Comments on: cutbacks and more: keep the garden looking great when spring fades, with ken druse

By: Jt

Jt — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 01:07:46 +0000

I have recently started to cut back and remove the lush heavy foliage of Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ as it is already yellowing and dying just as the bulbs begin flowering. I haven’t noticed any decline in the number or quality of the flowers. These bulbs are really pretty prolific and hardy here in zone 5a. Another reason I remove the foliage is to prevent it from smothering the new foliage of the perennials that are just starting to come up and fill in around the Alliums. I go back and deadhead them when they finish flowering and the seed heads go over.

By: Cynthia Walker

Cynthia Walker — Thu, 14 May 2020 18:53:43 +0000

Thanks for sharing this information. I just had to cut back my lilac tree as my husband said if I didn’t make it so he could mow the lawn around it, he was going to cut it down. So I did just what you said above, but it is in the early spring here in Anchorage. I hope I didn’t do it any harm as it is one of my favorite plants in my new yard. I am going to try and tether the remaining branches together, so they grow more upright like a tree. And I cleaned out all the small branches from the middle, opening it up quite a bit. Sure hope to see it bloom again this summer, I really love the smell of them! Again, thanks for sharing.

By: diana wisen

diana wisen — Sun, 10 May 2020 16:36:48 +0000

I have had the ARS long pruners for 20 years. Love them..I have 2 different lengths, one that extends with notches. The light weight is great for women, Get the cut and hold unless all your tall shrubs and trees are on lawn.. All my lilacs and other tall shrubs are in borders with thick plantings of perennials underneath. No way to rake things out .