Forget-me-nots are a staple in almost every garden, whether they’re brightening up perennial beds or adding a pop of blue to balcony pots and patio containers. These early bloomers are incredibly low-maintenance—give them the right spot, and they’ll pretty much take care of themselves. In fact, they’re so independent that they’ll even handle the “replanting” for you! But, if you don’t want them taking over your entire yard, you’ll want to keep your garden shears handy once they finish blooming.
- When is the best time to prune Forget-me-nots?
As soon as those iconic blue flowers fade and the stems start to dry out, it’s time for a trim. Pruning at this stage stops the seeds from maturing and scattering all over the place. Now, if you actually want to propagate your Forget-me-nots, just leave a few flower heads to ripen. Once they’re ready, you can shake them out exactly where you want new plants to pop up next year. Alternatively, you can collect the seeds and start them in seed trays for more control.
Come fall, it’s a good idea to give your little perennials a tidy-up. Trim back the leaves and clear away any dried-out or damaged bits. This isn’t just for looks—it helps prevent fungal issues like powdery mildew from moving in. If you do spot signs of mildew or gray mold (look for that fuzzy white coating on the leaves), you’ll need to cut the plant back hard. In many cases, it’s actually safer to pull the plant entirely to protect its neighbors. Just a heads-up: don’t toss those infected clippings in your compost pile! Fungi and rot-causing bacteria love compost, so bag them up and put them in the regular trash instead. Once your healthy plants are trimmed, tuck them in for the winter with a light mulch of dry leaves or some evergreen branches.
For the true perennial varieties, you don’t necessarily have to cut them back to the ground. Those leaves are actually busy soaking up energy to help the plant survive the winter and come back strong for the next flowering season.
Pruning at a Glance
Keeping your Forget-me-nots happy is easy. Here’s the quick checklist:
- Deadhead after blooming to prevent unwanted self-seeding.
- Trim back foliage in the fall to keep things tidy.
- Remove any dried or dead plant material.
- If you see fungus or rot, remove the affected stems immediately and dispose of them in the trash.
