I finally got around to asking ChatGPT if I need to prune any of my plants for the winter (how did people learn these things before LLMs?). It turns out almost all of them are better off without winter pruning—a win!
| Plant | Prune for Winter? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) | No (Prune in late winter/early spring) | Leave stems intact for winter protection and prune to 6–12 inches in spring. |
| Sand Love Grass (Eragrostis trichodes) | No (Prune in late winter/early spring) | Leave seed heads and foliage for winter interest; cut to 2–4 inches in spring. |
| Calamintha nepeta 'Montrose White' | Optional (Light trim in late fall) | Lightly trim back spent flowers in late fall for tidiness but avoid heavy pruning; more pruning can be done in spring. |
| Sedum 'Autumn Joy' | No (Prune in early spring) | Leave seed heads for winter interest; cut to just above new growth in spring. |
| Switchgrass (Panicum 'Prairie Dog') | No (Prune in late winter/early spring) | Leave foliage and seed heads for structure and protection; cut to 4–6 inches in spring. |
| Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis) | Yes (Prune to ground in late fall or spring) | Cut back stems to about 3 inches above the ground after they go dormant to tidy up and encourage strong growth in spring. |
| Aromatic Aster (Aster oblongifolius 'October Skies') | Yes (Prune in late fall) | Cut back stems to a few inches above the ground after blooming; this promotes healthy growth and prevents legginess next season. |
| Sedum 'Matrona' | No (Prune in early spring) | Leave seed heads for winter interest; prune to above new growth in spring. |
| Catmint (Nepeta 'Amelia') | Optional (Light trim in late fall) | Trim back spent flowers lightly in fall for tidiness, but leave the main structure intact to protect the plant over winter. |
| Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica 'Gro-Low') | No (Prune in early spring, if needed) | Generally low-maintenance; prune in spring only if shaping is required. |
| Fountain Grass (Pennisetum 'Hush Puppy') | No (Prune in late winter/early spring) | Leave foliage intact for winter interest; cut back to 2–4 inches in spring to encourage new growth. |