6.25.2026
The growing season in New England is short compared to other parts of the country. I was lamenting today that although it’s only mid‑June (the official start of summer), my peonies have already passed. In a blink, it’ll be fall and the garden will be winding down again. That’s why it’s especially important for me to get the most out of every flower I plant.
If you’re into gardening, you know some flowers bloom for only a short stretch while others go on for weeks. Even though I try to choose plants with long bloom cycles, our garden still includes plenty of short‑blooming favorites.
The good news: if you have plants with shorter bloom times, you can coax out a second set (and sometimes more) of blooms with a little mid‑season pruning. As a bonus, trimming keeps plants from getting leggy or flopping over, which makes your flowerbeds look tidier too.
Here are some perennials in our garden that bounce back beautifully with a June haircut:
- Cranesbill (Hardy Geranium) – encourages a new set of blooms
- Salvia – responds quickly with new, vibrant spikes
- Catmint – keeps it from getting leggy
Deadhead when petals begin to fade and droop or flowers become spent:
- Shasta Daisy – keeps the clumps blooming longer
- Purple Coneflower – encourages more central cones to form
Cut back by half when petals begin to fade or flowers become spent:
- Coreopsis (Tickseed) – rebounds fast with bright flowers
- Bee Balm – controls height and encourages new growth
Trim by a few inches after first bloom:
- Garden Phlox – allows greater airflow and prevents them from getting too tall
- Lavender – promotes compact growth and more buds
Trim yarrow by a few inches in mid-June.
- It keeps the plant tidy and encourages another set of umbels.
We plant our gardens to enjoy them, and with our short New England season, every extra bloom counts. I hope this helps you stretch your color a little longer this year!
