Plants You Shouldn’t Cut Back in Fall

Towards the end of fall, plants tend to get ragged and leggy, leading some gardeners to have an instinctive desire to prune back their leaves. Others are perpetual procrastinators who hold off chores until the last minute – and in this case, that hesitation is actually a good thing. 

There are many plants in the garden that don’t need to be cut back in the fall. Some provide winter visual interest; others are hideouts for overwintering insects. Finally, some plants flower on old wood, and pruning could potentially remove the buds for the next year. 

Here’s a list of plants that you could refrain from cutting back this fall. 

 

1. Rhododendrons

Neither azaleas nor rhododendrons, these beloved Southern shrubs, should be pruned during the fall. It is best to wait until early summer to prune, after they have finished flowering. Otherwise, you are robbing yourself of buds that are set to bloom for next year. There is generally no need for a hard pruning, unless you are suffering from overgrown or leggy plants. 

2. Ornamental Grasses 

Ornamental grasses are among those plants whose beauty doesn’t diminish during wintertime – and may even be enhanced by the dusting of snow covering their stalks. Another benefit is that the dried foliage protects the crown of the plant from freeze-thaw cycles. That is not to say that you can leave off trimming indefinitely, as cool-season grasses do benefit from a cut during the spring. 

3. Sedums 

The garden in the winter is often neglected, and few have the aptitude to pull off a wondrous winter landscape. Sedums may be a starting point for the lazy gardener. Their rusty-red color eventually gives away to an old-fashioned brown, and they hold their shape beautifully into winter. Remove them at the base in spring to promote new growth. 

4. Coneflowers (Echinacea)

In the bleak midwinter, coneheads paint a stark, almost melancholy scene, but their value lies beyond seasonal interest. Letting coneflowers go to seed, which will produce the signature, dark and spiky appearance, allows them to reseed themselves. They also help sustain birds at a time when food is scarce – goldfinches will avidly feast on their seeds. 

 

5.  Roses 

Some roses put on a final late-season show, but even for those that are withered and brown, you’ll still want to hold off pruning them. Less hardy cultivars are prone to dieback, exacerbated by frost damage that pruning opens them up to. It’s recommended that you take a light-handed approach: trim long canes and remove any spindly, crossing, or dead wood.

6. Hydrangeas 

It can be tricky to take inventory of your plants when there are so many rules governing them. When it comes to hydrangeas, they shouldn’t be pruned at all, especially those that bloom on old wood, like Hydrangea macrophylla (bigleaf) and Hydrangea quercifolia (oakleaf). Panicle and smooth varieties that flower on new wood (produce flowers in the spring) should be pruned early spring. 

7. Ferns 

Cutting ferns is mainly for aesthetic purposes, helping to maintain their appearance. For some varieties, the fronds add a bit of texture and provide a layer of insulation. While deciduous ferns should be cut back in the fall after the fronds have turned brown, evergreen ferns stay green during the winter, even though icy snow. 

8. Lilacs  

One of the laments of gardeners is the ephemeral nature of the scent-smelling lilac, fading into a dull shadow of its former glory. Only a fool would prune a lilac bush in the fall – beneath the burgundy snarl of leaves, buds have already started forming for next year. Instead, deadhead immediately after the blooms have faded to keep it robust. 

9. Russian Sage     

Russian sage is one of those enduring plants that you can prune it to the ground and not kill it. Despite its hardiness, many gardeners refrain from pruning in the fall, instead waiting for late winter or early spring to lessen the risk of dieback. Though some gardeners favor the “less is more” approach, it’s recommended that you prune it vigorously to encourage new growth.  

10. Winter Jasmine

Don’t confuse your winter jasmine for star jasmine and inadvertently prune it. As befits its name, winter jasmine will bloom prolifically during the winter, illuminating your garden with mounds of yellow at the darkest hours. It looks wonderful drifting down trellises or walls. Since its growth habit can become unwieldy, you can restrict it with containers or raised garden beds. 

11. Coral Bells  

Coral bells are one of those plants you can skip on your fall cleanup checklist. Even if your plant looks drained in the fall, cutting it back is unnecessary. Removing the leaves exposes the crown and leaves it vulnerable against winter damage. Wait until spring to tidy up and remove spent flower stalks. 

12. Goldenrod  

Goldenrod is one of those plants you can leave in place for the winter. Often confused as ragweed, goldenrods are much more useful. Many are native species that have evolved alongside wildlife, providing nectar long after other plants have fallen. To control self-seeding in the garden, remove the flowerheads.