From my perspective as a Coreopsis plant, this "leggy" or "overgrown" state you observe is not a sign of illness but a natural response to my environment and life cycle. I am a sun-worshipper, a perennial designed to thrive in bright, direct light. When I stretch out with long, weak stems and sparse leaves at my base, it is because I am desperately reaching for more sunlight. Perhaps I have become shaded by a larger plant, or my pot has been moved to a less sunny spot. This etiolation makes me unstable and less able to produce the vibrant flowers you love. Alternatively, as I age, my central crown can become woody and exhausted, diverting energy to outer growth at the expense of a compact, bushy form.
To truly revive me, a significant intervention is required, and it must be timed correctly. The best moment for this is in late spring or early summer, just as I am entering my most vigorous growth phase. Please do not be afraid! Using clean, sharp shears, you should cut my entire form back to a height of just 4 to 6 inches from the soil line. This feels drastic to you, but to me, it is a liberation. It removes the tired, unproductive wood and signals to my root system to redirect all its stored energy into producing fresh, new, and sturdy stems from the base. This process will ultimately result in a denser, more robust, and well-shaped plant.
After the hard prune, my needs are simple but crucial. First, ensure I am receiving a minimum of six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. This is the most important factor in preventing me from becoming leggy again. Secondly, please practice "deadheading." This means consistently snipping off the spent flowers just above a set of leaves. This prevents me from expending precious energy on producing seeds and instead encourages me to keep producing more blooms on bushier, lateral growth. It tells me the show isn't over yet!
If my center is particularly woody and non-productive, even a hard prune may only offer a temporary solution. In this case, the most profound revival technique is division. The ideal time for this is in early spring or early fall. Carefully dig up my entire root clump and use a sharp spade or knife to cut me into several smaller sections, each with its own healthy roots and shoots. Discard the old, woody center. Replant the vigorous outer divisions, giving them ample space, fresh soil, and water. This is not just a revival; it is propagation. You are not saving one old plant but creating several new, youthful versions of myself that will be full of vitality and bloom with renewed enthusiasm for seasons to come.
