Sedum (stonecrop) is a hardy succulent that brightens yards and gardens with its star-shaped flowers in vivid burgundy, copper, pink, or white.
While growing and caring for sedum is generally easy, this perennial needs consistent pruning to keep it healthy. Learn when to cut back sedum for winter and how to do so.
When to Cut Back Sedum for Winter
Cut back sedum for the winter throughout the year—mainly in the spring and early summer and some in the fall. Do not cut sedum back during most of the summer or winter.
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Spring
Spring is when you cut back the sedum down to ground level. Cut all of the stalks to the same level. Cutting back sedum encourages new plant growth.
Early Summer
In the early summer, cut the sedum halfway down. Tall sedums like Autumn Joy stonecrop can become too leggy. Cutting the sedum by half reduces legginess and weight. Be sure to cut sedum in early summer, around late May or June.
What Is Leggy?
When a plant is leggy, it is overly tall, stretched out, spindly, and disproportionate.
Mid-Summer
Do not cut the sedum back in mid- to late-summer as the extreme heat will stress the plant, possibly killing it.
Fall
In the fall, strategically prune the sedum by removing dead or diseased stems and leaves. Any dead stalks should be cut down to ground level.
Winter
Avoid cutting the sedum back or trimming it in the winter. The extreme cold of winter stresses the sedum.
Why Cut Back and Prune Sedum
- Encourage overall growth
- Eliminate legginess
- Reduce top weight for better stability
- Promote branching
- Remove dead leaves and stems
- Delay flowering until fall
How to Cut Back Sedum
Spring, after the last frost, is the most important time to cut back sedum. Prune the sedum again in early summer and clean it up a final time in the fall.
- Rake out debris: By hand, rake out winter debris like old leaves, pine cones, and twigs.
- Remove old foliage: Pull out and dispose of detached stalks and leaves.
- Prune old foliage: Remove old foliage by clipping dead attached stalks. Cut the stalks with a pair of one-hand pruning shears while holding the stalks with the other hand.
- Cut back to soil: Cut remaining sedum stalks down to ground level with the hand shears.
- Clean area: Clean away all remaining debris so the sedum will receive full sun and water.
- Cut halfway (early summer): Cut the sedum stalks halfway down by early summer.
- Trim dead sections (fall): Remove dead detached stems and leaves by hand and cut attached stalks down to soil level with the hand pruner.
Tips for Cutting Back Sedum
These tips will help you cut back sedum for winter and throughout the rest of the year:
- Cut the sedum with sharp pruning shears. If dull, sharpen the blades or buy a new pair.
- Disinfect and clean the shears by dipping them in a mixture of one part chlorine bleach and nine parts water, then quickly drying them.
- Cut down all of the stalks rather than cutting selectively.
- If you want to propagate cut viable stalks elsewhere, place them in water. The stalks will develop roots in the water.
FAQ
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Sedum can survive a frost. Even so, plant sedum in an area that receives full sun to stay healthy when overwintering. Also, newly planted sedum is susceptible to frost damage. So, plant sedum in the spring after there is no longer a chance of frost.
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Potted sedums can survive winter, but their root systems need extra protection against the cold. The sedums can remain in the pots, but the pots should rest in below-ground spaces with the upper part of the plant exposed. Provide extra insulation by loosely adding straw near the roots at ground level.
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You will know if your sedum is dying when the leaves are beginning to turn yellow, or they are wilting. If the leaves are soft and gel-like, you may be overwatering them. If the leaves are dry and crisp, they need more water. A mildewy smell indicates that the sedum’s roots may be rotting, which usually means that the sedum has too much water.