We have a great deal of perennials throughout our property (Regina,
Saskatchewan).

1) Should we cut off the season's growth to the ground before winter comes?

2) Does the answer to #1 vary with species of perennial?

3) Does leaving the top on promote fungus growth?

Cory
Regina. Saskatchewan, Canada

Cory Lechner wrote:

We have a great deal of perennials throughout our property (Regina,
Saskatchewan).

1) Should we cut off the season's growth to the ground before winter comes?

2) Does the answer to #1 vary with species of perennial?

3) Does leaving the top on promote fungus growth?

Cory
Regina. Saskatchewan, Canada

There is really no right or wrong answer to this question - it depends on your
climate and preference. Many folks do a routine clean-up of their garden each
fall to ready it for winter that includes cutting back all herbaceous
perennials. Others leave selected plants as is over winter, either because they
offer late season attraction (sedum seedheads look great dusted with frost or
snow) or because they offer fodder to local wildlife. If you live in a hard
winter climate (I'm pretty sure Saskatchewan would qualify :-)), there is the
likelihood that leaving foliage intact over the winter will offer additional
winter protection to the root crown. This can lead to hiding places for
overwintering insects and diseases - depends on whether or not they are a big
problem in your area. You can always cut back and then mulch to get the same or
even superior winter protection.

pam - gardengal

Pam wrote:

perennials. Others leave selected plants as is over winter, either because they
offer late season attraction (sedum seedheads look great dusted with frost or
snow) or because they offer fodder to local wildlife.

The other reason I wait till spring to do clean-up is because I don't
always remember where exactly I planted something, and especially if it
is late to come up in spring, might decide to plant something else in
that spot.

Suja

Hi!
I always clean up my perennials in fall, depending on how they look,
especially if there are plants that tend to spread. In fact i'm thinking in
the next couple of weeks starting on mine.
Peppergirl
http://hotcuisine.esmartweb.com/
"Cory Lechner" wrote in message
...
We have a great deal of perennials throughout our property (Regina,
Saskatchewan).

1) Should we cut off the season's growth to the ground before winter
comes?

2) Does the answer to #1 vary with species of perennial?

3) Does leaving the top on promote fungus growth?

Cory
Regina. Saskatchewan, Canada

"Cory Lechner" wrote in message
...
We have a great deal of perennials throughout our property (Regina,
Saskatchewan).

1) Should we cut off the season's growth to the ground before winter
comes?

2) Does the answer to #1 vary with species of perennial?

3) Does leaving the top on promote fungus growth?


I generally just leave my perennials as-is until late winter or early
spring. They give some winter interest to the garden and the seed attract
wildlife. The dead growth is a marker for the plant. It reminds me where
they are and prevents me from digging them up in a fit of spring fever when
I can finally get out of the house after the winter snows have melted. I do
clean the beds when I see new growth in the spring.

Hi Cory

cut back your perennials but leave some stems so that you know the
plants are there.

You can leave the plants til spring and not worry about fungal
diseases.
Derryl



"Cory Lechner" wrote in message
...
We have a great deal of perennials throughout our property (Regina,
Saskatchewan).

1) Should we cut off the season's growth to the ground before winter
comes?

2) Does the answer to #1 vary with species of perennial?

3) Does leaving the top on promote fungus growth?


I generally just leave my perennials as-is until late winter or early
spring. They give some winter interest to the garden and the seed attract
wildlife. The dead growth is a marker for the plant. It reminds me where
they are and prevents me from digging them up in a fit of spring fever when
I can finally get out of the house after the winter snows have melted. I do
clean the beds when I see new growth in the spring.

"Pam" wrote in message

Cory Lechner wrote:

We have a great deal of perennials throughout our property (Regina,
Saskatchewan).

1) Should we cut off the season's growth to the ground before winter
comes?

2) Does the answer to #1 vary with species of perennial?

3) Does leaving the top on promote fungus growth?

Cory
Regina. Saskatchewan, Canada

There is really no right or wrong answer to this question - it depends on
your
climate and preference. Many folks do a routine clean-up of their garden
each
fall to ready it for winter that includes cutting back all herbaceous
perennials. Others leave selected plants as is over winter, either because
they
offer late season attraction (sedum seedheads look great dusted with frost
or
snow) or because they offer fodder to local wildlife. If you live in a
hard
winter climate (I'm pretty sure Saskatchewan would qualify :-)), there is
the
likelihood that leaving foliage intact over the winter will offer
additional
winter protection to the root crown. This can lead to hiding places for
overwintering insects and diseases - depends on whether or not they are a
big
problem in your area. You can always cut back and then mulch to get the
same or
even superior winter protection.

pam - gardengal

Excellent advice - been there, done that. As an ammendment to your
suggestions, I found it usually paid to cut back and remove/destroy dead
plant material from perennials and replace its winter protection with red
pine or white pine needles (pine straw) in zone 3. It really cut down on
over-wintering diseases and bugs. I used plant stakes to identify where
perennials "should" sprout in the spring. They didn't always survive open
winters.

John

John

1) Should we cut off the season's growth to the ground before winter
comes?

In colder climates, it is often better to wait until spring because the
remaining foliage adds additional insulation for the crown of the plant.
sed5555 (in Denver)

Cory Lechner wrote:

We have a great deal of perennials throughout our property (Regina,
Saskatchewan).

1) Should we cut off the season's growth to the ground before winter comes?

Depends on the perennial. A good rule of thumb is to clear dead
material after the frost and before the thaw to prevent fungal
infestations.

2) Does the answer to #1 vary with species of perennial?

Yes; but not so much as to be a real hu-hu; if you've got
something that needs a tad more winter protection, some mulch
works just as well as leaving the dead last-season growth. My
garden sprouts these little wire enclosures filled with shredded
paper every December for just that reason. Makes it really
easy to do clearance -- take it all -- and removal in the spring
is also a snap.

3) Does leaving the top on promote fungus growth?

Yes, often.

Chris Owens


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