Tips On Cutting Back Aster Herbaceous Perennials
Purple flowers in the fall are one of the best things about Aster herbaceous perennials and they are a great late season food source for honey bees. But after a long winter, you'll want to start cutting back the dead stems in the spring.
- Leave the tops on until spring. This will maximize the amount of time bees have to finish their harvest in the fall, as they are wildly attrracted to Asters.
- I prefer to leave a few inches of the old stems, but you can cut them all the way to the ground if you prefer.
- Both a pruners and hedge shears will work well for this chore.
- There are short (12") and tall (3') varieties available at garden centers.
Below is a short video showing the process:
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Kevin
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