How to cut back a perennial Jamaican Porterweed also called Blue Porterweed Pro DIY tips from a landscape design and installation business owner
#pruning #landscapemaintenanc #landscaping
During or after a landscape design and installation project, I always make sure to take extra time and go over techniques that will help my clients properly care for their new plants.
Frequently, but not as often as I like, I get the chance to install pollinator gardens. These are portions of the yard designed specifically to attract local pollinators such as butterflies, honeybees, and hummingbirds. It’s especially cheerful to stroll out into the yard for a break from screen time and see a lively garden full of flowers and life.
One of the most common questions that arise once the project is done is: How do I take care of these lovely plants? After explaining about watering requirements and fertilization, I always like to discuss pruning or trimming. Enthusiastic lawn maintenance companies tend to want to take the power shears to everything. If you’re using flowering plants and shrubs to attract pollinators, don’t let them do that!!! Hand pruning is by far the best practice when the need to cut back your perennials arises. In this video I discuss just how to do that with some basic hand pruning techniques. Maybe you could consider the time spent to be enjoyment of your beautiful landscape?
Cutting back Jamaican Porterweed or Blue Porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis)
Porterweed will need cutting back twice per year. Once just after the last chance of a freeze (early March) and then one more time end of summer (late July/early August). If Porterweed is planted in partial shade it may get leggier more quickly as it reaches for sunlight so it may require an extra pruning if that’s the case.
The goal is to care for and trim perennials so that they flower as much as possible and remain healthy while thriving in your landscape. If you can manage to take the little bit of extra time to hand prune them your flowering perennials will respond with lush new growth and a proliferation of flowers.
Jamaican Porterweed is a hardy perennial that attracts a host of pollinators including honeybees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
What is a perennial? The short answer is that this plant can be seasonal in nature. Porterweed does not like cold weather so if we get temps below freezing it will burn these plants back, sometimes to the ground. Older plants tend to harden over time and be more resilient, younger plants can be killed altogether by a deep freeze. How much damage depends on how cold it gets as well as for how long. Given that, this plant is worth a little extra trouble if you want flowers that bring in the pollinators.
Invasive variety similar to Blue Porterweed: Nettleleaf variety is sometimes sold as the Florida native variety but it is invasive so be sure to make sure that you did not get an invasive variety.
UF IFAS plant PDF write ups:
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP559
Florida Native Plant Society:
https://www.fnps.org/plant/stachytarpheta-jamaicensis
Through this YouTube channel, Earthwise Horticultural Services owner Scott Simpson, landscape designer and horticulturalist, talks about Shrimp plant Justicia brandegeeana and provides advice on low maintenance plants and landscaping tips.
Earthwise Horticultural Services provides landscape design and installation services in Central Florida. The service area includes Seminole and East Orange counties (Lake Mary, Sanford, Heathrow, Winter Park, Winter Springs, Altamonte Springs, Orlando, Longwood, Casselberry areas and nearby).
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While planning your landscape we'll focus on things such as:
1. Choosing plants that not only meet your preferences but are also naturally adapted to the conditions of the landscape.
2. Deciding where and what type of sod to use (if at all); and discussing what it takes to ensure long term success of the new lawn.
3. Problem solving for any trouble areas which includes the consideration of options and identification potential pitfalls.
4. Educating you so that once we are all done, you’ll know what to do in the short term after the installation, as well as long term.
Landscape services include:
· Design & consultation
· Installation of new landscapes
· Hardscaping with natural stone and pavers
· Landscape lighting (low voltage outdoor lighting)
· Irrigation assessment, modification, and improvement (in conjunction with projects)
· Custom built wood landscape structures such as pergolas, arbors, and trellises
This video was recorded and edited by Scott Simpson, the owner of Earthwise Horticultural Services LLC. Thank you for checking out my content. Feel free to visit my website and use the contact tab if you want to consider transforming your landscape into something truly special.
#landscaping #landscapeplants #design #pollinator #floridafriendly #floridanativeplants #lowmaintenance #xeriscaping #earthwisescott
