Summer's already knocking and the gardens are lushing out, maybe a bit too much. According to a recent tidy-up guide by KSAT, it's high time to give those green spaces a trim before the real heat steps in. A little snip here and there not only tames the wilderness but could also save your flora from midsummer stress. They suggest you better catch up on your pruning now to keep native wonders like Gregg’s Mistflower and Salvia Indigo Spires in peak condition for repeatability's sakes.
But when do you go from gardener to garden barber? Over at Sugar Creek Gardens, they offer a rundown on the cut and thrust of perennial pruning. "Early spring, old foliage should be removed from most plants," they note, setting the stage for a pruning schedule that respects the growth and bloom cycle of each variety. This means getting ahead of the game before spring-blooming perennials wave their last petals and before summer bloomers get ahead of themselves. Mind the details, though; some plants, like those finicky Aquilegias, aren't looking for a haircut until after they've put on their show.
Feeling clippers-happy can be a boon for your blooms. "Pruning encourages branching. For every stem that is cut back, two will form, doubling the number of blooms," Sugar Creek Gardens tells garden enthusiasts. This is some strategic snipping we're talking about, aimed to maximize those floral displays. But they also caution that not all perennials will thank you for an untimely trim; some could be left bloom-less for the season if you prune too soon.
What about those insurgents in the garden bed, like the morning glory vine that knows no bounds? KSAT advises firmly against reaching for the herbicides, suggesting they cause more harm than good. Instead, get down and dirty in the soil to protect your garden's health and the environment. And if you find yourself with some newfound space after evicting spent annuals or produce, KSAT recommends sowing seeds of zinnias or sunflowers that'll keep the color coming until the chill sets in.
From deadheading to encourage continuous blooms to pinching for poised plants, your garden can be an orchestrated exhibition of nature's artistry with a little know-how. Keep those pruners and shears handy and, with advice from these garden gurus, turn your garden's summer into a well-orchestrated cavalcade of color that doesn't wilt under the sun.
