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Post by stratcat on Nov 4, 2013 1:38:27 GMT -5
What do you do with your Echinacea at the end of the season? I've always left the dried stalks intact and cut them off when winter's over. I haven't cut them down before winter so as to avoid water getting into the hollow stems and freezing/thawing the roots and messing them up.
They're so tall this year, I'm thinking of cutting them in half. Thanks.
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Post by paulf on Nov 4, 2013 9:20:47 GMT -5
It is a matter of choice whether to cut or leave. We always leave ours over winter. The birds love to eat the seeds and there are plenty of seeds for them and for self propagation. The freeze thaw cycle doesn't really involve water going down inside the stem, but in the soil around the plant. I have never had a problem with freeze/thaw ever bothering coneflowers no matter the winter conditions. Ours are planted on a hillside and the stems and tops add some winter interest to the space and the intact heads are a good part of this.
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Post by izitmidnight on Nov 4, 2013 9:33:27 GMT -5
I leave the seed heads on until about valentines day. That is the traditional prune the roses day down here.
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