Pruning coneflowers: how and when to do it

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Pruning coneflowers, both Rudbeckia and Echinacea , should be done in spring, when the greatest risk of frost has passed. Mid-April is a good time to prune, when the plant begins to sprout again.

Do not prune either species in autumn or winter:

The dead stems protect the plant from frost
The stems and flower heads look beautiful in a winter border
The seeds are eagerly eaten by garden birds in autumn and winter

Pruning coneflowers is easy when done in spring.

Always make sure you have well-maintained tools for pruning. The stems and flower heads of the purple coneflower can sometimes be prickly, so you might want to wear gloves.

Cut back the dead stems to about 5 to 10 cm above the ground.

Coneflower stems make excellent compost. You can also choose to lay them in a pile of branches or cut the hollow stems into pieces of about 20 cm and use them in an insect hotel, which wild bees love to use.

From mid- to late May, you can top your plants, also known as the " Chelsea chop ." This encourages them to produce new side shoots, grow more compactly, and ultimately produce more flowers. After topping, water and feed your plants so they have enough energy to recover from this procedure.

Tip!