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Pruning doesn't have to be scary! With a few simple tips and the right timing, you can keep your garden looking its best year after year.
Pruning is one of those gardening tasks that can feel a little intimidating at first — but once you understand the "why" and the "when," it becomes second nature. Think of it as giving your plants a haircut: done right, it encourages healthier, bushier, more beautiful growth. Let's walk through how to prune three of the most popular plants in the garden: perennials, roses, and hydrangeas.
Pruning Perennials
What are perennials? These are plants that come back year after year — think coneflowers (echinacea), black-eyed Susans, salvia, and hostas. They die back in winter and regrow from the roots each spring.
When to Prune
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Fall OR Spring — this is a personal choice! Cutting back in fall tidies up the garden. Leaving the stems standing through winter provides shelter for beneficial insects and adds visual interest to a snowy garden. Either way works.
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During the season: Deadhead (remove spent blooms) regularly to encourage more flowers.
How to Prune — Step by Step
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Gather your tools: A pair of clean, sharp garden shears or scissors is all you need.
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Deadhead throughout summer: Snip off faded flower heads just above the next set of leaves or buds. This redirects the plant's energy into producing more blooms instead of seeds.
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Cut back in fall or spring: Using your shears, cut stems down to about 3–4 inches above the ground. Don't worry — you won't hurt the plant! The roots are where all the magic happens.
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Tidy up: Remove any dead or diseased foliage and dispose of it (don't compost diseased material).
Beginner Tip
Not sure if your perennial needs pruning? If it looks straggly, is flopping over, or has stopped blooming, a trim will almost always help revive it.
Tools You'll Need
Before you start, make sure you have:
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Garden shears or scissors for perennials
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Thick gloves
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A clean cloth and rubbing alcohol to wipe your blades between plants — this prevents spreading disease
Happy pruning! Remember, plants are resilient. A confident cut is better than a hesitant one. If you have questions about the specific plants in your garden, our team at GARDENWORKS is always happy to help.
Visit us in-store or browse our full library of care guides at gardenworks.ca
