Guide to Using
the Encyclopedia
T
he pruning and maintenance information in this encyclopedia is
based primarily on my personal experiences. I have actually
performed the different pruning techniques for the various plants
as well as done the follow-up “research,” if you will, by tracking
bloom dates, measuring plant heights and flowering size, and so
forth. Many of the techniques I have tried were suggested to me by
gardeners from across the country, or were gathered from my own
extensive research. My goal was to test the various techniques as
well as to try variations of my own—a very involved and complex
process. My successes and failures are included with the plant entries. I have
provided dates, plant heights, and other vital statistics whenever possible so that
the information can be used as reference points. The perennials included in this
encyclopedia, as well as other perennials, can be pruned in a variety of ways for
similar or different results.
For the most part, the pruning that was performed on plants before blooming
(in an effort to create more compact plants that don’t require staking, or to
experiment with bloom times) was done in early to mid-June. I picked this time
partly because it is also the time when a good deal of spring-flowering species are
pruned after flowering, thus giving the maintenance contractor or the busy
gardener one key time of the season to keep in mind for pruning a wide range of
species. It is also an appropriate time based on the growth habits of many
summer- and autumn-flowering perennials.
In the first edition of this book, I called my efforts a pioneer project. I am still a
pioneer today! Many questions about pruning perennials remain to be answered.
Remember that what, how, and when to prune varies with weather conditions,
regional variations, age of the plant, soil fertility, moisture availability, and the
gardener’s own objectives. The results of the pruning, such as amount of flower
delay or time for regrowth, will also differ according to these variables. Garden-
ers in the South or the far North may need to adjust the timing a bit on certain
pruning. You may need to prune slightly heavier in the South due to the longer
season and the effects of the heat on producing taller and leggier growth.
In the North, a lighter touch may be more effective for accomplishing the
pruning goals in a shorter season. Although the information should be used only