Prune these 7 plants in May for beautiful blooms all summer long

There are some truly spectacular ones Perennial flowers should be planted in MayBut you may already have some plants in your garden that require a different kind of care. Pruning flowering plants is a crucial step in helping them thrive and can even result in bigger flowers! Timing is critical when it comes to pruning, however, and getting it wrong can weaken the plant or result in lost flowers. For flowers like asters, roses and yarrows, a May pruning can help them bloom.

For some plants, May pruning means cutting off old flowers to encourage another bloom and promote stronger stems and tree formation. For others, it means pruning the plant before it blooms to remove old stems. Both of these redirect the plant’s energy. Instead of making seeds or growing leaves on old stems, it focuses on making new stems and flowers. Removing some buds before they bloom can also encourage your plant to produce larger flowers. It puts more energy into the specific flowers it leaves rather than spreading it around. For plants with small flowers that grow in clusters or spikes, careful pruning can result in larger groups.

Additionally, it is important to note that the exact timing of your pruning should depend on the seasons and weather. All of these plants should be pruned in late spring or early summer, making May the perfect month for many people. However, depending on where you live, you may need to adjust the time slightly.

Pruning through about one-third of your aster (Aster spp., Symphyotrichum spp. and Eurybia spp.) plant may seem harsh, but it’s a great way to get more and bigger flowers. You should do this before they start putting out flower buds. May is a good time, but you can push it to early June. Simply clip off the top third of the plant, take a moment to trim any awkward bits, and you can enjoy a neat aster plant full of gorgeous flowers this summer!

Helenium (Helenium autumnale) is a beautiful flower with a floppy stem growth habit. If you want to enjoy the full view of your flowers without worrying about them drooping, you can either stake them or cut them back in May. Cutting them back delays bloom time a bit, but you’ll be treated to stronger stems, more branches, and more abundant flowers throughout the season.

The variety you are growing will largely determine that How and when to prune your roses (Rosa spp.), but some pruning can be done in May. Heavy pruning can give you larger flowers, while deadheading your roses encourages repeat flowering and keeps your shrub looking neat. If you have early blooming roses, you probably have some that start to fade in May, so now is a good time to start. Make the cut right above the bud and at an angle so that raindrops run away from it.

if you know How to grow yarrow (Achillea millefolium), you know that it is usually cut at the end of the flowering season in autumn. However, harvesting it early in the year can also be beneficial! Removing the first flowers after they fade in late spring or early summer can encourage them to bloom again, or you can cut them back more severely. Cutting them back by about one-third helps keep them short and bushy, as well as encouraging more branches for larger clusters of flowers.

Tall sedum (Sedum spp.) or stonecrop plants benefit from pruning in late spring or early summer to keep them upright and encourage large flower clusters. If you’ve ever had a sedum stem flop, you know how frustrating it can be to see your beautiful flowers suddenly on the ground. Cutting off the top of the stem encourages it to stay short and branch out. May works great, as many sedum plants won’t have buds yet. By creating a late summer and early fall garden display, you’ll also end up with flowers later in the season!

Goldenrod (Solidago sp.) is known for its elegant, bright yellow flowers and tall stems. May is a good time to prune your goldenrod plant if you want stronger stems with more flowers. You can cut anywhere from one-third to one-half of the stem. If you have multiple plants, you can vary the amount of cutting to create a blurred or layered effect in your garden. As it grows back, your goldenrod plants will be a little more vigorous and will put out more flower stalks instead of concentrating on the height, meaning larger flower clusters for you to enjoy!

Spiked speedwell (Veronica spicata), also known as Veronica, is another great flower to cut in May. It begins to bloom in late spring, but watch closely for fading blooms. Once the flowers are spent, clip the stems right back. If you want some beautiful cut flowers for your home, you can cut them a little earlier. Pruning dead flower spikes starting in May is a great way to encourage them to grow more flower spikes and extend the bloom season.