You don’t have to pull out the clippers at the first frost or sign of cooler weather. Wait until there have been a few hard frosts, especially those frost-sensitive plants.
Once you’ve had several hard frosts, remove spent flowers and old stems by cutting the stems off near the base of the plant.
Phlox and bee balm are prone to powdery mildew, so it is best to cut them back once the flowers finish.
Ornamental grasses can be left to add height and interest to your landscape. It also protects small animals through the winter.
- Clean Up Garden Debris And Dead Foliage - Don’t Fertilize Perennials - Weed Before The Freeze