AboutTom Alonzo Expertise I have been a gardener for 20 years with perennials both growing from seed and from nurseries. I went through the Master Gardener Program from Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service and I answered questions on the Hotline a few years ago for the Wyandotte County Kansas Extension Service. I have also lived in the Florida, California, Hawaii, Arizona, Texas, Kansas and Missouri and am experienced with a variety of climates, soils and weather conditions.
Experience I have been growing perennials for over 20 years now. I am self-taught mostly except for a master gardener class. I have experimented with all kinds of perennials including many that are not common to my area. I have read hundreds of books and grown hundreds of varieties of plants and hope to make it a business some day. I have become versed in botanical names and growing conditions and what I don't know off of the top of my head I can usually easily find in my vast array of research material and botanical and horticultural contacts. I especially enjoy experimenting with growing plants out of zone.
Question Rather than have to list all of the plants I have, which are many, could you just tell me which plants should not be cut down in the fall for zone 5. Thank you for your assistance.
Answer Hi Phyllis,
Thanx for your question. In general, most perennial plants can be cut back to the ground once the foliage has withered and started turning brown, such as peonies, hollyhock, black-eyed Susan, lavender, hardy hibiscus. Some flowering shrubs like hibiscus should only be pruned back right after they bloom and should not be cut back to the ground. Any later pruning could mean no flowers next year because the blooming buds begin growing in the fall. If it's withered and fading and produces new growth in the spring, cut off the old and dispose of it. I hope this helps.
Tom
