[creeps into her garden therapist’s SubStack…🤦🏻♀️] just realized I never pruned back my panicle hydrangeas this year and now theyve got greenery on all the old wood. But I thought they bloomed in new wood? So does this mean I won’t get any blooms this year?
Not a problem, Dianne! Just cut them back now and they will sprout new growth this spring with buds too. This is a fine time to prune them. You can just cut off the flower heads, or if they are older bushes you can cut them back to encourage more shoots over the bush.
I used to hate the dead stuff. As a kid it made me so sad. Possibly bc I lived way out in the country and there was so much dead stuff year round. Farmers with acres to tend could t be bothered with fall cleanup around the house. Lots and lots of brown. I’m learning to appreciate it all though, green and brown alike.
What can you do with the cut-back grasses though? I’m thinking they’re mostly sterile but will I be sorry if I add to my pile of leaf mulch?
That makes sense Dianne. I use the clip and drop method on my grasses: cutting it down in sections to leave it on the ground as mulch around the plants. But you could definitely add it to your leaf mulch piles as well. It is good material to use since you have it!
Good to know. Clearing them away makes room for my rock iris and allium to see the light. And helps me plan for next year (more bulbs). But in other areas, leaving them makes sense.
I’ve been thinking about this topic for weeks -to cut and remove or leave in place? What to do? We compromised by not picking up that last bit of oak leaves to fall. Id leave more, but we live in a suburban neighborhood with open yards. The neighbors aren’t happy to see our leaves blowing around all winter into their yards. However, we left a good-sized, 6-8 inch deep bed of mulched oak leaves under one of the oaks in the backyard. That tree is a little more out of the wind. Our arborist was happy to see it.
One area that’s a puzzle to me is what to do with the thick liriopie beds by our front walk. These were planted by the previous owners. This year I left the stems long instead of mowing down during fall leaf cleanup like we used to do. The stems were evergreen all winter and waves in the breezes, but now the brown stems laid down into a very dull, brown mat. New green growth is starting to peek up, so I went out to cut back. But I backed off when I discovered sleepy little, very little, bumbly bees! They were so cute that I wanted to sketch them. I wonder what kind of gardening problem I’ve created by our front walk, but I won’t hurt the sheltering bees. How would you care for these plants?
Last week I removed the foliage on the fairy wings and Lenten roses in anticipation of the flowers that will come. Thankfully this week’s below freezing temps didn’t hurt the uncovered buds on the Lenten roses.
I hadn’t thought to remove the fern fronds until I read your post, but I’ll do that this week.
Hi Sheri! I love that you took the time to notice the sleepy bees :)
So part of what I am getting at with this article is that there is not one answer to your question, but many depending on the situation, the plants, and the reason why you are growing them. That is why saying "don't cut things til May" is way to rigid a statement from Wild Ones. We could be killing native plants that way, such as Bluets. And it sounds like you are working on it, as you have found a way to leave some leaves but manage the neighbors expectations, which are real for sure. (I might suggest that they best way to prevent leaves blowing into their yard is to plant a hedge or use a fence on the border of your property, because it will catch leaves in the wind before they get to their property.)
As far as the Liriopie, you can cut back foliage during the heat of the day when the bees will be off foraging and not sleeping as much as on an overcast or cold day. I would probably go over the plants with a light brooming to make sure they they are free of bees before getting going. Then I would cut back last years leaves as you intended, just keeping an eye out. Piling this debris in the corner of the garden somewhere or in the compost, instead of bagging it, will allow any remaining insects to crawl out. Their are so thick that they will not easily die away as the plant continues, like the ferns.
It is important to note that cutting leaves them and moving them to another part of the garden will not harm insects. It is this type of normal gardener activity that needs to be shown more value in the balance. People have been responsibly shaping landscapes for thousands of years, even in North America. It is a matter of making sure we are thoughtful and intentional about what we are doing so as not to cause undue damage. 🌿
[creeps into her garden therapist’s SubStack…🤦🏻♀️] just realized I never pruned back my panicle hydrangeas this year and now theyve got greenery on all the old wood. But I thought they bloomed in new wood? So does this mean I won’t get any blooms this year?
Not a problem, Dianne! Just cut them back now and they will sprout new growth this spring with buds too. This is a fine time to prune them. You can just cut off the flower heads, or if they are older bushes you can cut them back to encourage more shoots over the bush.
I used to hate the dead stuff. As a kid it made me so sad. Possibly bc I lived way out in the country and there was so much dead stuff year round. Farmers with acres to tend could t be bothered with fall cleanup around the house. Lots and lots of brown. I’m learning to appreciate it all though, green and brown alike.
What can you do with the cut-back grasses though? I’m thinking they’re mostly sterile but will I be sorry if I add to my pile of leaf mulch?
That makes sense Dianne. I use the clip and drop method on my grasses: cutting it down in sections to leave it on the ground as mulch around the plants. But you could definitely add it to your leaf mulch piles as well. It is good material to use since you have it!
Good to know. Clearing them away makes room for my rock iris and allium to see the light. And helps me plan for next year (more bulbs). But in other areas, leaving them makes sense.
I’ve been thinking about this topic for weeks -to cut and remove or leave in place? What to do? We compromised by not picking up that last bit of oak leaves to fall. Id leave more, but we live in a suburban neighborhood with open yards. The neighbors aren’t happy to see our leaves blowing around all winter into their yards. However, we left a good-sized, 6-8 inch deep bed of mulched oak leaves under one of the oaks in the backyard. That tree is a little more out of the wind. Our arborist was happy to see it.
One area that’s a puzzle to me is what to do with the thick liriopie beds by our front walk. These were planted by the previous owners. This year I left the stems long instead of mowing down during fall leaf cleanup like we used to do. The stems were evergreen all winter and waves in the breezes, but now the brown stems laid down into a very dull, brown mat. New green growth is starting to peek up, so I went out to cut back. But I backed off when I discovered sleepy little, very little, bumbly bees! They were so cute that I wanted to sketch them. I wonder what kind of gardening problem I’ve created by our front walk, but I won’t hurt the sheltering bees. How would you care for these plants?
Last week I removed the foliage on the fairy wings and Lenten roses in anticipation of the flowers that will come. Thankfully this week’s below freezing temps didn’t hurt the uncovered buds on the Lenten roses.
I hadn’t thought to remove the fern fronds until I read your post, but I’ll do that this week.
Hi Sheri! I love that you took the time to notice the sleepy bees :)
So part of what I am getting at with this article is that there is not one answer to your question, but many depending on the situation, the plants, and the reason why you are growing them. That is why saying "don't cut things til May" is way to rigid a statement from Wild Ones. We could be killing native plants that way, such as Bluets. And it sounds like you are working on it, as you have found a way to leave some leaves but manage the neighbors expectations, which are real for sure. (I might suggest that they best way to prevent leaves blowing into their yard is to plant a hedge or use a fence on the border of your property, because it will catch leaves in the wind before they get to their property.)
As far as the Liriopie, you can cut back foliage during the heat of the day when the bees will be off foraging and not sleeping as much as on an overcast or cold day. I would probably go over the plants with a light brooming to make sure they they are free of bees before getting going. Then I would cut back last years leaves as you intended, just keeping an eye out. Piling this debris in the corner of the garden somewhere or in the compost, instead of bagging it, will allow any remaining insects to crawl out. Their are so thick that they will not easily die away as the plant continues, like the ferns.
It is important to note that cutting leaves them and moving them to another part of the garden will not harm insects. It is this type of normal gardener activity that needs to be shown more value in the balance. People have been responsibly shaping landscapes for thousands of years, even in North America. It is a matter of making sure we are thoughtful and intentional about what we are doing so as not to cause undue damage. 🌿
These multiple ideas are helpful, Julie, in specific and general ways. Thank you.