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Dec 13, 2014 12:18 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Neal Linville
Winchester, KY (Zone 6a)
Bulbs Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises Roses
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
I'm curious if cutting them back will diminish their ability to survive winter. I believe zone 6 where I live is typically listed as their hardiness limit. How do you manicure yours? At what time of year?

I have 4 clumps of them, and went ahead and cut one back as an experiment. The leaves are partially brown and limp, except close to the crown, where they're still green and turgid. They look really nasty right now, and I'd prefer to whack them way back, but not if it means risking losing them.
"...and don't think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It's quiet, but the roots are down there riotous." Rumi
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Dec 13, 2014 12:22 PM CST
Name: Jennifer
48036 MI (Zone 6b)
Cottage Gardener Houseplants Spiders! Heucheras Frogs and Toads Dahlias
Hummingbirder Sedums Winter Sowing Peonies Region: Michigan Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I twist mine up and make a bun with it. I read to do that to protect the crown. Then in the spring I cut it all off
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Dec 13, 2014 12:43 PM CST
Name: Arlene
Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Region: Ukraine Dahlias I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Houseplants Tomato Heads Garden Ideas: Level 1
Plant Identifier Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Good to know!

Now that mine are cut back I think I'll load it with the long pine needles. Glad I didn't use all of them already.
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Dec 14, 2014 5:39 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Neal Linville
Winchester, KY (Zone 6a)
Bulbs Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises Roses
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
Jennifer, that's a great idea! And that will get all that mess out of the way so I can work around it, right now it looks like a dead octopus out there- the leaves look like tentacles.
"...and don't think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It's quiet, but the roots are down there riotous." Rumi
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Dec 14, 2014 6:29 AM CST
Name: Jennifer
48036 MI (Zone 6b)
Cottage Gardener Houseplants Spiders! Heucheras Frogs and Toads Dahlias
Hummingbirder Sedums Winter Sowing Peonies Region: Michigan Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I tip my hat to you.
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Dec 14, 2014 1:27 PM CST
Name: Jennifer
48036 MI (Zone 6b)
Cottage Gardener Houseplants Spiders! Heucheras Frogs and Toads Dahlias
Hummingbirder Sedums Winter Sowing Peonies Region: Michigan Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Just tidied up a few of mine today

Big bun
Thumb of 2014-12-14/jvdubb/3f032e

Little bun (new plant this year)
Thumb of 2014-12-14/jvdubb/84d354
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Dec 14, 2014 2:55 PM CST
Name: Arlene
Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Region: Ukraine Dahlias I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Houseplants Tomato Heads Garden Ideas: Level 1
Plant Identifier Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Mine would be jealous if it saw how nice and cozy both of yours look. Great job, Jennifer. You're a good plant mom.

In spring how low do you cut them back - an inch or two?
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Dec 14, 2014 3:02 PM CST
Name: Jennifer
48036 MI (Zone 6b)
Cottage Gardener Houseplants Spiders! Heucheras Frogs and Toads Dahlias
Hummingbirder Sedums Winter Sowing Peonies Region: Michigan Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Yes, I would say an inch or two
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Dec 14, 2014 7:49 PM CST
Name: Arlene
Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Region: Ukraine Dahlias I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Houseplants Tomato Heads Garden Ideas: Level 1
Plant Identifier Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Thanks!
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Dec 16, 2014 8:14 AM CST
Name: Jo Ann Gentle
Pittsford NY (Zone 6a)
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cat Lover Heucheras Hellebores Container Gardener
Birds Region: New York Avid Green Pages Reviewer Irises Garden Ideas: Master Level Lilies
Neal > I used to clean and cut mine in early spring. I guess leaving them all winter was a sort of natural mulch.
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Dec 23, 2014 2:16 PM CST
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
Adeniums Cat Lover Garden Photography Region: California Houseplants Plays in the sandbox
Orchids Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Composter Cactus and Succulents Dragonflies Hummingbirder
In my area my Kniphofia sarmentosa is actively growing in winter, and blooms in late winter. I tend to do my trimming in late Spring when it starts to rest.
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Jan 16, 2015 9:53 PM CST
Name: Patti
Australian Alps (Zone 8a)
I will never act my age.
Region: Australia Cactus and Succulents Keeps Horses Sedums Sempervivums Vegetable Grower
Garden Ideas: Level 1
Mine is a winter dormant variety. After mine is finished blooming I cut any remaining flower spikes off, then leave it alone for winter. I don't remove any dead leaves because they are good insulation. In early Spring I use a hand rake and pull all the dead leaves out, dragging the rake through it like combing hair Smiling It seems to love that and it cleans it up nicely without having cut off leaves spoiling the cascade.
Succulent Addict
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Jan 17, 2015 3:51 PM CST
Name: Jo Ann Gentle
Pittsford NY (Zone 6a)
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cat Lover Heucheras Hellebores Container Gardener
Birds Region: New York Avid Green Pages Reviewer Irises Garden Ideas: Master Level Lilies
Sunlover, I also did the same. Its easier in spring when much of the leaves are dry.
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Jan 22, 2015 11:39 AM CST
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
Adeniums Cat Lover Garden Photography Region: California Houseplants Plays in the sandbox
Orchids Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Composter Cactus and Succulents Dragonflies Hummingbirder
Just a photo of my Kniphofia sarmentosa right now..lots of growing in my area during winter, hopefully it will try some blooms in mid to late Feb, so any cutbacks I do will be in late Spring.

Thumb of 2015-01-22/tarev/f4e330
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Jan 22, 2015 12:02 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Neal Linville
Winchester, KY (Zone 6a)
Bulbs Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises Roses
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
Those leaves are tough, I felt like they'd hang on if temps stayed above 20F. The clump I cut off has grown a little through winter.
"...and don't think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It's quiet, but the roots are down there riotous." Rumi
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Jan 24, 2015 1:41 PM CST
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
Adeniums Cat Lover Garden Photography Region: California Houseplants Plays in the sandbox
Orchids Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Composter Cactus and Succulents Dragonflies Hummingbirder
Just saw this morning, my Kniphofia sarmentosa is starting to make its flower spike: on cue to its usual flowering time.
I thought I just got one, closer look there were two: Smiling
Thumb of 2015-01-24/tarev/ad0966 Thumb of 2015-01-24/tarev/847cc5 Thumb of 2015-01-24/tarev/50d6a2
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Mar 18, 2015 3:35 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Neal Linville
Winchester, KY (Zone 6a)
Bulbs Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises Roses
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
Today I cleaned up the 3 clumps of Kniphofia that still had leaves attached, and thankfully the leaves pulled away easily and the crowns underneath look healthy. However, the clump that I trimmed back in the fall looks like it may be dead. It may surprise me, but the crown looks dark and its kinda slimy in there.
"...and don't think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It's quiet, but the roots are down there riotous." Rumi
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Mar 18, 2015 3:43 PM CST
Name: Arlene
Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Region: Ukraine Dahlias I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Houseplants Tomato Heads Garden Ideas: Level 1
Plant Identifier Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I'll look tomorrow. I was just outside and the wind is frightful.

Good luck with yours, Neal.
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Mar 19, 2015 5:47 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Neal Linville
Winchester, KY (Zone 6a)
Bulbs Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises Roses
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
Not a big deal if the one clump is dead, still have 3 other large clumps, and I do have Roses on the way soon, so that spot may just be destined for one of those.
"...and don't think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It's quiet, but the roots are down there riotous." Rumi
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Mar 19, 2015 6:47 AM CST
Name: Arlene
Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Region: Ukraine Dahlias I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Houseplants Tomato Heads Garden Ideas: Level 1
Plant Identifier Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015
That's almost a guarantee that the plant will survive and thrive.

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