• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Western Garden Centers

for what grows here

  • Home
  • How To
  • Gift Cards
  • Calculate Mulch
  • Locations
    • Store Hours
    • About
    • Garden Shop Employment Team
  • Weddings
    • Salt Lake City, UT
    • West Valley, UT
  • Blog
    • Gardening
    • Recipes

Perennials

Fall Pruning Your Utah Garden – Basics

October 5, 2017 by Wendy Pettit

Time to do your fall pruning in your Utah garden along the Wasatch Front.  Pruning your garden for winter is fairly simple. Follow two main basic pruning rules and then follow guidelines for various plants listed.

Follow these simple guidelines for fall pruning your garden and yard.

GENERAL Pruning Rules to Remember:

Rule #1 – Don’t prune plants until they are finished blooming.

Rule #2 – Prune dead or broken branches at any time of the season.

FALL Pruning Guidelines:

Fall Pruning of Flowering Shrubs

To keep with Rule #1, remember not to prune fall blooming shrubs until they are done blooming.  Examples of fall blooming shrubs include Rose of Sharon, Hydrangeas, etc. Spring blooming shrubs (forsythia, spirea, lilac, etc) should be pruned in the spring or summer after they are done blooming. Often, these shrubs bloom on new growth, so prune them early in the season to get some good growth for the next year’s blooms.

Before you get started pruning your flowering shrub, keep in mind to retain and enhance the shrub’s naturally graceful habit. Take care not to cut the shrub into a boxy or unnatural shape (unless you want to sacrifice flowers and make a hedge). Remove dead and crossing branches.  Cut ¼ of the oldest canes to the ground. This gives the plant renewed strength, letting light and air circulation into the center of the plant and provides growing space for new flowering stems.

fall pruning your evergreen shrubs

Fall Pruning of Upright Evergreen Shrubs

Lightly prune to shape.  Shrubs like Arborvitae may need wrapping or tying with twine to keep the snow from breaking off the branches.

Fall Pruning of Rose Bushes

Pruning depth depends on the type of rose.  If a hybrid tea or a floribunda type, prune down to 24” above ground.  Otherwise, prune to shape the bush. Prune out dead and broken branches. May mulch around the base of the bush in case of unexpected sub-zero winter temperatures.  In the spring, if there has been winter damage, you will be able to prune off the winter-kill.  Click here for a good article on how to prune your roses.  

fall pruning your vines in your utah garden

Fall Pruning of Vines

Pruning depends all upon the type of vine.  Some clematis need pruning, other clematis do not.  Follow the directions on the plant tag from a reputable local garden center, or ask the experts at the local nursery.

fall pruning your berry plants

Fall Pruning of Berry Plants

Again, pruning requirements drastically vary depending on type of berry and cultivar.   Ever-bearing plants require different pruning techniques than main crop berries.  And even then there are different needs.  You don’t want to trim back too far in the fall if you need to leave that newer growth for next year’s berries.  Again, consult the expert gardeners at your reputable garden center.  Be sure to know what variety of berry you have.

fall pruning your utah fruit trees

Fall Pruning of Fruit Trees

Do not prune fruit trees until winter when they are dormant, i.e. leaves have fallen and temperatures are in 30’s & 40’s.  In northern Utah, we recommend pruning during January and February.  Follow proper tree pruning techniques in the winter.  Winter Pruning video.  Remember that at any time, you can prune away dead or broken branches.

fall mowing your lawn for winter

Fall Mowing “Pruning” of Lawn/Turf

Mowing your lawn is actually a type of “pruning”.  Your last mowing of the season should be shorter than during the summer months when you want the shade of the blades to help retain moisture in the soil and more green for healthier roots.  When you are ready to put your lawnmower away, set your lawn mower to 1½” setting and give your lawn a good pruning!  WARNING:  Don’t be overly ambitious and “scalp” the lawn.  A nice short cut is desired, but you don’t want to injure the base of the plant.  

Additional Fall Lawn Note:  Now is a time to spread your fall fertilizer.  If you have had issues with fungus, now is the time to apply a fungicide treatment.  Also, weed control is still viable when daily high temperatures are higher than 55-60 degrees. Weeds love the forgotten fall lawn.

fall pruning your utah perennials

Fall Pruning of Perennials

Be sure to remember Rules #1 and #2 above.  Not pruning until the plant finishes blooming also applies to dividing and transplanting in the fall.  Don’t transplant until the plant is done blooming.  This means that your fall bloomers like Autumn Joy Sedum, chrysanthemums, etc., need to finish blooming before you divide and transplant or prune.  Be patient! You have plenty of other pruning and garden work to do.  These are the last ones to prune before the beds are done for the winter.  

Two Additional General Fall Pruning Rules for Most Perennials: 

  1. Prune when the plants begin to die back, leaving their greenery to continue feeding the roots as long as possible. 
  2. Cut them down to 3-4 inches above the soil. This is because most perennials die down to the ground in the winter.  Leaving 3 inches will mark the plants during winter.  Also in the spring the 3-4 inches is low enough you won’t need to go back and prune as the plant emerges.  

EXCEPTIONS to Pruning Perennial Rules:  Woody perennials like lavender need only light pruning to shape and evergreen perennials like candytuft should also only be lightly pruned.  If you question what to prune or how much, follow the guidance from your master gardener at the independent garden center like Western Gardens.  We would love to help you have a successful garden.

How to prune ground cover in the fall

Fall Pruning of Ground Covers –

Simply trim lightly.

How to prune your ornamental grasses in the fall

Fall Pruning of Ornamental Grasses

If you enjoy the silhouette of your grasses, leave them to admire throughout late fall.  Later trim to 6-8 inches above ground.

Fall Pruning Questions:

If you have any questions about fall pruning for winter, please feel free to stop by our Western Garden Centers and visit with one of our expert gardeners. We’ll be happy to answer any of your questions.

Fall Reminder:

While you are pruning and cleaning up, breathe deep the fresh autumn crisp air and admire the changes taking place in your garden.

What fall pruning do you enjoy doing in your yard?

 

The beginner basics of fall pruning your utah garden for winter.

Photo credit: Pixabay

SaveSave

SaveSave

Filed Under: Gardening, How To, Lawn Care, Tips & How To's, Utah Gardening, Yard Care Tagged With: berries, berry plants, evergreen shrubs, fall pruning, flowering shrubs, fruit trees, ground cover, ornamental grasses, Perennials, perennials pruning, pruning, pruning roses, rose bushes, roses, shrubs

Differences between Perennials and Annuals – What’s Best for My Garden?

May 5, 2017 by Becky

WELCOME FRIENDS, Come learn with us!

difference between perennials and annuals

image: Pixabay

As a novice gardener, I need to know what is the difference between perennials and annuals?  Whenever I went to the nursery, I was confused by the terms “annuals” and “perennials.”   When choosing plants for your garden it’s important to know the difference, so I thought I would share some of what has made it easier for me to remember.

Annuals

Annuals are plants that came from seeds earlier this spring.  You can plant them as seeds or you can purchase them as seedlings or starts in flats and pots.  Annuals usually bloom the entire summer until frost kills them.  They don’t survive the winter.  I remember the plants that are annuals because I have to buy them “annually.”

However there are exceptions, some tropical plants are perennial in a tropical climate, but in Utah’s colder climate, they are annuals.  They die every winter and need to be replanted as a new plant.  Geranium, Impatiens, and Bougainvillea are good examples of annuals.

impatiens are annuals in salt lake city

Image: Pixabay

Begonia annual in Utah

Image: Pixabay

Perennials

Perennials that do well in our climate are a different story.  Perennials survive our Utah winters in the growing zone 5.  They bloom again year after year.  The tradeoff is that perennials have a definite blooming season and don’t bloom all summer long.  Usually they bloom from a couple of weeks to a couple of months.  There are many varieties from evergreen, to shade tolerant, or even drought tolerant.  Most die to the ground in fall or winter and spend most of winter dormant.  Most perennials like well-drained soil with plenty of organic material in it.

Peonie perennial in Utah

Image: Pixabay

Gloriosa daily perennial

Image: Pixabay

So basically, that’s the difference between perennials and annuals. How long they survive in the climate zone you live in.  In the Salt Lake Valley, we are usually a zone 5, and sometimes can be a zone 6, so be sure and talk to one of our expert gardeners to make sure you get the perfect plants for your soil and landscape.

A Word about Placement

Placing a plant in a good site, in a place it will thrive, is one of the most important differences that will make your flower garden successful.  In my yard I have hot, sunny sites, cool shady sites, and everything in between.  I am always careful not to place a plant that prefers shade, like a Hosta, Fern, or Begonia in a hot sunny spot because it will do poorly.  A hosta in the sun will show it’s displeasure with burned, scorched leaves.  However, planting a peony, Petunia, or Sunflower in the shade will not produce good results either.  Any of our gardeners can help you identify which plants do best in sun, shade, etc.

A Word about Soils

Most soils in Utah are either clay or sand based (like my garden) and will do very well with some organic amendments.  For perennials create a 50/50 mix with existing soil.  For annuals simply spread a 2-3″ layer of organic amendment evenly on top of the existing soil, then dig or till it in.  The hole for perennials should be about twice as wide as the container and an inch or so less in depth.  Place the plant in the hole after popping it out of the container.  If it’s root bound (lots of white roots wrapping around the soil ball), use a short blade utility knife to make a few shallow, vertical cuts around the root ball to stimulate new root growth.  Press the root mass into the hole to make sure there are no voids under the roots and water well using a root starter (we can help you with that at Western Gardens too).

Come see us!

Our garden experts at Western Gardens have a lot of great suggestions to help you get your flower garden blooming all summer long.  From root starter to organic compost, we have everything you need.  Be sure to visit us on Facebook for specials and daily tips.

What do some of you expert gardeners do to keep your flowers strong and healthy.  Feel free to share your experiences here too.

Post revised by Wendy P 5/2017

Filed Under: Annuals, Flowers, Gardening, Perennials, Tips & How To's, Utah Gardening Tagged With: annuals, flowers, Perennials, planting flowers, utah annuals, Utah gardening, utah perennials

10 Low-Maintenance Perennials

June 4, 2016 by Heather Leister

Hi there, thanks for stopping by!  

Love having a beautiful yard, but don't have a lot of time? You need these 10 low-maintanence perennials! They will make your yard beautiful and your life easier!

Do you love beautiful flowers?  Do you also love NOT spending a lot of time in the garden to keep them beautiful?  Then I have the perfect answer for you!  10 low-maintenance perennials that will thrive in your yard and produce beautiful foliage and blooms all season long.

Between kids, job, house, husband (and everything else that falls through the cracks), I don’t have time for high-maintenance anything in my life right now. Especially in my yard!  Plants have to meet two requirements before they go in the ground here.

  1. They must be a perennial
  2. They must be low maintenance

I’ve learned over the years that anything else won’t survive my crazy schedule and sometimes inattentive care.

At one point or another I have had each of the following plants in my yard, and they have all thrived.

10 Low-Maintenance Perennials:

cone-flower1. Coneflower – A hardy flowering perennial, the Coneflower will bloom from early summer to fall. The Coneflower does well in drought conditions and will grow to approximately three feet tall.

iris12. Iris – The Iris is a multiplying wonder! Its bulbs will increase each year, and you will quickly end up with a mass of gorgeous flowers on tall green stalks. Once they are established, Irises require little care, and bulbs can be split and replanted in other areas of your yard. 

mums13. Chrysanthemum – Chrysanthemums are an easy-to-grow perennial that will provide fall color in your yard. There are several different types of Mums, so make sure to select a garden variety mum that is suitable for your zone. 

sedum4. Sedum – Sedum is a wonderfully reliable groundcover. It can withstand heat, disease, and drought – and  still continue to grow and spread. I currently have Sedum in a rock wall and it is thriving, even without a dedicated water source. As it spreads, divide it every few years, replanting it in different areas of your yard or gifting it to friends.

yarrow5. Yarrow – Yarrow is an extremely hardy perennial, and does well in cold, heat, and drought conditions. This plant is also deer resistant, so I have planted it throughout my yard!  If deer are a problem in your yard, then don’t miss my favorite 10 deer-resistant plants!

daylily pinterest6. Daylily –  The Daylily is a workhorse of a perennial. These plants will reward you year after year with luscious green foliage and bright yellow flowers. Daylilies require little attention, and they are predictable plants that can also be divided and replanted as they spread. One of the best gifts that I ever received was a bag of Daylily plants that had been divided from mature plants in a friend’s backyard.

coralbells17. Coralbells – Coralbells are a showy, yet very low maintenance plant. They do well in a location that is partially shaded. This plant has unusual foliage and tiny bell-shaped flowers that bloom on tall, thin spikes. Coralbells spread well, and the flowers shoots give it height.

hostas landscape8. Hosta – Hosta thrives in the shade, and comes in a variety of sizes. I’m partial to Hosta with large, bright green leafs and I love having plants that come back bigger and better each year. My last yard was filled with Hostas, but I have had less success with them in my current yard, because the local deer enjoy them as a snack. Hostas are very easy to grow, but be mindful of pests that will damage the plants.russian sage19. Russian Sage – Russian Sage has light colored, silver foliage and spiky lavender flowers that will cover the leaves from late spring until autumn. This perennial prefers dry conditions, making it a plant that is definitely low maintenance. peony10. Peony –When I planted my first Peony bush, I was surprised that such a resilient plant could produce such gorgeous flowers. Peony blossoms appear late spring to early summer and their beauty is tough to beat. Peonies comes back year after year, with bigger, showier flowers, and it requires minimal care, making this my favorite perennial!

Do you have any of these perennials in your yard?  Which is your favorite?  Tell us in the comments below!

Image Credits:
Peony, Hostas, Yarrow, Sedum, Coneflower: Pixabay
Russian Sage, Coralbells, Daylily, Chrysanthemum, Iris: Flickr

Filed Under: Flowers, Gardening, Perennials Tagged With: Easy Care, Lists, Low Maintenance, Perennials

Primary Sidebar

Shopping Cart

Items in Your Cart

Your cart is empty
Visit The Shop

Follow Western Gardens

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

See what we’ve been pinning!

Follow Me on Pinterest
Followed by people.
?

Pinterest Badge by Skipser

Here’s What We’ve Been Up To!

Save water and money by Turf Training - train your lawn to grow deep roots
work at western gardens utah garden center
Senior gardening woman Edu Carvalho from Pexels
nursery center open to public

Copyright © 2023. Western Gardens - Privacy Policy