Can you do it?
Not cutting back perennials is easier said than done, especially in strata maintenance. Strata councils often demand tidiness and standing, spent, brown perennials are frowned upon. In private gardens, it’s much easier because the homeowner decides.
I know one large strata complex in White Rock, British Columbia, where people decided to leave their perennials standing. Not just ornamental grasses (cut them back in late winter) but Echinacea, Rudbeckia, Hakonechloa, ornamental onions and others. A memo was sent out informing all residents about the change.
And let me add that landscapers also had to be ordered to stand down. There is plenty of work on site but every year workers take down perennials and ornamental grasses way to early. Usually in early fall, with the excuse that their site rotation wouldn’t reach them in time, which is totally fake news.
I’m happy to openly admit that I personally used to crave neatness. I love cutting back perennials. I do it by hand with my snips and I get into a nice flow so it doesn’t even feel like work.
You can change your habits. I did!
Pushback
Despite the early warning, people still pushed back. I guess driving up to the gate and seeing clumps of brown perennials still standing rubs some people the wrong way. Since the gate is slow to open, the people have plenty of time to check out the entrance landscape.
So, why are we leaving perennials standing? Because birds eat the seeds in winter, when there is less food available. If you cut them back in fall, you’ve just blown up their pantry. And you eliminated hiding places for insects to overwinter in.
Then you also miss out on aestethics! You see that clearly this week with temperatures dipping below zero overnight; and north facing, shady areas staying cold all day. When you walk out you see plants covered in frost and they look amazing.
When you cut everything back too early, you miss out on the magic of frost. I will include some frost photos below so you can see for yourself.
Seeds and magic, that’s why you should leave your perennials standing over the winter!
