Fall garden cleanup doesn't have to be a scorched-earth operation. Knowing exactly which perennials to cut back now can transform your garden next season. Some plants actually produce more flowers when trimmed at the right time, saving you work and rewarding you with spectacular blooms.
Proper fall cutbacks not only keep your garden tidy but strategically set the stage for healthier plants and showier displays. You'll prevent disease, discourage pests, and redirect plant energy exactly where it needs to go. Ready to make those smart cuts?
1. Bee Balm (Monarda)
Bee balm tends to develop powdery mildew by season's end, making it a prime candidate for fall cutbacks. Cut the stems to about 2 inches above the ground after the first frost. This removes potentially infected foliage and reduces the chances of disease spores overwintering.
Cutting back bee balm in fall improves air circulation around the crown, which helps prevent fungal problems next year. The plant will reward your efforts with more vigorous growth and better flowering. And don't worry about being too aggressive with your trimming; bee balm is remarkably resilient.
2. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
Black-eyed Susans benefit tremendously from a good fall haircut. Cut the stems to about 3–4 inches above soil level after they've finished blooming and the foliage has turned brown. This prevents the plant from wasting energy on seed production and encourages more flowering next season.
Removing the spent stalks also eliminates potential hiding places for slugs and other pests that might otherwise shelter there during winter. Black-eyed Susans tend to self-seed enthusiastically, so cutting them back helps control unwanted spreading while directing energy into the roots for next year's display.
3. Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)
Blanket flowers continue blooming until frost in many areas, but once cold weather hits, it's time for a trim. Cut back the stems to about 3 inches above the ground after the first hard frost. This removes spent flowers and tatty foliage while preserving the crown of the plant.
Cutting back blanket flowers prevents them from expending energy on seed production during winter. The plant will channel that saved energy into establishing stronger roots and preparing for more abundant blooming next summer. Removing old growth also helps avoid crown rot during wet winter conditions.
4. Coneflower (Echinacea)
Coneflowers present an interesting choice for gardeners. You can cut them back in fall to about 4 inches from the ground once the foliage dies back after frost. This cleanup prevents fungal diseases and eliminates hiding spots for problematic insects.
Alternatively, you might choose to leave some seed heads for birds to enjoy, then cut back in early spring. But for maximum flowering next year, fall cutting works best. The removed dead growth allows the plant to direct all its stored energy toward producing more flower stems rather than maintaining old ones.
5. Coreopsis
Coreopsis benefits greatly from fall cutbacks. Trim the plants to about 2 inches above the soil line after they've finished blooming and the foliage begins to decline. This encourages the plant to develop a stronger root system during the dormant period.
The compact growth habit that results from proper cutting back leads to more flower production the following year. Coreopsis tends to get leggy and produce fewer blooms when left unpruned. Removing the old growth also prevents crown rot during wet winter months.
6. Daylilies (Hemerocallis)
Daylilies look increasingly untidy as fall progresses, with yellowing foliage and finished flower stalks. Cut back all foliage to about 6 inches from the ground after the first frost. This removes diseased leaves and improves the plant's appearance through winter.
Cutting back daylilies prevents slug and snail damage during the cooler months. It also allows more sunlight to reach the crown of the plant, which helps prevent rot in wet conditions. Your reward will be more abundant flowering and healthier plants next season.
7. Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata)
Garden phlox often suffers from powdery mildew by season's end, making it an ideal candidate for fall cutbacks. Cut all stems to ground level after the first frost. This removes infected foliage and helps prevent disease spores from overwintering in your garden.
The clean cut also improves air circulation around the crown of the plant, which further reduces disease problems. Properly cut-back phlox will emerge with more vigorous stems in spring and produce more impressive flower heads than plants left standing through winter.
8. Goldenrod (Solidago)
Goldenrod benefits from cutting back once its showy yellow blooms have faded. Trim the stems to about 3 inches above ground level after flowering is complete and foliage begins to decline. This prevents the plant from spending energy on seed production and encourages fuller growth next year.
The cutback also helps control goldenrod's sometimes aggressive spreading tendency. By removing seed heads before they can disperse, you'll maintain better control over where this beautiful but enthusiastic plant appears in your garden. And you'll be rewarded with more blooms on a more compact plant.
9. Hollyhocks (Alcea)
Hollyhocks, especially the biennial varieties, should be cut back to about 6 inches from the ground after flowering ends and foliage begins to yellow. This helps prevent rust disease, which commonly affects hollyhocks, from overwintering on the plants.
By removing the old stems and foliage, you're also eliminating hiding places for hollyhock weevils and other pests. The remaining crown will be ready to produce strong new growth in spring, resulting in more impressive flower spikes than if left unpruned.
10. Hostas
Hostas become increasingly unattractive as fall progresses, with yellowing, tattered leaves. Cut all foliage back to ground level after the first frost. This removes potential hiding places for slugs and their eggs, which can decimate hostas the following spring.
Cutting back hostas also helps prevent diseases that can overwinter in dead foliage. The plants will emerge clean and fresh in spring, with no competition from rotting leaves. And you'll notice faster, more vigorous growth when the weather warms up.
11. Iris (Bearded and Siberian)
Irises benefit significantly from fall trimming. Cut back the fans of leaves to about 6 inches tall after they've begun to yellow but before they turn completely brown. This prevents iris borers from laying eggs on the foliage, which can cause significant damage next season.
For bearded iris specifically, trimming in a fan shape helps protect the rhizomes during winter while removing potential disease vectors. Proper cutbacks result in stronger plants with more bloom stalks next flowering season. Siberian iris can be cut a bit shorter, to about 3–4 inches.
12. Penstemon
Penstemon should be cut back in fall to prevent winter damage to the crown. Trim the stems to about 3 inches above ground level after flowering has finished and foliage begins to decline. This prevents the hollow stems from collecting water, freezing, and potentially killing the crown.
The cutback also encourages basal growth rather than leggy stems. You'll be rewarded with a more compact plant and significantly more flower spikes next season. In colder regions, leave a bit more stem intact and apply a light mulch around (not over) the crown for additional protection.
13. Peonies
Peonies should always be cut back in fall to prevent disease issues. Cut all stems to ground level after the first frost has blackened the foliage. This removes any fungal spores or botrytis that might be present on the dying leaves and stems.
The cleanup also eliminates overwintering sites for pests that might damage emerging growth in spring. Properly cut-back peonies direct their energy to root development during winter, resulting in stronger plants with more flower buds the following year.
14. Salvia (Perennial Sage)
Perennial salvias benefit from cutting back once flowering has finished. Trim the stems to about 3 inches above ground level after the first frost. This prevents the plant from putting energy into seed production and encourages more lateral growth at the base.
The cutback also helps woody salvias maintain a better shape rather than becoming leggy. You'll see more flowers on a bushier plant next year. In warmer regions, you might even get a second flush of growth and bloom after cutting back in late summer or early fall.
15. Yarrow (Achillea)
Yarrow should be cut back after its final blooms have faded. Trim the stems to about 2 inches above ground level once the foliage begins to decline. This prevents the plant from self-seeding too enthusiastically and helps maintain its compact form.
The cutback also reduces the chance of crown rot during wet winter conditions. Properly pruned yarrow will produce more flower stems next season and maintain a tidier habit. You'll enjoy stronger stems that are less likely to flop over when laden with flowers.
Smarter Cutbacks Lead to Spectacular Results
Strategic fall cutting transforms your garden's performance next season. Each snip you make now directs plant energy toward creating more flowers rather than maintaining old growth. That's the power of timely pruning.
Remember that timing matters; wait until after the first frost for most perennials. This ensures plants have stored all the energy they need in their roots. Then grab your pruners and make those cuts with confidence. Your reward will be healthier plants and a garden bursting with more blooms than ever.