Cutting things back in the late summer/early fall is typically not something that is usually difficult only time consuming. We’ve had no rain here at Jefferson and Cherokee for almost two months. Everything is brittle and bone dry. For me and my corner it is usually a two-step process.
I clean up the area and make a cutting back to about a foot and leave most of the seeds on the ground through the winter. Then in the Spring I usually cut things back almost to the ground, knowing the new perennials with be soon emerging. This year is different due to the drought conditions.
I am making a cursory view of my plants health and only making what I call a cosmetic cutting and clean-up just for appearance’s sake, so everything doesn’t look out of control (the having no rain has put tremendous strain on my flowers).
However, the weather is still ninety degrees every day and with the heat I am done by ten o’clock. It’s just too hot. So, I try to keep things looking presentable and do yard maintenance for an hour or so then return to the house. This will leave almost eighty to ninety percent until next Spring. Of course, the insects, birds, and small animal love my yard through the winter as a retreat. We often see a few stray cats running in and out of the yard debris we’ll call it as well. As leaves fall, I mulch or rake them back into the existing flower beds. I never leave leaves on the grass.
I watered all my trees about ten days ago and will water again in a few days
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