Flowers

Question for fall: To Trim or not to trim?

29.09.11

As the cooler fall season comes upon us, we see the effects all around. Foliage on plants like peonies and irises are looking more brown as they prepare for the winter season.

So, is it time to trim the foliage back on these plants or should you wait?

Peonies

There are actually two types of peonies -- tree and herbaceous. The herbaceous peony is most commonly grown in Kansas. Herbaceous peonies do well in a wide range of soil types and climates. They have bushy green, pink or red stems that grow from two to four feet tall and turn green by the time they are cut down in the fall.

Peonies go dormant in early fall (by Sept. 1) but the foliage isn't killed back until the first frost. It is always advisable to remove dead and diseased plant material, but healthy foliage should be left until the first frost as this will allow the plant to store up as much energy as possible and grow more roots for the year to come. Once a heavy frost has killed the plant foliage cut it down to the ground. This is very important -- especially if you have had any past disease problems. Discard the stems and avoid using them in the compost pile.

Source: Salina Journal