The Chelsea Chop - How, Why, And When To Do It 

Thank you so much - that means a lot to me!

I agree I really just came across your RU-vid and found it quite informational thank you

Thank you so much Glenn!

I call that free pruning!

Hahaha - this is the truth!

Same here.

You are very welcome Pamela! Glad you found it helpful.

Hahaha - this is true!

You are welcome - and good luck this year!

Thank you so much Robyn - that is very generous! I'm very happy that you have found my articles and videos helpful, and great work getting your native garden started!

@@growitbuildit you're welcome 😊

Thank you for the suggestion - I will add them!

I'm glad to hear you find it as useful as I do!

Thanks for some local feedback. Regards from Lawrence, KS.

Hi Joanne - most coreopsis can rebound from the Chelsea Chop after blooming. In general, if you can deadhead the plant, then you can chop it after blooming. And thank you for the kind words! Glad you found the video helpful. Sorry for not getting the video out earlier.

I should add that perhaps don't be as aggressive with the chop. But I've been quite aggressive in the past after blooming and it has rebounded.

Thank you

You are 100% correct. I have done so in some areas. But not enough!

You are very welcome - glad you found it helpful!

You are very welcome!

And Thank YOU Katharine! Much appreciated!

Thank you so much Evan! I really appreciate that.

Hahaha - it does sound like some old-timey dance. Thank you for the kind words, and I'm glad you found it helpful. Good luck this season!

Thank you Martin!

I mostly just do the straight cut. It is just much easier and faster that way. But sometimes I will try to keep something looking the best that it can.

It is very effective too!

Thank you so much - I really appreciate the kind words!

You are very welcome - good luck!

You are very welcome! Glad you found it helpful!

Thank you - I appreciate that!

That is awesome - I haven't tried rooting Joe Pye Weed before. The only damage mine have suffered is deer.

This comment made me laugh out loud! You can still cut back the Coreopsis! Most plants that can be deadheaded can be chopped after blooming.

I'm glad you found it helpful - it's always a chore that sneaks up on me

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it

Now that right there is free labor!

Hi - Cutleaf Coneflower is a member of the Rudbeckia genus, so you can chop it.

Hi, thank you. Some day illstart tackling goldenrod. I'm very experienced with S. Canadensis and it's sub variation altissima. But I'm trying to incorporate some of the other types into my landscaping . I don't like to make a video on them until I've gotten to know the plant for several years. But at some point it will be forthcoming.

Hi - it is possible that they have died, as that is similar to a rabbit mowing them down. It is best to always leave 1-2 sets of leaves so the plant can regenerate via photosynthesis.

Thanks for the answer. Nothing like learning the hard way 😢

Hi Hercules - I never have tried rooting any of them, as I always seem to suffer from having not enough space to plant as it is! But I know that some can be rooted in water, and others may do just fine in moist potting soil with a bit of rooting hormone. There was another viewer who commented that they were able to root Joe Pye Weed in a jar of water that had been broken off in a storm.

Hi - yes, you absolutely can do this to Swamp Milkweed. Also, if your soil is very fertile, that could be the reason it is flopping. But the Chelsea Chop can definitely help you out.

Hi Hannah - although I have not tried it specifically on Bluemist flower, I would think it would work perfectly fine. Mine is actually blooming now.

Hi Jennifer - glad you liked the video. Some plants you can cut when they are blooming. Just think of it as deadheading, and it will work for Coreopsis and some Rudbeckia. Just don't be as aggressive with the cut though!

Vermont Wildflower Farm seems to have them. Careful with that species......it's really aggressive.

Hi - I have not grown Peonies, so cannot offer advice based on my experience. There are many references that say you can deadhead Peonies, which makes me think it would be ok. Perhaps try it on a few of your plants to see the effect.

No, this doesn’t work in the same way on peonies. They won’t push out more growth and blooms. The best thing to do is to place a permanent peony ring or grate that is suspended above the ground by means of stakes. They then come up and grow through the structure and often fare better. That or plant several right next to each other and they can hold each other up. Certain types, often with smaller or single blooms, may not be as prone to flopping.

@@emkn1479 Thank you very much to giving direct experience emkn. Much appreciated.

@emkn1479 thank you for letting me know! The flowers on mine are about the size of dinner plates these days.. I've had them for several years now and every year they just keep getting bigger and bigger and bigger. 🤣 I haven't known what to do with them. I have about 8 plants, lined up in the flower beds in front of my house and now they are so big they cover up any other flower that is planted in there and basically kill them because they can't get any sunlight because of my monstrous peonies. I have tried so many things to try and keep them contained, to no avail. I'll have to look into the peony rings you mentioned. Thanks a bunch!

@@GunGirl1776 sure thing. Some are very flimsy…you want something you can’t easily bend with your hands or they’ll give under the peony’s weight. Cutting some and enjoying the blooms inside and dead heading old blooms that are starting to fade can at least reduce the weight on the branches. I think some of the bigger ones must have been developed for cut flower growers, not home growers, since they’re so impractical in the average garden. The remaining leaves will then build up the roots for next year’s show.

Hi - I have not done one yet. When I do it I don't want to just 'show' how I use it, but make a test to show effectiveness. But in general, if you make a perimeter as well as spray directly on the plant (and under the leaves if you can), it will work. Reapply after rains or weekly for 3 weeks, and then every 3 weeks after that....

@@growitbuildit thank you That's what I wanted to know as if you had done one and I was just not saying it!

Hi - you can cut back Coreopsis even if it's flopping a bit. Just make sure you aren't as aggressive and that several leaves are still on the stalk

Thank you!

Hi, yes you can chop first year plants. Just make sure the stalk still has several sets of leaves so it can still generate food via photosynthesis. Some Monarda are prone to flopping like M. Didyma and M. Clinopedia

@@growitbuildit Thanks for the tip!! You're seriously the best 😄😄

Thank you!

I actually had some people comment on that. Someone with experience in peonies said the don't do well with the Chelsea Chop. And that you should stake them or use a product that is actually called peonies cages

You are very welcome, and thank you very much!