Clean up perennials . Cut back perennials and cosmetic grasses using pruners or hedge shear . Cut plants back to about 3 inches to avoid prejudicious plant crownwork , which is especially important with grasses .
Save those garden clipping on your own property . A compost peck can aid you reuse outflow cleanup trimming into blackened atomic number 79 for your garden , and good insect overwintering in plant debris will thank you as well .
Protect emerging plants from critter . cony and deer are hungry for refreshed green leaves at this time of year , so see out for browsing on emerging growth , and be disposed to protect plants with cage or deterrent sprays .
Erin Presley is a horticulturist at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison , Wisconsin .
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Cutting back perennials. Photo: Erin Presley
Photo: Ann E. Stratton
Photo: Michelle Gervais
