is it safe to trim a lantana shrub at the end of the growing season?

Question

first winter in the southeast... any help is welcome.

thanks, it's getting into its' neighbors, and very leggy.

Answer 1

Lantana is one of those plants that require a stick of dynamite to do any damage too which is why many locations have banned them as invasive weeds.

I love lantana and use it to landscape often.

It can be trimmed at any time but the best time is at the end of its recent flush of flowers. Most gardeners will trim it just to give it some shape.

Answer 2

The first thing is -- lantana does not need trimming. So unless the plant(s) are encroaching other areas where you do not want it to grow into;

or for some reason the plant(s) have been damaged to the point that they look really bad (like run over by a truck or herd of turtles);

or you feel that you just gotta cut/hack/slash and mutilate something ----

LEAVE THEM ALONE.
(that's how we deal with them out here in the west and Lantana is a very popular landscaping plant out here.)

Answer 3

Depends where you are in the Southeast. Florida - probably OK now. Coastal areas in the other states - probably OK now. In the Piedmont cities - Atlanta, Charlotte, Birmingham, Anderson, Greensboro, I would wait. There is only one truly hardy Lantana in those areas - 'Miss Huff', but I wouldn't even cut it back until March 15th. The others will most likely make it through this very mild winter, too, but don't cut them back either until March.

Answer 4

From what I gather from your location, it seems like Lantana grows as a perennial in the southeast.
I have Beautyberry bushes that are native to your area.
I'm in zone 5, No. IL, and I have and do cut them back to almost ground level in the spring, before they break dormancy, and I get beautiful full regrowth and berries by late summer here.
I would not hesitate to prune them back (lantana) or down each year at the end of the season.

Up here, in IL, they are grown as an annual, they can't take the lower winter temps.
If anyone wants to keep them growing, we must bring them inside.
Park seeds or Wayside down in SC, could fill you in best.
I got my beautyberry bushes from Parks, years ago.

Hope this helps, and have a fine season.
Dave

Check this out: http://www.virginiagarden.com/lantana.html

http://www.floridata.com/ref/l/lant_c.cfm

Answer 5

Cut it back to about a foot shorter than you want it to be.

Just throw a little love its' way after you hack it up.... water and a little fert.

I cut stuff up all year long (FL) .....except non irrigated situations in periods of bad drought.

Answer 6

Cut it back hard whenever you feel the need, it is a declared noxious weed where i live. I have seen it bulldozed, burnt, poisoned etc and still grow back.