With warmer weather here, now is a good time to tidy up your winter-browned perennials. Pruning dead and live branches encourages vigorous growth and new flowers.
How much you remove depends on the species.
- ‘New Gold’ lantana and most salvias can be cut to 3 inches above the ground, or to where fresh new leaves are emerging.
- Esperanza and Pride of Barbados can be cut to 6 inches above the ground.
- Ornamental grasses like Lindheimer muhly or eastern gamagrass only need a light combing with a rake to remove brown leaves.
For spring-blooming shrubs and trees like Texas mountain laurel, Mexican plum, redbud and ornamental pear, prune after they bloom — usually late April or May.