October is the perfect time in Maryland to trim back certain plants before winter sets in. Pruning now can help them stay healthy and come back stronger in the spring.
I’ve spent plenty of afternoons snipping and shaping, and it really makes a difference. A little cutback today means a thriving garden tomorrow.
1. Black-Eyed Susans
After their golden blooms fade, these Maryland state flowers need attention. Cut the stems down to about 2-3 inches above the soil to prevent disease and encourage robust growth next year.
Many Maryland gardeners leave a few seedheads standing to feed local birds through early winter. The pruned material makes excellent compost for nourishing your garden beds.
2. Peonies
Fall cleanup is crucial for these stunning perennials. Cut all peony stems to ground level and remove the foliage completely from your Maryland garden to prevent botrytis blight from overwintering.
Remember to dispose of the cuttings in trash rather than compost. Many Maryland gardeners mark the plant’s location with a small stake so they don’t accidentally dig in that spot during winter.
3. Hostas
Once those beautiful leaves turn yellow, it’s time for action. Cut hostas back to about an inch above the soil to prevent slug eggs from overwintering in the decaying foliage.
The cool Maryland autumn weather makes this task pleasant. After trimming, apply a light layer of mulch around the plant base to protect the crown from extreme temperature fluctuations common in Maryland winters.
4. Bee Balm
After the final blooms fade, trim bee balm stems to about 2 inches above the ground. This helps prevent powdery mildew issues that commonly affect this plant in Maryland’s humid climate.
Many gardeners in the Free State leave a few seedheads for winter interest and bird food. The cut material should be disposed of rather than composted if any mildew was present during the growing season.
5. Daylilies
Cut back those scraggly daylily leaves to about 6 inches from the ground once they start yellowing. This cleanup helps prevent diseases and pests from overwintering in your Maryland garden.
The trimming encourages the plant to focus energy on root development. Many Maryland gardeners mark clumps that need dividing next spring with small stakes before the foliage completely disappears.
6. Coneflowers
While many Maryland gardeners leave coneflower seedheads for birds, cutting back diseased or messy plants helps prevent problems next year. Trim stems to about 4 inches above the soil if needed.
The seeds provide food for goldfinches and other Maryland birds through winter. If you choose to prune, do it on a dry day to minimize the spread of any potential diseases in your garden.
7. Iris
Cut iris leaves into a fan shape about 6-8 inches tall after they yellow. This reduces hiding places for iris borers, a common pest in Maryland gardens that can devastate your beautiful blooms.
Take time to remove any dead or diseased foliage completely. Many Maryland gardeners also use this opportunity to divide overcrowded iris clumps for better flowering next season.
8. Catmint
After the final flush of flowers fades, cut catmint back to about 3-4 inches above the ground. This rejuvenates the plant and often encourages a tidy mound of foliage that persists through Maryland’s mild early winters.
The aromatic clippings can be dried for herbal teas. Many Maryland gardeners appreciate how this plant bounces back quickly in spring, providing early color in their garden beds.
9. Astilbe
Leave those attractive seedheads until they turn brown and begin to deteriorate. Then cut astilbe stems to ground level before Maryland’s first hard frost to prevent crown rot issues.
The spent flowers provide wonderful winter interest in the garden. Many Maryland gardeners apply a light layer of leaf mulch around the plant base after cutting back to protect the shallow roots.
10. Salvia
Cut these aromatic perennials back to about 3 inches from the ground after flowering ends. This prevents the woody stems from becoming leggy and helps maintain the plant’s compact shape in your Maryland garden.
The trimming encourages healthy new growth next spring. Many Maryland gardeners enjoy the sage-like scent released during pruning – a final aromatic goodbye before winter sets in.
11. Sedum
While many leave the interesting seedheads for winter interest, cutting back diseased or floppy sedum stems helps maintain plant health. Trim to about 2 inches above the ground if needed.
The dried flower heads catch frost beautifully in Maryland winters. Many gardeners in the Old Line State wait until early spring to cut back sedums, enjoying their structural presence through the colder months.
12. Liatris
After those purple spikes fade to brown, cut liatris stems to about 2-3 inches above the soil. This prevents self-seeding if you don’t want volunteers throughout your Maryland garden next year.
The seedheads provide food for goldfinches if left standing. Many Maryland gardeners mark the plant locations before cutting back completely, as liatris can be slow to emerge in spring.
13. Yarrow
Cut back yarrow stems to about 2 inches above the ground after the flowers fade. This prevents the plant from looking messy through Maryland’s winter months and helps avoid fungal issues.
The trimming encourages a tidy basal rosette of foliage that often persists through mild Maryland winters. Many gardeners in the state use this opportunity to divide overcrowded yarrow clumps for better blooms next year.
14. Lavender
Don’t cut lavender back hard in fall – Maryland’s winters can be tough on newly pruned plants. Instead, just remove spent flower stalks and trim lightly to shape, leaving the woody base intact.
Save major pruning for spring after the threat of frost passes. Many Maryland gardeners apply a light mulch around the base of lavender plants to protect them during winter’s temperature fluctuations.