7 Perennials to Cut Back in February for Healthy Spring Growth

A flower border full of blooms in summer — (Image credit: Getty Images/Jacky Parker Photography)

Jump to category:

1. Peonies
2. Bee balm
3. Daylilies
4. Black-Eyed Susans
5. Coneflowers
6. Shasta Daisies
7. Catmint

Leaving the remains of last season’s perennials in place over winter provides valuable food and shelter for a wide variety of wildlife, but the time does come to cut them back before the new growth starts. The clock may be ticking; the time may be nigh to cut down perennials in February.

There are two main reasons to cut down perennials in February. Firstly, it gives new stems the chance to emerge without being blocked or impeded by old growth. And secondly, pests and diseases can overwinter in dead stems and leaves, ready to infect the new growth as it appears in spring.

1. Peonies

Ideally, gardeners should cut back peonies in late fall or early winter, but things don’t always go as planned. However, it is always important to cut them back and remove all old debris before new growth begins in spring.

This is vital when growing peonies, as bacteria and fungi can overwinter on old leaves and stems, and then reinfect new foliage when it appears.

Clearing any old, dead debris this month protects your peonies from peony wilt, a common fungal infection that causes shoots to wilt and blacken in spring and summer, as well as botrytis and powdery mildew.

To prune peonies this month, take clean cutting tools and cut the old foliage to two to three inches above the ground. If the old plant matter shows signs of disease, dispose of it rather than use the material to make compost.

To prevent spreading diseases around the garden, always clean and sterilize your tools when moving from plant to plant. You can use an all-purpose disinfectant product like this at Amazon to spray onto tools and then wipe them down.

2. Bee balm

A hummingbirds feeding from a mauve monarda flower

Bee balm is a crucial plant for pollinators, as the name suggests, its flowers attract bees, but not just bees, as butterflies and hummingbirds will flock to its bright, nectar-rich blooms.

The perennial continues to offer multiple benefits in a wildlife garden throughout winter, which is why many gardeners will opt to cut back bee balm in late winter or early spring.

The seedheads provide food for birds during the lean winter months, and insects can shelter in the plant’s crown.

When you grow bee balm and opt to leave the plant standing over winter, you want to cut it down to ground level before the new growth emerges in early spring.

If your perennial has gotten large or congested and needs rejuvenating, late winter or early spring is also an ideal time to divide plants. This will revitalize clumps and give you new ones for free to add to your backyard ideas.

3. Daylilies

Some gardeners will diligently cut daylilies back in the fall after the leaves have died back. Others leave the old foliage in place, as it acts as a winter mulch and protects the crown and roots from winter cold.

If you fall into the latter category, or didn’t get around to cutting back in the fall, then now is the time to remove all the old debris. Clearing it all away prevents overwintering pests and diseases from targeting the new shoots when they appear.

The old foliage of daylilies can form a mat of brown leaves, so care needs to be taken not to damage any early new growth that may have started. Ideally, you should clear this away before new leafy growth emerges, but keep a close eye just in case anything is emerging.

Cut the old, brown foliage back to an inch or two above the soil, and carefully clear it away. A handheld garden rake, like this one at Amazon, makes an ideal tool for gently removing old leaves without damaging the daylily crown, or you can just use your fingers.

4. Black-Eyed Susans

Blacked-eyed susan flowers blooming in late summer

Black-eyed Susans are long-flowering perennials that can brighten up your borders from the middle of summer right through to the first frosts. And they’ll attract pollinators into your garden throughout the season.

If you leave black-eyed Susan standing throughout winter, they’ll continue to benefit wildlife, as the dark central cones provide valuable food for birds, including finches.

You don’t need to wait until late winter or early spring to prune when growing black-eyed Susan, though, as they can be cut down in late fall after the first frosts. It all depends on what type of gardener you are, and whether you like neat flower beds over winter.

To cut back black-eyed Susans this month, use a pair of pruning shears or hedge shears and prune all the stems back to 3-6 inches above the ground.

Mulching plants after pruning with organic matter will retain moisture, smother weeds, and boost soil fertility. Use compost, leaf mold, or bags of mulch, like this organic, all-natural mulch at Walmart.

5. Coneflowers

When you grow coneflowers, they are another perennial where the gardener can choose to cut them down in fall or late winter. Those who prefer tidy borders or don’t want the flowers self-seeding around the yard can cut back as part of winterizing coneflowers in the fall.

However, as the dried seed heads provide valuable food for birds and the stems protect the crown from winter frosts in cold climates, there are tangible benefits to holding off until this time of year.

Also, if you are growing modern hybrid coneflower varieties, these do not self-seed, so that’s another tick in the box for cutting them back in late winter.

Cut back coneflowers before any new growth begins coming through, once temperatures start to warm towards the second half of February. Use sharp pruning tools and chop the stems down to a few inches above the ground.

You can get a handheld garden tool sharpener at Amazon that can quickly put a sharp edge on pruning shears, loppers, or hedge shears before doing any trimming.

6. Shasta Daisies

The shasta daisy has masses of daisy-like flowers, usually white with a yellow center, throughout summer and into early fall. These low-maintenance perennials require minimal attention but must be cut back either in the fall or late winter.

If you didn’t cut back your shasta daisies in the fall, either to leave the seed heads as a food source or simply because you didn’t get around to it, it is a quick and simple job to cut them down to a couple of inches above the ground this month.

To guarantee a bumper display of blooms come summer, you can fertilize shasta daisies in spring with a slow-release fertilizer. One feed in spring with a product like this all-purpose plant food at Walmart can be all you need to give your plants each season.

7. Catmint

Nepeta, catmint, blooming in a garden border

When you grow catmint, it is beneficial to leave stems over winter. They provide food and shelter for wildlife. In particular, the old leaves and stems provide a favorable place for ladybugs to hibernate over winter.

The truth is that old catmint stems aren’t the most attractive, and they can flop over paths or lawns. There is no harm in gently pruning catmint in the fall to remove the messy top growth, but still keeping most of the plant intact for wildlife.

Before any new green shoots start to emerge, this is the time to hard prune and cut the dead stems to 1-2 inches above the ground. This will encourage new stems to come through, and they can develop unimpeded by any older growth.

You may need to cut down perennials in February, but there are also many other pruning tasks to do around the garden this month.

To help you plan for the month ahead, these guides to plants to prune in February and trees to prune in February give you a long list of plants that may need some attention over the coming weeks.

Tools for Cutting Back Perennials in February

Fiskars Hedge Shears

A pair of hedge shears can quickly chop down large clumps of perennials. These have 23-inch precision-ground steel blades to glide smoothly through stems.

Okatsune Pruning Shears

These Japanese pruning shears have a blade made of high-grade steel and vinyl-coated handles, so you remain in control when cutting back perennials.

Pruning Set

This set includes pruning shears, hedge shears, and loppers, all with alloy steel blades. It gives you all you need for all manner of pruning tasks.

TOPICS

Drew has worked as a writer since 2008 and was also a professional gardener for many years. As a trained horticulturist, he worked in prestigious historic gardens, including Hanbury Hall and the world-famous Hidcote Manor Garden. He also spent time as a specialist kitchen gardener at Soho Farmhouse and Netherby Hall, where he grew vegetables, fruit, herbs, and cut flowers for restaurants. Drew has written for numerous print and online publications and is an allotment holder and garden blogger. He is shortlisted for the Digital Gardening Writer of the Year at the 2025 Garden Media Guild Awards.