Fall isn’t just about pumpkin spice and cozy sweaters—it’s also the perfect time to prep your garden for next spring! This guide shows you 23 perennials to cut back in fall and why it’s worth the effort!
YayImagesPerennials To Cut Back In Fall
Let’s jump straight into the perennials you should cut back during your fall clean-up:
1. Columbine
YayImagesColumbine (Aquilegia) is a spring beauty, but by fall, its foliage can look tired and attract pests.
Cutting back the stems to the ground keeps your garden tidy and helps prevent overwintering bugs.
This little cleanup encourages fresh, healthy growth when spring rolls around.
Plus, it makes room for other perennials to shine during the colder months!
2. Salvia
YayImagesSalvia’s stunning spikes of flowers can become woody and straggly if left untrimmed over winter.
Cutting it back in the fall, down to a few inches above the ground, helps the plant grow fuller and healthier next season.
It also keeps your garden neat and reduces the chance of diseases setting in.
Trust me, your salvias will bounce back better than ever with this little TLC.
3. Siberian Iris
YayImagesSiberian irises (Iris sibirica) are elegant additions to any garden, but their fading foliage can harbor fungal spores.
Trimming the leaves down to a few inches above the ground keeps diseases from spreading and keeps pests away.
This simple step ensures your irises will dazzle again next year.
Plus, your garden will look cleaner and more organized through the winter!
4. Hollyhocks (Alcea)
YayImagesHollyhocks are tall, showy beauties, but they’re notorious for attracting rust, a pesky fungal disease.
Cutting them back in the fall removes infected leaves and helps prevent the spread of disease.
Trim them to ground level to give your garden a fresh start for the next growing season.
Your hollyhocks will thank you by coming back even stronger and healthier in the spring.
5. Solomon’s Seal
YayImagesSolomon’s Seal (Polygonatum) adds graceful greenery to your garden, but its foliage fades in fall, leaving room for pests to settle in.
Cutting it back to the ground keeps bugs and disease at bay.
Plus, a fall trim helps the plant conserve energy for lush regrowth in spring.
You’ll love how fresh and tidy your garden looks after this easy task.
6. Shasta Daisies
YayImagesShasta daisies (Leucanthemum x superbum) can leave behind a mess of mildewed or ragged foliage if not trimmed back in fall.
Cutting them down to the basal growth helps air circulate better, reducing the chance of disease.
This quick cleanup also encourages bright, beautiful blooms when warm weather returns.
You’ll appreciate how much easier spring maintenance is with this step checked off.
7. Clematis
YayImagesClematis vines can look wild and unruly by the end of the growing season.
While not all varieties need fall pruning, late-blooming ones will benefit from being cut back to a few strong stems.
This keeps the plant healthy and ensures it produces vibrant flowers next year.
A little attention now means a more spectacular display come spring and summer!
8. Black-Eyed Susans
YayImagesBlack-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) are cheerful garden staples, but their seed heads can harbor pests if left through winter.
Trimming them back to ground level keeps your garden pest-free and tidy.
This also redirects the plant’s energy into producing vibrant new growth in spring.
It’s a small task with big rewards for your garden’s health and appearance.
9. Yarrow
YayImagesYarrow (Achillea millefolium) is tough and hardy, but its tall stems can get floppy and messy by fall.
Cutting it back to the basal foliage keeps your garden neat and helps the plant rejuvenate for next year.
It’s also a great way to reduce the chance of pests and diseases overwintering in your garden.
With a quick trim, you’ll set the stage for a fresh burst of color next season.
10. Veronica (Speedwell)
YayImagesVeronica, also known as speedwell, adds lovely spikes of color to your garden, but by fall, it’s ready for a break.
Cutting the stems back to a few inches above the ground helps the plant conserve energy for new growth.
This also prevents any dead foliage from attracting pests over winter.
Come spring, your Veronica will be ready to shine again!
11. Blackberry Lily
YayImagesBlackberry lilies (Iris domestica) produce beautiful flowers and eye-catching seed pods, but they can quickly take over if left unchecked.
Trimming the stems back in fall keeps the plant from spreading too aggressively.
A quick cut in fall also helps these perennials focus on producing healthier growth next season.
Plus, your garden will look cleaner and more polished through the winter months.
12. Blanket Flower
YayImagesBlanket flowers (Gaillardia) are vibrant and cheerful, but their dead stems can become soggy and messy in winter.
Cutting them back to the ground prevents rot and keeps your garden looking fresh.
This simple maintenance step also encourages the plant to bloom even more vigorously next year.
You’ll love the extra pop of color in your garden with this little bit of care.
13. Bearded Iris
YayImagesBearded irises are garden showstoppers, but their foliage can attract pests like iris borers if left untrimmed.
Cutting leaves back to about 3 inches in fall reduces the risk of infestations and keeps the rhizomes healthy.
It’s a small effort that ensures these beauties will bloom their best next year.
Plus, your garden will look much cleaner without those faded leaves.
14. Hosta
YayImagesHostas are beloved for their lush, leafy growth, but by fall, those leaves can harbor slugs and other pests.
Trimming back the dead foliage keeps your garden pest-free and tidy.
It also makes room for fresh, vibrant growth in spring.
Your hostas will come back looking better than ever with this simple fall prep.
15. Baptisia (False Indigo)
Kirsten Hughes / PixabayBaptisia is a low-maintenance perennial, but its tall stalks can create unnecessary clutter in your garden during winter.
Cutting them back to ground level helps keep things neat and encourages healthier growth next spring.
Plus, it’s one less thing to clean up when the snow melts!
You’ll appreciate how much tidier your garden looks after a quick trim.
16. Astilbe
YayImagesAstilbe’s feathery blooms are gorgeous in summer, but they start to fade and flop by fall.
Cutting the plant back to ground level prevents pests and diseases from taking up residence in the dead foliage.
This easy step also helps the plant conserve energy for lush spring growth.
Your garden will thank you with an even more beautiful display next season!
17. Bleeding Heart (Dicentra)
YayImagesBleeding hearts are some of the first perennials to go dormant, so fall is the perfect time to trim them back.
Cutting away the dead foliage keeps your garden tidy and reduces the chance of disease.
This also helps the plant store energy for a strong comeback next spring.
You’ll love seeing those heart-shaped blooms return year after year!
18. Catmint (Nepeta)
YayImagesCatmint’s aromatic foliage can get unruly by fall, making it the perfect candidate for a trim.
Cutting it back encourages a more compact shape and healthier growth next season.
It also keeps your garden looking neat and free of sprawling stems.
This low-maintenance step is a win-win for both you and your plants.
19. Phlox
YayImagesPhlox is a garden favorite, but it’s prone to powdery mildew if left standing over winter.
Cutting back the stems to ground level improves air circulation and keeps disease at bay.
This small task ensures a healthier, more vibrant plant come spring.
Plus, your garden will look much cleaner without the faded foliage.
20. Peonies
YayImagesPeonies are stunning in spring, but their foliage often develops fungal spots by fall.
Cutting the stems back to ground level and disposing of them (not composting!) helps prevent disease from spreading.
This also keeps the plant’s energy focused on producing gorgeous blooms next season.
A little care now means even more beautiful flowers in the future!
21. Daylilies
YayImagesDaylilies (Hemerocallis) are hardy and forgiving, but their foliage can look messy by fall.
Cutting it back keeps your garden neat and prevents pests from overwintering in the dead leaves.
This simple step also encourages fresh, vigorous growth next spring.
Your daylilies will reward you with an even brighter display!
22. Japanese Anemone
YayImagesJapanese anemones are charming perennials, but their foliage can become unruly and messy as the season ends.
Cutting them back in fall helps tidy your garden and prevents pests and diseases from overwintering.
This also helps the plant focus its energy on producing healthier growth next year.
Your spring garden will be better for it!
23. Liatris
NoName_13 / PixabayLiatris, also known as blazing star, is a striking perennial with tall spikes of flowers that add vertical interest to any garden.
By fall, its foliage and stems begin to brown and can become a home for pests and diseases if left unchecked.
Cutting it back to about 4–6 inches above the ground in autumn helps the plant conserve energy for strong growth in spring.
With a little fall care, your Liatris will reward you with its vibrant blooms and tidy, healthy foliage next season.
Conclusion
A little bit of fall maintenance goes a long way in keeping your garden healthy, vibrant, and beautiful.
When you cut back these perennials in fall, you’ll reduce pests and diseases, encourage fresh growth, and enjoy a tidier winter landscape.
Plus, your garden will be one step ahead when spring arrives!
Take a few hours this fall to show your plants some love—they’ll thank you with an amazing bloom season next year.
You may also like:
- How To Cut Back Perennials For A Thriving Garden
- 18 Perennials You Should Never Cut Back In Fall
- 23 Beautiful Perennials To Plant In Fall
- 27 Beautiful Perennials That Are Perfect For Cut Flowers
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