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cutting back perennials --am I too late?

16 years ago

Hi all,

Is it too late in the season to pinch back Autum Joy sedums so they don't grow so tall and flop over?

Is it too late to trim a bridal wreath spirea or will I prune off all of next springs blooms?

My endless summer hydrangea top growth all winter killed and it came back from the roots. Its supposed to bloom on new wood as well as old but any one know WHEN it might bloom? This is only my second year with this plant. Am I just being impatient? I'm more used to the snowball type hydrangeas which are starting to bloom and wondering if the dieback delays bloom time on the Endless Summer type. Anyone try the Blushing Bride cultivar yet?

I always intend to get the pinching back and pruning done earlier in the season but somehow time gets ahead of me!

Maria

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Comments (7)

lindac
16 years ago
You can still cut back the sedum...but you will delay the flowering.
You can trim the spirea, but you will be trimming off most of next spring's bloom....but water it well, and it may put out a fair amount of new growth.
Don't know when the hydrangea might bloom....do you have it in enough sun?
Linda C
dirtdoctortoo
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks Linda,

I think I'll try pinching back some of the sedums to spread the bloom time out a bit. I do leave the seed heads on all winter but I like to watch the evolution of colors on them in the fall.

I thought I would cut off all my next spring's blooms if I trimmed the spirea. Actually, I want to convince my husband that he isn't to whack the poor thing back. I'm the one who mows anyway. Last time he "trimmed it" it involved a chainsaw! :-)

Maria
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patty22253
16 years ago
Maria,
Has your Endless Summer bloomed yet? Mine has not, but the foliage is nice and lush.
dirtdoctortoo
Original Author
16 years ago
Not even a bud. Mine also has nice foliage. The hydrangea paniculata has buds and looks like its going to bloom within a few weeks. We'll have to see what the ES does. Maria
alanis
16 years ago
My endless summer has been blooming since June 26th. I had a garden tour here that day and it's still getting new flowers on it. This is my 2nd year for it and I don't fertilize but water it frequently. The plant tells me when it wants a drink because the leaves start to wilt.

Good luck!!

alanis
Vicki
16 years ago
I planted Blushing Bride this spring. It has 2 blooms on it and 6 or 8 coming on. It has been a fast grower.
shellyb54
16 years ago
My Endless Summer has been blooming all summer though it has only 2 huge blooms. It got eaten to the ground by rabbits this past winter so is only about 18"-24" tall.This is it's 3rd summer with me. We keep it fed with Miracid once every month and the ground is covered with oat straw around the plant to keep it cool.
I just trimmed back my iris the other day. I only trim Bridal Wreath spirea right after flowering.

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