topic Re: Seedum, cut back? in Garden

Seedum, cut back?

Mom2Dogs — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 22:48:22 GMT

I live in NW Ohio and am wondering if I should cut back my seedum plants before we get a heavy snow? I noticed while raking leaves two of them are pretty big in size and when we got a snow last week it really spread the plants out in the middle.

I do not re-call what I did last year, any advice appreciated, thanks.

Re: Seedum, cut back?

ValuSkr — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 23:04:05 GMT

Sedum are perennial so I don't think it matters if you cut them back now or later. It might be easier to cut them back now, before they're buried under heavy snow.

For my sedum, the point is moot as deer have usually eaten them by now.

Re: Seedum, cut back?

Mom2Dogs — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 23:07:49 GMT

@ValuSkr Thanks and ugh about the deer eating your plants. They (deer) are such fun to watch and see in a fields but not while they are munching on your plants.

Re: Seedum, cut back?

jlkz — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 23:46:27 GMT

@Mom2Dogs

Absolutely cut the sedum down to the ground now. If you don't, you will get view of nice stalks with blackened flower heads that are attractive in the snow.

However, when Spring comes around, and you try to cut them down, the steely thorns on the stalks will cut you and your gardening gloves.

Trust me, those thorns are not worth it !

Re: Seedum, cut back?

Mom2Dogs — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 00:24:54 GMT

@jlkz Thanks, I must not have cut them back before since I don't remember the thorny stalks...thanks for the tip.

Re: Seedum, cut back?

Puppy Galore — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 02:01:04 GMT

@Mom2Dogs

There's different varieties of sedum and .I have used a few for growing in rocks and ground cover. I don't cut mine back and have never seen thorns on any of them.

I get snow but not for long periods of time.

Re: Seedum, cut back?

jlkz — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 23:13:58 GMT

@Puppy Galore

Perhaps "thorns" isn't the proper name for those sharp, cutting things on the blackened stalks left out till they need to be cut down for the new shoots coming up.

All I remember is wearing leather gloves didn't help that year I left them be during the winter.

I can't remember the type of sedum we planted almost 50 years ago....autumn something or stone crop. The flower heads turn a beautiful mauve color in mid-September.

Re: Seedum, cut back?

PA Mom-mom — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 23:21:53 GMT

@Mom2Dogs If you have tall sedum, cut them back. Also remember to cut them back next summer when they are about half grown and before they set flowers. It will keep them from growing too tall and falling over.

Re: Seedum, cut back?

CJC — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 12:47:33 GMT

I'm in Ohio, and I do cut back my tall sedums, the ones that have a tall stalk with late summer flowers on the ends. Most of my sedums are the low ground cover type, and I don't do anything with those. Other perennials I cut back to ground are astilbe, iris, ground orchid, salvia, bleeding heart, coneflowers, hardy geranium, hosta, daisy, brown eyed susan.

Re: Seedum, cut back?

hkrgrl — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 12:59:10 GMT

OP:

i have sedum 'autumn joy' and do not cut them back.

they make nice 'winter interest', have valuable seed heads for birds and can home valuable insects over the winter.

the stalks dry out and i just snap them at the base when i see new shoots coming up in the Spring.

snow has no impact on them, i guess they are sturdy enough.

The piles of leaves serve as Winter shelter for butterfly larvae, frogs, salamanders and Native insects.

The best thing you can for Nature this Fall? Nothing

Re: Seedum, cut back?

tototwo — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 17:01:46 GMT

Thank you, @hkrgrl. I agree 1000% on everything you typed.

None of my tall sedums have thorns, so am confused. I do not cut mine down (and I have bunches!) in the fall because they are food for the birds who hang around during the winter. Plus, they are winter interest after everything else has flopped flat to the ground.

Re: Seedum, cut back?

gardenman — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:12:04 GMT

Cutting back perennials in the fall/winter is subject to some debate in the gardening world. There are those who believe the plants store food (carbohydrates, I think) in the seemingly dead stems and can pull on those reserves as needed through the winter months. The believers insist they get better survival by waiting until new growth starts in the spring to cut back the old growth. Others believe the dead wood is just that, dead wood, and offers no benefits. I always erred on the side of caution and waited until spring to cut back and tidy up my perennials. If nothing else, it reminds you where they are, so you don't inadvertently weed out a plant you want to keep.