Pruning Succulents: When to Cut Back Sedum

Last Updated on October 26, 2022 by Griselda M.

When to cut back sedum is a question that is not answered with a simple date. Knowing the proper time for pruning sedum takes a lot of consideration.

Sedums are one of the most commonly grown succulents in the U.S. It grows in hardiness zones 3-10. Depending on the size of the plant, it may require different maintenance pruning. Aside from the date, you also have to know the different varieties of sedums so you know when and how to prune them.

Today on the blog, we will discuss the various ways of pruning sedums and some signs that tell it’s the best time to cut them.

When To Cut Back Sedum: What You Should Know

Before pruning your sedum

Before you prune your sedum, sanitize your pruning apparatuses. Pruning shears are best for scaling back tall plants, while cuts function admirably for squeezing or cutting leaves. After brushing any soil from the apparatus edges, clean the cutting edges by splashing them for no less than five minutes with a family sanitizer.

After sanitizing your tools, you can start using them. It’s important to disinfect and sanitize your tools before you use them on your plants because they may carry germs and bacteria, that can develop into plant diseases.

Squeezing for shape

To support fanning and low development on youthful plants, pinching is suggested. To pinch the plant, use pruning clips to eliminate the middle development from the highest point of a stem. Take care not to harm the buds or little leaf sets on one or the other side of the middle development. These buds are the place where the stretching will happen.

Squeeze back new plants when they are around 8 inches tall. You can in any case squeeze off up to 2 crawls after blossoms begin to show up, yet it will postpone blooming. The outcome is sedum with more even development, less upward development, and added completion.

Late spring pruning

If your plan has become extremely leggy, then more severe pruning is needed. If you ask when to cut back the sedum, you have to consider whether it has become leggy. In this case, you have to cut back the stem to encourage new growth. Nevertheless, you can still replant the stems.

New bloom buds will frame the cut stalks, so you will not be forfeiting any of the gaudy showcases for a neater-looking plant. Pick a point mostly down a tail and simply over a bunch of passes on to make your cut. Cut neatly through the tail with sharp pruning shears, taking into consideration not harming the leaf set. Repeat the process until your succulents will have a uniform height.

All About Sedum Autumn Joy Pruning

So, when to cut back the sedum? If you want to know the perfect time to trim your sedum, you should familiarize yourself with the “Autumn Joy” sedums. These types of sedums grow in USDA zones 5-9. The bear flowers through the winter but they need to cut back in late winter or early spring. You can cut the sedum back in the winter as soon as the flowers start to die. Or you can cut back anytime after you see green growing from the grounds in spring.

You need to cut the entire plant back to ground level. Instead of using bare hands, it’s best to use clean shears to have a clean cut. In the spring, the sedum will re0emerge from the roots.

When To Cut Back Sedum: Early Spring Pruning

Some varieties of tall sedums, such as “Autumn Joy” (Sedum x “Autumn Joy”) require pruning in later winter or early spring. These succulent varieties grow in USDA zones 5-9.  When pruning, you need to cut the entire plant back to the ground level. This helps clean your sedums. At some point in time, you just have to let go of your old blooms. Sooner or later, these parts will die out and make your garden look ugly 

Pruning will encourage the re-emergence of young sedums from the roots. It also makes them healthy. Sedums that are not pruned after winter or in the spring will look old, dull, and ugly.

Tips For Sedum Pruning

Sedums are amazingly tolerant plants. It’s very rare to see sedums being attacked by pests or suffering from diseases. Compared with other succulents, sedums can bear cold weather days stronger.

They are even lenient during the dry season. Notwithstanding, contagious infections and decay do torment them, particularly in low light circumstances and high mugginess. Sanitize your slicing devices to forestall passing parasitic spores into the plant. Use devices that are sharp to forestall an abundance of plant harm.

Try not to prune in winter or in outrageous hotness when plants are worried. Sedum plants are essentially intended for relaxed consideration and are extremely lenient in most kinds of treatment. With a little practice, you ought to have the option to partake in the plants and their descendants for quite a long time.

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When To Cut Back Sedum: All About Year-Round Pruning 

Some types of pruning are essential year-round. This means you have to prune out dead plant growth and cut out diseased parts. Removing these from your sedums will help keep your plant looking at its best.

Cut dead stalks back to the base. Pull any dead leaves when you see them. Remove diseased portions of the plant as part of grooming. Since you are planting your plant outside, you need to keep them looking attractive. Sedums can make good decorations outdoor especially when they are properly maintained.

should sedum be cut back in the fall? The answer is, it depends. Normally, you don’t need to cut your sedums in the fall because their growth is slower during this time. However, when you see severe signs of bugs and pests, you may need to cut them. 

These bugs could transfer to other healthy plants at any time. Without immediate action, your entire collection could be affected. When to cut back sedums is known the factors that require pruning such as proper season, signs of pest infestation and whether it is severe or not, and the variety of sedum you are having.