In many of my previous articles, I’ve often mentioned that I’m a huge fan of cut-and-come-again flowers. Trust me, you’ll be shocked to see my mom’s backyard garden.
The concept of reblooming is one that really appeals to me. I mean…I can’t imagine doing all the work in the world to only have my flowers bloom once a year; a second flush excites me a little too much!
In this article, we’ll go over a long list of perennials that can bloom again if you cut them back precisely around mid-summer. However, before we get to that, let’s first try to understand why…
Why Cutting Back In Mid-Summer Really Works?
Cutting back essentially rejuvenates the plant, similar to how your hair freshens up and rejuvenates after a clean trim. It’s not ESSENTIAL for growth, but it’s still important despite seeming counterproductive.
The practice of cutting back perennials every once in a while helps conserve energy, stimulates new growth, and often triggers a second round of flowering, which is typically just as beautiful as the first time.
How To Cut Back Without Hurting The Plant? Let’s see!
Look For Spent Blooms & Faded Growth:
Once flowering slows down and stems begin to stretch or dry out, it’s a sign the plant is entering dormancy or decline. That’s generally when you want to prepare for cutting back the plant.
Cut Back By One-Third To Half:
For this, you want to start by grabbing hold of clean and sanitized pruners. Cut stems down to just above fresh foliage or a healthy leaf node. DO NOT cut into woody growth unless the plant can tolerate it.
Follow With Water & Light Feeding:
A decent splash of water and a low-nitrogen fertilizer can give perennials the boost they need to rebound. But, make sure not to overdo watering or fertilization so early into growth, or it can stress the plants out.
Also, take a look at what to do after cutting back spring bulbs like tulips.
Perennials That Rebloom After A Summer Cut
1: Catmint (Nepeta)
After the first flush of blooms, cut back catmint plants to a few inches above the base. This will help with quicker reblooming results and prevent flopping.
2: Salvias
When it comes to encouraging salvias to rebloom, you want to remove all spent flower spikes and trim stems by half. You’ll likely have a full second bloom by late summer.
Also take a look at this quick guide on keeping salvias blooming all summer, it covers everything from cutting back to watering tips.
3: Coreopsis
Cut back faded coreopsis stems mid-season to keep the plant compact and flush with new yellow blooms. I have tons of coreopsis in my garden, and every time they bloom, I have a huge smile on my face seeing their vibrant colors.
4: Yarrow (Achillea)
With Yarrows, you have a choice. You can either deadhead individual flowers or cut the whole plant back by one-third to trigger fresh stems and flowers.
And if you’re growing other summer perennials like peonies, here’s when to cut them back or leave them alone.
5: Shasta Daisy
Once early Shasta daisy blooms are spent, you want to cut stems down to the foliage mound. The likelihood of reblooming is high with these, especially in cooler regions.
6: Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)
Remove browning flowers regularly or shear plants midsummer for the best reblooming results. This will help reset growth and promote brighter, more vibrant colors.
7: Geranium (Cranesbill)
Cutting back geranium plants midsummer refreshes dull/weak foliage and often aids in producing a lighter fall bloom.
You should also take a look at how to deadhead geraniums properly, it goes hand in hand with midsummer cutbacks for healthier, fuller blooms.
8: Bee Balm (Monarda)
It’s best to trim bee balms just after peak bloom to encourage a second round of vibrant flowers and help prevent harmful mildew buildup.
9: Veronica (Speedwell)
Snip off finished Veronica spikes and cut back the plants by just a few inches. There are some Veronica varieties that rebloom generously going into fall
10: Garden Phlox (Phlox Paniculata)
Deadhead garden phlox flowers as they begin to fade, or give the plant a light haircut. Doing so will encourage repeat flowering and tighter structural integrity.
You should also take a look at how to trim marigolds in midsummer, it also helps keep blooms coming well into fall.
11: Daylilies (Repeat Blooming Types)
When it comes to daylilies, you want to remove entire scapes (flower stalks) after they bloom. Certain varieties, like ‘Stella de Oro,’ rebloom heavily with a good cleanup.
Super Important Tips For Getting The Best Second Bloom
And if you’re a flower lover in general, here’s the best way to prune your orchid to keep those stunning blooms coming too.
Let’s Conclude
I’ve said this once, and I’ll say it again. As a gardener, nothing beats the joy and excitement you get from seeing your flowers rebloom after a good cutback.
Since my nieces help me out with the cutting process, they tend to get excited about reblooming too.
Now that you’ve acquired the right knowledge and guidance, it’s time for you to experiment with cutting back perennials in your garden and encouraging them to bloom a second time. Good luck!