I have to admit that I don't do anything but cut off the flower stalks until spring. I'm interested to see what others have to say too. I saw a video on Utube from someone in Minnesota who cuts hers down because she doesn't like to deal with the slimy leaves come spring. She said she has also used a lawnmower on them! I want to move mine next spring but I don't want to over coddle them and end up with them rotting over winter.

when a plant creates its own little mound of winter protection ... why remove it ...

well... one reason.. would be to attack a slug problem... removing all the old leaves.. and then drenching the crown with 10% vinegar .... kill the eggs ...

ken

I've always left them until spring. I have some areas where I am seeing signs of what may be nematodes. That has me rethinking my sanitation processes and may be removing everything this fall. When I removed foliage in past, I wait until a hard freeze where they pull off easily.

I definitely wouldn't mow - if you have HVX on any plant, it will spread like mad

Haha! Ken knows I plan to do the the 10% vinegar treatment! I also make a map of my garden by hand in pencil and erase and add to with changes. So when the pips come up I generally know what they are.......remember I have a city lot so we are not talking acres here. I do use just plastic plant markers, but they get bought in each year. That’s a pain because I have to redo some every year and of course create new ones. But it’s the former teacher in me—— people read them as they walk by.

I used to just get things be and do major spring clean up. Now I moved to decent fall clean up when plants are done and leaves hit by frost. Easier that way and less fungal etc stuff to overwinter. I will apply ammonia as well as Biosafe.

Lindalana, are ammonia and Biosafe for slugs? I do well enough with coffee grounds and variations of Sluggo. I have had more insect damage than slugs the last few years.

linnea, Ammonia works great for slugs. Most people use 25%. Papou was a legendary hosta gardener and he used a 50% solution. The advantage to Ammonia is it breaks down in the soil to nitrogen which is, of course, a fertilizer. The best approach is to concentrate around the crown, all around the mulch, leaves and all the nooks and crannies where they hide. Vinegar is 5% acidic acid and has no fertilizer value. It is also used by many as a spray to kill weeds. I use a 1 to 3 part solution of ammonia to water. It's a 2 for 1 deal. Kill the slugs and other pests and fertilize at the same time.

- Jon

Ammonia for slugs. Biosafe is a peracetic acid, used in food industry. If you have rust or other fungal bacterial stuff going you really do not want to overwinter it. Specially if winter is warm.

So I apply Biosafe in early spring and late fall as major wipe up on some opportunistic fungi/bacteria. You gotta love your microbes but I want more good ones than bad ones. So I also use compost teas and microbe life products.

I use it fir my food gardens as well.