33. Pinch of late-blooming perennials
It sounds ridiculous, but plucking the early blooms of many late-blooming perennials is one of the best things you can do for them! Pruning early-growing shoots to force perennials to focus on solid root development along with shorter, bushier habits is ideal for plant health.
The pinching early growth offers numerous benefits to alfalfa, Bee Balms, and many perennials that bloom after summer and fall. So, as you admire the beauty of the flower garden and the wilted old flowers, take a few minutes to prune away excessive new growth so that the perennials grow beautifully until the end of the season.
