely decorative; it is our entire factory for survival. Each leaf is a solar panel, diligently absorbing sunlight and converting it, through photosynthesis, into precious energy. This energy is not just for immediate growth; it is meticulously stored in our roots as carbohydrates to fuel next season's spectacular floral display. Cutting this foliage back too early is akin to shutting down a factory right before its most important production run. It starves us of the resources we need to return strong and healthy for you next spring.
We operate on a precise internal schedule. After our blooming period in spring, we continue to gather energy. However, as the heat of mid to late summer intensifies, our work begins to wind down. You will notice our leaves starting to yellow and then brown. This is not a sign of distress, but a natural process called senescence. We are actively withdrawing the last valuable nutrients and sugars from the foliage back into our root system for safekeeping. This is the signal we send you that we are preparing for dormancy.
The perfect time to assist us is once this process is largely complete. Wait until the majority of our foliage has turned yellow or brown and has begun to wither. This typically occurs in mid to late summer, often after a period of hot weather. At this point, our energy transfer is finished, and the leaves have served their purpose. Cutting them back now is a welcome relief, as it helps prevent fungal diseases from setting in on the decaying matter and gives our crown a clean space to rest.
How you prune is just as important as when. Please use a tool that is sharp and clean, such as pruning shears or scissors sterilized with rubbing alcohol. This prevents the transmission of disease. Do not pull or twist the foliage, as this can disturb our tender root crown. Instead, simply snip the stems down to about an inch or two above the soil level. A gentle tug might remove the stem easily if it is fully senesced, but cutting is the safest method. Once finished, you may apply a light layer of mulch over our resting spot to protect us through the winter, but this is often unnecessary as we are quite hardy.
We must stress the importance of patience. The single most detrimental action you can take is to cut back our green, healthy foliage immediately after the flowers fade. This act, though perhaps meant to tidy your garden, is catastrophic for us. It abruptly halts our photosynthesis, robbing us of the energy stores we desperately need. This will result in a weaker plant the following year, with significantly fewer flowers, or in some cases, may prevent us from returning at all. Please allow us to complete our natural cycle.
