I've heard of cutting them like that to promote shorter, tougher stalks on the plants, so they don't need staking or don't fall over. For me, both of these plants stood up fine without being cut back, and my hollyhocks get around 4' tall. My yarrows were an invasive variety, so they're getting eradicated as weeds now, but they weren't too floppy when I let them live. Another reason for this early-season cutting back is to postpone the bloom season, but I think that's only important if you have other flowers that bloom later than these and you're trying to get them all to bloom at the same time.

Ngraham....you said you "like the shorter height & winding tendancies." Do you mean it's NORMAL for it to wind around like it's doing? And when I say wind, I mean the very bottom looks like a snake in the grass....lol. If this is the case, then I'll just stake it up somehow, because I'd hate to waste all the buds on it now. I know the Cloth of Gold I had before did this very same thing at the base, but thought it was from being behind other plants and straining to get to the sun. Laceyvail, you say it's weak & weedy-looking. Do you mean the foliage is weak, because mine came in very lush & fernlike looking. And a darker green tham the Cloth of Gold I had before. I DID think THAT looked weedy and yanked it all out. But thought I'd try a red this year. Thanks to both for your help !!

Mamamamo and any others . . . Knowing I can cut back Yarrow for a second bloom is great news! Thanks for the names of other perennials that can be cut back for a second bloom. Can you use common names please? I recognize some, but not all. I'm wondering about this: How do you determine how short you cut a plant back? In most cases is it "to the ground"? How about hyssop? It grows taller than advertised and I wouldn't mind loosing some of its height and gaining a second bloom. Bees won't be happy though . . .

I routinely pinch or cut back the really tall species of Goldenrod (Solidago), perennial Helianthus, and Asters. They end up being a bit shorter and blooming a bit later. This seems to help prevent them from flopping as much. I usually do this in June, but early July is probably not too late, especially if you have a longer growing season. In the wild part of the yard, I've observed that these species are grazed on by deer, so they are probably well-adapted to this type of pruning. Unfortunately this Spring, I've had tendonitis in wrists and elbows, so I haven't cut back much. Only did a little pinching. The Helianthus maximiliani will probably end up being 10 feet fall and flop all over everything. 8-O