Trimming Asters

Quite a few people have viewed my blog while searching for trimming asters and pruning asters. I've discussed more than once pruning asters in June, like in this post, but never mentioned what to do with them come mid-late autumn. I wouldn't want anybody who lands here to leave empty-handed, so what can be done now that most asters have quit blooming?

You do not need to cut asters back, at all, however if you want to you may wait until late winter/early spring. You may also prune back dry stems now, if you prefer the neater look of cut perennials. Just cut them a few inches above the ground. Asters will bloom on new growth, every year. This is because they are herbaceous perennials which simply means this year's growth dies entirely, when winter comes, and then the plant grows back from the following spring.

 

Aster is a large family of different species, but I can't think of any that cannot be cut back after flowering is over. New England and New York Asters and their cultivars will form clumps which may eventually need to be divided. You can divide in spring or mid-fall. Many asters will form fluffy seed heads that will blow around the garden and self-seed. If pulling asters in spring, summer or fall is not your style, cut these asters back before they go to seed. You'll likely miss some flowers, but there are always compromise in the garden.

I use my Felco #2 pruners for 99% of my pruning activities. I've had this same tool for 30 years. I highly recommend them and now, you can purchase yours on Amazon. It used to be that they could only be purchased at select garden suppliers. No longer! If you are left-handed, like my wife, with smaller hands, I highly recommend purchasing these used F9 Felco, or a new F10 if you are lefty, but have larger hands. We own the F9, but it's possible they are out of production, if I can only find "used" being offered. Since Felco sells pruner parts, there's less risk in buying a used tool and I wouldn't hesitate if I needed a lefty Felco. Whatever you do, don't buy a similar looking, much cheaper tool. I have used my Felco for 30 years! That's a great return on investment.

To learn what you can do to shape up unruly asters in early summer, see this post.