Cut Back Perennials in November: Tips and Advice for Winter Preparation

Cutting back perennials in November is an essential gardening task that helps tidy up your garden, encourages healthy growth in the spring, and protects plants from potential pest and disease problems over the winter months. While not all perennials need cutting back, many benefit from trimming in late fall when their growth has slowed, and they are entering dormancy. Properly cutting back your perennials also ensures that your garden is neat and ready for winter. In this guide, we’ll provide tips on how to cut back perennials in November for a healthy garden next season.

Why Cut Back Perennials in November?

Cutting back perennials in November helps clear away dead or dying foliage, preventing pests and diseases from overwintering in the debris. It also gives your garden a tidy appearance and prevents plant material from breaking down into a soggy mess during winter. By cutting back certain perennials, you encourage stronger growth in the next season, allowing the plants to focus on root development through winter and healthier top growth in spring.

Step-by-Step Guide to Cutting Back Perennials in November

Identify Which Perennials to Cut Back:

Cut Back Frost-Sensitive Perennials: Plants that are sensitive to frost and have already begun to die back, such as hostas, peonies, and daylilies, should be trimmed down to prevent disease.
Leave Some Perennials for Winter Interest: Some perennials, like ornamental grasses, sedums, and coneflowers, provide structure and visual interest in the winter garden. Their seed heads also attract birds. Leave these perennials intact until late winter or early spring.

Cut Back Dead and Dying Foliage:

Use Sharp Tools: Use clean, sharp pruning shears or garden scissors to cut back the dead and dying foliage. Make clean cuts to avoid tearing the stems, which could lead to infection.
Cut Close to the Ground: Trim perennials down to about 2-4 inches above the soil level. For most perennials, this helps clear away the old growth while leaving enough stem to protect the crown of the plant during winter.
Remove Faded Flower Stalks: If the plant has spent flower stalks, such as on astilbes or daylilies, cut these back to the base of the plant to tidy up the garden and reduce seed production.

Dispose of the Cuttings:

Remove Debris: Collect the cuttings and any plant debris, as leaving dead foliage in the garden can harbor pests and diseases that may overwinter and cause problems in the next growing season.
Compost or Dispose: Healthy plant cuttings can be added to your compost pile. However, if the plants show signs of disease or pest infestations, dispose of the debris in the trash or burn it to prevent spreading problems.

Mulch Around the Base:

Apply Mulch After Cutting Back: After cutting back your perennials, apply a layer of organic mulch, such as compost, shredded leaves, or straw, around the base of the plants. Mulch helps insulate the roots, retain soil moisture, and protect the plants from freezing temperatures during the winter.
Avoid Mulching the Crown: Keep the mulch away from the crown of the plant (where the stems meet the roots), as direct contact with mulch can cause rot. Leave a small gap between the crown and the mulch.

Water Before the Ground Freezes:

Water Thoroughly: If the weather has been dry, water your perennials well after cutting them back to ensure they go into winter with adequate moisture. This is especially important for plants in well-drained soils that may dry out during cold spells.
Avoid Overwatering: Be careful not to overwater, as soggy soil can lead to root rot. Water just enough to keep the soil slightly moist.

Common Perennials to Cut Back in November

Hostas: After frost kills their leaves, cut back hostas to prevent slugs and other pests from using the decaying foliage as shelter.
Peonies: Cut peonies down to the ground after their foliage has been hit by frost. This helps prevent fungal diseases like botrytis from overwintering on the plant.
Daylilies: Daylily foliage can be cut back to a few inches above the ground after it begins to yellow and die off in late fall.
Bee Balm (Monarda): Bee balm is prone to powdery mildew, so cutting it back in November helps reduce the chances of the disease overwintering on the plant.
Phlox: Like bee balm, phlox is susceptible to powdery mildew. Cut it back to the ground to keep your garden tidy and prevent disease.

Benefits of Cutting Back Perennials in November

Prevents Pest and Disease Problems: Cutting back dead and diseased foliage helps prevent pests and diseases from overwintering on your perennials, reducing the risk of problems in the next growing season.
Encourages Stronger Growth: By cutting back the old growth, you encourage the plant to focus on developing a healthy root system over winter, leading to stronger top growth and better blooms in spring.
Tidies Up the Garden: Cutting back perennials in November helps maintain a neat, tidy garden through winter, reducing the amount of cleanup needed in early spring.
Protects the Plant: Cutting back certain perennials helps protect them from winter damage, as old growth can become soggy and harbor diseases.

Additional Tips for Cutting Back Perennials in November

Don’t Cut Back Everything: Some perennials, such as ornamental grasses and sedums, provide winter interest and structure to the garden. Leave these plants standing through winter, and cut them back in early spring instead.
Wait for the Right Time: Wait until after the first frost to cut back perennials. Frost signals the plants to go dormant, making it the right time to trim them without causing unnecessary stress.
Leave a Few Inches of Stem: Always leave a small amount of stem above ground to protect the plant’s crown from frost and to mark its location in the garden for spring.
Use Clean Tools: Clean and disinfect your pruning tools before and after cutting back perennials to prevent the spread of diseases from one plant to another.

Common Questions and Answers

Q1: Should I cut back all perennials in November?
Not all perennials need to be cut back in November. Some, like ornamental grasses and coneflowers, provide winter interest and should be left until late winter or early spring. Focus on cutting back frost-sensitive or diseased perennials.

Q2: How low should I cut back perennials?
Cut most perennials back to about 2-4 inches above the soil line. This leaves enough stem to protect the crown of the plant during winter and allows for new growth to emerge in spring.

Q3: Can I compost the cuttings from my perennials?
Yes, healthy cuttings can be added to your compost pile. However, if the plants show signs of disease or pest infestation, it’s best to dispose of them in the trash to avoid spreading problems in your garden.

Q4: Do I need to mulch after cutting back perennials?
Yes, applying a layer of mulch after cutting back perennials helps protect the roots from freezing temperatures, retains soil moisture, and prevents weed growth.

Q5: When should I cut back perennials that provide winter interest?
Perennials like ornamental grasses and sedums can be left standing through winter for added garden structure. Cut them back in late winter or early spring before new growth starts.