Two pink roses in bloom, one with soft petals and the other with pink speckles. Green leaves and more flower buds are visible in the background.

October, like dusk, gilded the landscape in its ripened rays as the petals and foliage blushed in the cooling air and waning sun.  Beauty was everywhere.

A bee collects pollen from the center of a vibrant purple flower, with additional purple blossoms and greenery blurred in the background.

As we begin to put our landscapes to bed – tidying, raking, mulching, and pruning, you might consider letting your perennials stand. To many, this seems counterintuitive, and to the fastidious, this seems outright insane, but Nature says otherwise.

A close-up of a dried, spiky flower head with a blurred green and yellow background.

Perennials within the natural world are certainly not cut back, so why should we? The answer lies mostly in aesthetics. Many people think spent perennials look untidy and unwieldly, yet they actually provide Winter interest, and more importantly, they serve as a source of food and shelter for local wildlife.

A single dried flower with brown petals is covered by a thick layer of snow, standing out against a plain, white, snowy background.

And as the snow falls and covers these perennials, undulating shapes and mounds give the winter landscape further depth and appeal.

Close-up of tall, dry grass coated with a layer of clear ice, creating a shiny, icy texture. Snow and blurred trees are visible in the background, indicating a cold winter day.

Ornamental grasses are especially appealing as are Coneflowers, Sedum, Goldenrod, Sunflowers, Gaillardia, and Black Eyed Susans. Of course, if you have some aggressive self-seeders, you may want to consider cutting them back, or at least, removing their seed heads.

Two dried, brown flower heads in sharp focus are centered, with a blurred background of purple and yellow leaves. The lighting is natural, highlighting the textures and colors.

Fight your instincts and quell the urge to cut back your perennials. In doing so, you’ll be offering food and shelter for birds, squirrels, and other critters while creating interest in a somewhat lackluster gray and white season. As always, reach out to Sweeney’s with any questions or concerns you may have. We’re always here to help guide you. Remember to schedule your Fall Clean Ups as many trees have yet to lose their leaves. We proudly serve the communities of Villa Park, Elmhurst, Oakbrook, Oakbrook Terrace, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Wood Dale, Itasca, and more!

Sweeney’s:  A Plant Based Company

Plant of the Week

 

Tall, reddish-purple grass blades growing densely with a pale sky in the background and green grass off to the right side.

Red October Big Bluestem

Native, perennial ornamental grass emerges grayish-blue in Spring, maturing to green with tinges of red in Summer and finally a showy scarlet-bronze in Fall, remaining throughout Winter.  Prefers sun and moist, well-drained soil.  Grows 4-6′ tall and 2-3′ wide. Deer resistant.

“A brooding calm in all the air,
A dreamy quiet everywhere…
A golden glow to light the day
That fades in purple mists away—
This soothing calm, this presence bright,
October’s sweet and mellow light.”
~Phebe A. Holder

Well wishes,

Kim Sweeney