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Article: Getting your perennials ready for the stretch run.
- Article from:
- Sunset
- Article date:
- August 1, 1991
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1991 Sunset Publishing Corp. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Outdoing themselves with waves of color in spring and summer, most perennials are ready to be perked up this month. Plants vary as to how much reshaping they'll need--anything from a pinch to severe pruning may be in order.
What to look for
To know which plants to tackle, look for a sprawling shape. Spent blooms and developing seeds give plants an unkempt appearance and take away energy plants could channel into manufacturing food for next year's growth. When cut back, some plants bloom again. (Plants grown for interesting seed pods, such as Chinese lanters and Gladwin iris, I. foetidissima, should not be trimmed.)
Where to cut ...