1. How much sun? They'll take a little shade, but want sun.

2. How wet is the ground where they are planted? Standing water + potentilla = unhappy plant.

3. Great time to cut them back. How far is up to you. Give each a handful of slow release fertilizer at the same time. Drink some beer. One day, you'll realize you don't recognuze them. If the don't bloom after an early spring pruning and some fertilizer, check sun.

4. If you really don't like them, you are the only person preventing you from doing something about it. If you like the plant if it's full (how it's "supposed" to look), prune and check growing environment.

Thanks!

1. Full sun from early morning until mid-afternoon.

2. No standing water. Deck is off the back of the house so good drainage.

3. I've never cut them back. They are just starting to get leaves....is it soo late to cut them? If it's okay, how far do I cut them down?

how about a pic ... are they budding out yet??

you have many.. prune one.. see what happens... you can always go back and do the rest ...

ken

Here are a couple pictures:

Potentillas are extremely forgiving. Did i say they were forgiving, as pruning is regarded? Cut them back half way, cut them to the tops of your shoes, anywhere in between, whatever.

Are you trying to tell us that Potentilla is forgiving?

Chop, chop, chop...

Shears are easier than secateurs for trimming shrubby Potentillas. The stems are so thin that secateurs are a real fiddle.

Thanks all! I'll be pruning tonight.

IMO Potentillas are pretty boring and have a relatively unattractive branching structure. I grew them for several years in good sun and well-drained soil, and while they are forgiving, that makes them good parking lot plants, not great garden plants. Granted that this was 20+ years ago, so there may be more attractive cultivars now, but if you don't like them, replace them with something else that floats your boat.