I have a variety of plants that are dying back for thew winter, cannas, lillys, hydrangias, etc.... Can i cut the dead stems/branches to the ground or do i just let them stay? also do i need to re-mulch them during the cold months?
2006-12-03 04:21:48 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
Depending upon what zone you live in. Cannas in really cold weather,the bulbs need to dug up and stored for the winter. Lillys you can cut back. Hydrangeas however you do not want to cut back if you want them to bloom next season. The best time to cut them is right after the bloom has expired. The blooms set on any new growth that it put on this year. Many plant differ as to when you should cut them back, hostas,daylillys, non woody plant can usually be cut back. Grasses need to be left until spring
2006-12-03 09:02:40 · answer #1 · answered by Patti R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You said "cold months". Depending on the area where you live, cannas may have to be dug up after a frost, sorted to pick out the best ones with "eyes" and stored in peat moss in a dark, cool place, then replanted in May. If it rarely freezes where you live, you can just cut them off at ground level. I live in Ohio and it gets below zero some winters. I have lots of Oriental and Tiger Liles and they need no extra care. I simply pull or cut off the dried stems and they come back - no mulching needed. After a few years, you should dig them up in the fall and spread them out a little. Be sure to give them some bulb food. I also have white, pink and blue hydrangeas. I cut them down to about 6" above ground - do not cut them all the way to the ground. I have never mulched them and some of them are over 20 years old. PS if you want blue you have to feed them aluminum sulfate monthly from March to Septemeber. Hope that helps!
2006-12-03 07:08:39 · answer #2 · answered by Kelley G 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Patti R is right about the Hydrangeas. If you cut them back you will prevent the shrub from blooming the next year. Only a few older stems and dead stems should be removed. I wait until my shrub has started to leaf out before I remove any dead wood. There are a lot of times that I thought some of the branches were dead but they were not. I just remove the ones that don't leaf out now. That way I know they are already dead and don't have to worry about removing good wood.
2006-12-03 21:12:40 · answer #3 · answered by Valkyrie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For the sake of the plants, it won't make much difference. For appearance, you should cut them back. Adding some extra mulch for insulation in cold weather is always a good idea.
2006-12-03 05:23:33 · answer #4 · answered by john h 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's all the info you need to know about gardening. Check the added referencea and search details about those plants yourself. Good to hear you're a plant love :D
http://www.dari-bazaar.com/wp/49/home-and-gardening/
2006-12-04 05:16:53 · answer #5 · answered by lilo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cut them and make them mulch they should grow back
2006-12-03 04:30:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋