Tidying Up Heuchera Plants by Pruning Them
When and how to trim coral bells.
Heucheras, also known as coral bells, are beautiful, shade-tolerant perennials. They are available in many different named cultivars that offer a wide range of leaf colors and variegation.
Related: Do heucheras need sun or shade?
Heucheras are evergreen perennials, but they can look ratty after a harsh winter, especially in the North. Happily, it's easy to clean them up with some simple pruning.
Removing old foliage improves the look of your heucheras at the start of the growing season, and it makes room for fresh new growth. Here are four tips to follow for trimming heucheras:
• Right timing: The best time to prune heucheras is in early spring, just before or just as new growth starts to appear.
• Examine the plant: Notice where the old growth lies vs. where the new growth will begin. New leaves come from the center of the plant; last year's foliage creates a ring around the central growing point. It's important to notice this so that you don't cut into any new growth.
• Trim old leaves: Clip close to the base of the old leaves' stems, where they connect to the plant crown. Pull the trimmings gently away from the plant. Work your way around the plant until all the old, damaged leaves are separated.
• Compost: If you have a compost pile, you can add heuchera trimmings to it.
Image courtesy of Walters Gardens.
