Is now an okay time (early Spring, gardening zone 7B) to go ahead and prune my Dusty Miller plants?

Holly R
by Holly R
They are gorgeous and I'm glad they survived the winter, but they didn't just survive... they're getting HUGE! They line my mailbox flowerbed and I had a Tulip bloom in the middle that could barely even be seen! I don't want to get rid of them... just trim them down a little so that the colorful can be enjoyed and seen too.
  6 answers
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Mar 28, 2012
    Normally it would probably be a little early, but given how mild the winter has been, I think you are safe to prune. If they are looking a straggly in the center, you might want to divide them, replanting the more vigorous, outside portions of the clump.
  • Erica Glasener Erica Glasener on Mar 29, 2012
    I agree with Douglas. Go ahead and prune them back
  • Evelyn R Evelyn R on Mar 29, 2012
    I'm in MD, close to the PA line. We're expecting some frost tonight. I have to keep reminding myself it's early up here yet!
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Mar 30, 2012
    That's a very good thing to keep in mind, Evelyn.
  • I just cut mine yesterday out of frustration that they are too big. They were hiding my Heartbreaker purple shamrock. Never thought about the timing. I just figured that if they were bugging me, time to cut off a little. How far down can you cut them? And how many years will they look good if you just let them grow?
  • Evelyn R Evelyn R on Mar 31, 2012
    This mild winter allowed the Saucer Magnolia to put on a beautiful show this year and was still going strong when we had a family get-together 2 wks ago. Three days later after rain and wind there were maybe 3 blooms left on the tree!