Winter Cut Back For Astilbe - October 18

Being a spring bloomer that likes shade, Astilbe are done blooming long ago. But the brown seed heads are still nice to look at so I kept them as long as the foliage is decent. Also, I have moved them to shade locations so they last longer. Now in October, they start to dry up and get brittle. Personal preference to cut back now or wait till spring. Benefit of cutting now is less dead leaves to pick up and yard stay tidy over winter. Simply cut at base and clean up after.
Home garden in Canada west coast zone 7

[@dinkydoo4994]

Thanks. Planted one of these from a bag of bulbs from Costco. Lost all hope until a year later, we finally have flowers! This video is helpful, although, DH always thinks I kill a plant when I cut them back like this. I read somewhere "pruning promotes growth", and he should understand by now, since we've had a lavender plant that blooms beautiful flowers every year for about 10 years, and I prune that baby back!

[@GardenNotes]

Agreed. Pruning is good for most perennials. Some cases where pruning may do harm are likely trees or conifers when pruning may change the shape. I find pruning helps me in unwinding 😉

[@sammysworld5485]

I prefer to leave the flower stalks for winter interest & cut them in late Winter to early Spring.

[@GardenNotes]

Thanks for your input. I tried that for a few - Astilbe, Hydrangea and Roses. But our winter weather is too wet. Things turned soggy and moldy. Your winter must be relatively dry? How nice that would be to have the flower stalks and bloom heads dried and standing through winter ☺️😊