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Pay Attention: Cut Back These Top 12 Perennials in June for Bigger Blooms Later
Gardeners know that timing is everything. And June—right as the garden is bursting with early growth—is a critical month for giving your perennials a little tough love. Cutting back certain perennials now encourages fuller growth, prevents legginess, and can even double your blooms later in the season.
Not sure where to start? Here’s a list of 12 perennials you should cut back in June to keep your garden thriving into late summer and fall.
🌿 1. Catmint (Nepeta)
Catmint can become floppy and overgrown after its first flush of blooms. Cutting it back by half encourages a compact shape and a second round of flowers.
Tip: Use shears to trim it uniformly, and water well afterward.
🌿 2. Salvia
Salvia blooms vigorously in early summer but often needs a reset. Cut back spent flower spikes to promote fresh foliage and new blooms.
Tip: Leave some basal foliage to help it bounce back quickly.
🌿 3. Geranium (Cranesbill)
Hardy geraniums can look tired by mid-June. A bold haircut—cutting them back by up to two-thirds—will lead to lush, healthy regrowth and late-summer blooms.
🌿 4. Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla mollis)
After flowering, this lovely plant can start to flop. Cut it back after the blooms fade to encourage fresh, tidy leaves and prevent self-seeding everywhere.
🌿 5. Columbine (Aquilegia)
Columbines often fade and turn brown after blooming. Cutting them to the ground revitalizes their foliage and prevents unwanted self-seeding.
🌿 6. Peonies
While you don’t cut peonies all the way back in June, it’s a good time to remove spent blooms and trim away any dead or disease-prone foliage.
🌿 7. Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis)
As summer heats up, bleeding hearts naturally yellow and fade. Once the foliage starts to die back, you can cut them down to the ground.
Note: Don’t worry—they’ll return beautifully next spring.
🌿 8. Lupine
These cottage garden favorites can be cut back after flowering to tidy up the plant and possibly encourage a second bloom.
🌿 9. Yarrow (Achillea)
After the first flush of flowers fades, cut back to encourage bushier growth and more blooms later in the season.
🌿 10. Penstemon
Deadhead spent flowers and cut back leggy stems to keep this plant blooming throughout the summer.
