Spring
January: Schedule deliver of wood mulch for garden. Spread liberally before slugs arrive.
Agastache: Cut back to basal foliage mound.
Asclepias: Cut back by 1/2 in early spring.
Dahlia imperialis: Cut back to ground. Donate cuttings to fellow gardeners.
Lupinus: Prune by half.
Narcissus (Daffodil): Deadhead
Summer
Ceanothus spp.: Prune branches back to trunk if needed; otherwise only tip back spent blooms
Chasmanthe: cut back dead foliage to ground.
Rosa spp.: Deadhead
Salvia - shrubby spp: Deadhead, remove dead growth, and shear very lightly to keep dense. Can also be pruned around perimeter to limit spread. Do not cut into old wood/interior of plant!
Scabiosa, Coreposis, Aloe, Kniphofia, Lathyrus, Agapanthus, Canna, Buddleja, Helichrysum: Deadhead
Iris: divide
Fall
Achillea: Cut back dead flower stalks to ground
Artemisia californica (Sagebrush): Cut by 1/2
Athanasia pinnata: Cut back leggy branches to 6" above base.
Eriogonum spp.: Deadhead and prune dead growth in fall; coppicing can renew woody specimen but may kill plant
Mimulus (Monkeyflower): Look for buds of new growth coming out of old wood, do not prune below these.
Narcissus (Daffodil): Plant bulbs
Nicotiana grandiflora (Flowering Tobacco): Cut back to 1ft and dig in compost
Verbena bonariensis: Cut just above any new shoots near the base after flowering is over.
WinterVerbena bonariensis: Cut just above any new shoots near the base after flowering is over.
Aster: When they finish flowering, asters go dormant. Cut them down to the ground at this point, leaving a small amount of basal foliage.
Cotinus coggygria: Coppice every other year or prune. Flowers on old wood only.
Crocosmia: Cut back dead foliage to ground.
Dahlias: Cut back dying Dahlias, mark with yellow flags so we know where to Sluggo in the spring
Lavandula (Lavender): Shear lightly
Plectranthus argentatus: shear lightly to increase bushiness.
Romneya coulteri (Matilija Poppy ): Prune entire plant to 6" tall.
Rosa spp.: Cut down new canes by half, remove striated canes, defoliate.
Salvia - shrubby spp. like S. leucantha: Cut down to 6"
Verbena bonariensis: cut back when flowering is over
