What’s the Deal with the Chelsea Chop?

passably much any gardening book that ’s deserving its salt advert the Chelsea Chop — but most do only that . The introduction of the concept is commonly followed by some variation of this sentence : “ prune the plants back by a third or one-half to hold up prime and limit sizing . ” But the how , why , and what are rarely discussed . The Chelsea Chop can be used to great issue if you ’re trying to createpeak seasoncombinations . It often allow you to check that plant which do n’t ordinarily flower in tandem with each other reach their elevation at a interchangeable time . There are several other benefit too , as well as some drawback .

This clause first appear as a sidebar in the articlePeak Season Combosin Fine Gardening Issue # 188

What is it?

The Chelsea Chop is a method acting of pruning that limit the size , ensure the flowering season , and often decreases the flopping of a number of herbaceous perennials .

When do I do it?

The Chelsea Chop get its name fromthe far-famed garden showthat need place in England in late May — which is historically when the pruning method acting should be used . However , calculate on where you know in the country , the chopping is well done in late spring or early summer , or when the plant has a fairly substantial amount of vegetative growth .

What is the upside?

Typically plants are n’t as marvellous or leggy , so they may not take to be staked or support . The blossom may be small but in many cases are more numerous . This happens because the removal of the top shoots enables the side shoot to furcate out more .

Are there drawbacks?

You ca n’t do the chop on all summertime - blooming plant — for illustration , woodysubshrubsdon’t respond well . Also , if your spring has been in particular ironical , performing such a drastic pruning may do more harm than good to your plants , ship them into a shock that they may not find from .

What plants are ideal candidates?

Many summer- and autumn - flowering perennials , such as these , are perfect for the Chelsea Chop .

How do I do it?

There are two way to do this simple pruning .

Chop back clumps of perennial by one - third to one - half using shears . This will delay the flowering until afterwards in summer and keep plants unretentive and more compact .

Cut only half the stems back on a plant , which will extend the season of flowering rather than check it .

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