I do cut back Queen of the Prairie if it becomes unwieldy. This beautiful plant can grow quite tall and spread out, so it’s important to keep it in check. I usually wait until the spring to do this, as it gives the plant a chance to go dormant over the winter.
When cutting back Queen of the Prairie, I like to use sharp gardening shears or pruners. I start by removing any dead or damaged stems. Then, I look for any stems that are crossing or rubbing against each other and remove those as well. This helps to improve air circulation and prevent disease.
If the plant has become too large and is encroaching on other plants or taking up too much space in the garden, I may also cut back some of the outer stems to reduce its overall size. However, I try to avoid cutting back more than one-third of the plant at a time, as this can stress it.
In addition to regular pruning, I also remove spent flowers from Queen of the Prairie if I don’t want it to self-seed. The plant produces attractive fluffy seedheads after flowering, but if left unchecked, it can spread and take over the garden. By removing the spent flowers, I can prevent this from happening.
After pruning and removing spent flowers, I like to give Queen of the Prairie a balanced fertilizer in the spring. This helps to provide the necessary nutrients for healthy growth and abundant blooms. I usually choose a fertilizer with equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Cutting back Queen of the Prairie and removing spent flowers are important maintenance tasks to keep this plant looking its best and prevent it from becoming unruly. With proper care, it can be a stunning addition to any garden.