recurrent genus Penstemon are promiscuous to originate and keep , even for initiate , and execute particularly well in border and pile planting . almost carefree , they fly high in full or mottled sun and love evenly moist , well - draining soil . Penstemons really do n’t require pruning for the sake of their wellness . However , they may rise unattractively leggy and become woody if you do n’t prune them each year .
Step 1
Feed your penstemons a good , all - purpose fertilizer in early spring . This will machinate them for their operation during the growing season . Apply a 2- to 3 - inch level of compost mulch .
Step 2
practice clean , sharp shears to cut the plants back by one-half in late April .
Step 3
Begin watching penstemons for the production of new shoots from their bases . When the new shoot soon look , cut back off any persist onetime efflorescence straw at ground level . Do n’t remove any foliation . unexampled prime spike worthy for cutting should soon issue .
Step 4
Shorten stems of plant that are not produce new basal development . settle the lowest set of intelligent leaves , and make your cut just below . Leave the foliation intact .
Step 5
Deadhead your penstemons as soon as the bloom fade , unless you need them to discontinue blooming and farm seeds . Clip the flower stalk back to the first set of sizeable leaves below it . This will advance your plants to flower again after in the same season and will be all the pruning they ’ll need to remain attractive throughout the season . moreover , removing spent blooms will channelise their energies and resources toward re - bally , rather than produce seeds .
Step 6
Allow some of your penstemons to retain their spent blooms at the destruction of the time of year so that they can produce seeds , if you like . you’re able to just have nature take its course , and the plant life will re - sow themselves for a repetition performance next year .
Step 7
Clip undesirable spent flower stalking with seminal fluid cod attached after they ’ve brown and matured in the drop , and start a pocket-sized wildlife sight with them . total weeds , leave , sprig and other garden and yard refuse as you take on it . unwarranted birds and other fauna will apprize the pronto useable seeds and other nutrient and winter nest supply in the pile .
Step 8
abridge your penstemon works back by about a third in the fall , after they ’re through blooming for the year .
