When | Deliberate Mechanical Defoliation of Perennials

First, Marlene needs to know WHEN she should cut her asters back to ensure she doesn’t lose the flowers or kill the plant. Asters typically bloom in fall from early August until frost.

**Growth stages of a broadleaf perennial.** *Image by UNL, 2005*

Quiz

Question

Question: Would cutting the plant during the flowering stage prevent flowering?

A. Yes

Correct: Yes. Flowers have already begun to bloom during the flowering stage. Cutting the plant at this stage will remove existing flowers and buds of future flowers. The plant will probably not have enough time left in the season to grow new buds and flowers.

B. No

Incorrect: Flowers have already begun to bloom during the flowering stage. Cutting the plant at this stage will remove existing flowers and buds of future flowers. The plant will probably not have enough time left in the season to grow new buds and flowers.

Looks Good! Correct: Yes. Flowers have already begun to bloom during the flowering stage. Cutting the plant at this stage will remove existing flowers and buds of future flowers. The plant will probably not have enough time left in the season to grow new buds and flowers.

Question

Question: Would cutting back at this time result in a shorter plant and prevent it from flopping over the sidewalk?

A. Yes

Correct: The plant is already flopping at this stage. Cutting back makes it shorter but removes the attractive flowers as well.

B. No

Incorrect: The plant is already flopping at this stage. Cutting back makes it shorter but removes the attractive flowers as well.

Looks Good! Correct: The plant is already flopping at this stage. Cutting back makes it shorter but removes the attractive flowers as well.

Question

Question: Would cutting the plant during the dormant stage negatively impact flowering?

A. Yes

Incorrect: No. Flowering is already finished for the season. The above ground portion of the plant is dead.

B. No

Correct: No. Flowering is already finished for the season. The above ground portion of the plant is dead.

Looks Good! Correct: No. Flowering is already finished for the season. The above ground portion of the plant is dead.

Question

Question: Would cutting back at this time result in a shorter plant and prevent it from flopping over the sidewalk?

A. Yes

Incorrect: No. It is too late in season to impact the height of the plant. The plant is already finished growing, and had already grown tall enough to flop over the sidewalk. Also, above ground growth is dead at this point. Cutting it back has no effect on the plant's growth, although it does impact appearance and seed production.

B. No

Correct: No. It is too late in season to impact the height of the plant. The plant is already finished growing, and had already grown tall enough to flop over the sidewalk. Also, above ground growth is dead at this point. Cutting it back has no effect on the plant?s growth, although it does impact appearance and seed production.

Looks Good! Correct: No. It is too late in season to impact the height of the plant. The plant is already finished growing, and had already grown tall enough to flop over the sidewalk. Also, above ground growth is dead at this point. Cutting it back has no effect on the plant?s growth, although it does impact appearance and seed production.

Question

Question: Based on the answers to the previous questions, during which of these growth stages should Marlene cut her asters back to accomplish her goals of a shorter plant that won’t flop over the sidewalk and will still flower at about the normal time?

A. vegetative

Correct: Cutting back during the vegetative stage would give Marlene the most benefit. She would reduce the height of the plant while having minimal impact on the flowering.

B. bud

Incorrect: Cutting back during the vegetative stage would give Marlene the most benefit. She would reduce the height of the plant while having minimal impact on the flowering.

C. flowering

Incorrect: Cutting back during the vegetative stage would give Marlene the most benefit. She would reduce the height of the plant while having minimal impact on the flowering.

D. dormant

Incorrect: Cutting back during the vegetative stage would give Marlene the most benefit. She would reduce the height of the plant while having minimal impact on the flowering.

Looks Good! Correct: Cutting back during the vegetative stage would give Marlene the most benefit. She would reduce the height of the plant while having minimal impact on the flowering.