How to Prune an Autumn Sedum is a guide for beginners.
Colorful flowers leave the garden when fall arrives.Showy pink to coppery blooms of autumn sedum (Sedum spectabile) provide reliable fall color for Sunset's Climate Zones 1 to 23 from late summer into early winter.Pruning new plant stems improves the strength and bushiness of the flowers.Prune bronze-y old flowers and brown seed heads to tidy winter-dormant plants or leave them in place to feed birds.
Colorful flowers leave the garden when fall arrives.Showy pink to coppery blooms of autumn sedum (Sedum spectabile) provide reliable fall color for Sunset's Climate Zones 1 to 23 from late summer into early winter.Pruning new plant stems improves the strength and bushiness of the flowers.Prune bronze-y old flowers and brown seed heads to tidy winter-dormant plants or leave them in place to feed birds.
In the spring, look at the new growth.Stems are 8 inches tall.
Place the shears in a plastic container if you want to expose the cutting surfaces.
It's a good idea to put hydrogen peroxide over the blades.Excess hydrogen peroxide should be allowed to drain off.
The top growth of the remaining stems should be cut off.When the wide, heavy flowers open in the fall, this encourages stems to be thick.
After the initial trimming, watch plant growth.If the stems are too floppy or you want to delay flowering further into fall, you should Prune a second time.The stem can be removed from 4 to 6 inches.
Cut flower stalks to use in flower arrangements or dry flower heads.To open the plant and make it more shapely, remove the flower heads.