This document is the same maintenance logic as the garden_reminders.ics calendar file, laid out as reference tables instead of push notifications. Re-render after editing the plant list or timing assumptions below.
Weekly (June–September, every Saturday)
| Plant |
Task |
| Heavens Gate Coreopsis |
Deadhead; mid-July also cut back 1/3–1/2 after first heavy bloom to refresh |
| Immortality Bearded Iris |
Cut spent flower stalks at base; trim brown/yellow/diseased leaves immediately |
| Purplegum Candles Speedwell |
Deadhead; after primary flowering cut back by 1/3 to tidy shape |
| Magnus Purple Coneflower |
Deadhead to nearest leaf node or lateral bud |
| Blue Fortune Anise Hyssop |
Deadhead; midsummer lightly trim leggy stems up to 1/3 (avoid heavy pruning) |
| Miss Manners Obedient Plant |
Cut off spent flower spikes |
| Upscale Lavender Bee Balm / Dwarf Bee Balm |
Deadhead at an angle just above a new leaf set or side shoot |
| Salvia |
Deadhead spent spikes just above a healthy leaf set or new side shoots |
| Blanket Flower |
Deadhead; can cut hard to 6” to force a heavy fall rebloom |
| Narrow-leaf Bluestar |
One-time only, after blue flowers fade in late spring — trim 1/3–1/2 if floppy from seed pods (not weekly) |
Late Winter → Early Spring (~February–April)
| Plant |
Task |
| Standing Ovation Little Bluestem |
Late winter: cut clump to 2–3” (avoid damaging emerging green crown buds) |
| Solar Flare False Indigo |
Late winter: cut old dead stems to within 6” before new growth gets tall |
| Marsh Blazing Star |
Late winter: cut dead stems to 1–2” as weather warms |
| Dwarf Fountain Grass |
Late winter: cut to 1–3” before active growth starts |
| Sedum |
Late winter: cut back before new growth gets tall |
| Sweet Autumn Clematis |
Late winter: cut vine back to 6–24” from ground |
| Allegheny Serviceberry |
Late winter (dormant): remove dead wood, thin for airflow, shape |
| Nine Bark Bushes |
Late winter OR right after bloom (see June): remove up to 1/3 of oldest canes at the base |
| Russian Sage |
Late winter: cut to 6–12” as new growth emerges at base |
| Ferns |
Late winter: trim old/ragged fronds close to base before new fronds appear |
| Heavens Gate Coreopsis |
Early spring: cut back dead winter stems to ground as new shoots emerge |
| Magnus Purple Coneflower |
Early spring (Mar/Apr): cut back before new shoots emerge |
| Swamp Milkweed |
Early spring: cut dead stems to 4–6” before new growth emerges |
| Blue Fortune Anise Hyssop |
Early spring: cut dead stems to 2–3” |
| Berry White / Lime Light Hydrangea |
Early spring (after harshest frosts, before buds swell): remove dead/damaged/weak branches; cut above a healthy fat bud pair; can cut back 1/3–1/2 overall |
| Cool Splash Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle |
Early spring: trim/shape before leaves emerge; rejuvenate (cut to ground) if overgrown/woody |
| Narrow-leaf Bluestar |
Early spring: cut dead stems to a few inches before new shoots appear |
| Miss Manners Obedient Plant |
Early spring: cut dead stems to ground just before shoots emerge |
| Salvia |
Early spring: cut to ground or above lowest nodes after last hard-frost risk passes |
| Is anything due? Divide right as new shoots emerge. |
| Heavens Gate Coreopsis |
Every 2–3 yrs |
| Purplegum Candles Speedwell |
Every 3–4 yrs — spring preferred |
| Magnus Purple Coneflower |
Every 3–4 yrs — spring preferred |
| Blue Fortune Anise Hyssop |
Every 3–5 yrs |
| Miss Manners Obedient Plant |
Every 2–3 yrs, as center thins |
| Salvia |
Every 3–4 yrs — spring preferred |
| Sedum |
Every 3–5 yrs — spring preferred |
| Hostas |
Every 3–4 yrs (or yearly if you want more plants) |
| Ferns |
Every 3–5 yrs |
| Marsh Blazing Star |
Every 3–5 yrs, once clumps are 4–6” across |
| Upscale / Dwarf Bee Balm |
Every 2–3 yrs — spring preferred |
| Narrow-leaf Bluestar |
Rarely — only if blooming slows or it’s crowding neighbors |
Late Spring → Early Summer (~June)
| Plant |
Task |
| Nine Bark Bushes |
If not done in late winter, prune right after flowering — remove up to 1/3 of oldest canes at the base |
| Creeping Phlox |
Right after bloom finishes, cut back by 1/3–1/2 and shape into a neat low dome |
| Plant |
Task |
| Standing Ovation Little Bluestem |
Every 3–5 yrs, or when base is 8”+ wide and center is dying out. Spring–early summer ONLY (avoid fall/late winter — needs warm soil to recover) |
| Dwarf Fountain Grass |
Every 3–4 yrs when overgrown/center dies out; divide once new shoots reach 3–6” tall and soil has warmed |
| Creeping Phlox |
Every 2–3 yrs if center has died out or blooms look thin; can divide right after bloom now, or wait for early fall |
Reminder: mid-July, give Heavens Gate Coreopsis, Purplegum Candles Speedwell, and Blue Fortune Anise Hyssop a 1/3–1/2 cutback after their first heavy bloom (this also appears in the weekly deadhead list above).
Late Summer → Early Fall (~September)
| Plant |
Task |
| Allium |
Once foliage yellows/withers, snip leaves back to ground; clear all dead debris before first hard freeze to prevent rot |
| Roughly late Aug – mid Oct, ~6 wks before ground freezes. |
| Immortality Bearded Iris |
Every 3–5 yrs, July–early Sept (4–8 wks after bloom) — Iris’s PREFERRED window |
| Purplegum Candles Speedwell |
Every 3–4 yrs — alternate window (spring still preferred) |
| Marsh Blazing Star |
Every 3–5 yrs, once clumps 4–6” across — alternate window, after blooming ends |
| Allium |
Every 3–5 yrs — this is Allium’s PREFERRED window, soil still warm |
| Upscale / Dwarf Bee Balm |
Every 2–3 yrs — alternate window, 4–6 wks before first frost |
| Salvia |
Every 3–4 yrs — alternate window as temps cool |
| Blanket Flower |
Every 2–3 yrs — alternate window, mild fall weather |
| Creeping Phlox |
Every 2–3 yrs — alternate window, ~4–6 wks before first hard frost |
| Hostas |
Every 3–4 yrs — alternate window, before first hard freeze |
| Narrow-leaf Bluestar |
Rarely needed — alternate window if crowding/slowing down |
Late Fall (after first hard frost, ~November)
| Plant |
Task |
| Heavens Gate Coreopsis |
Cut to 6” above ground |
| Immortality Bearded Iris |
Cut remaining green leaves to 4–6” tall; clear away old dead leaves from the ground (prevents pests overwintering) |
| Purplegum Candles Speedwell |
Cut to 2–3” above ground once foliage has died |
| Upscale / Dwarf Bee Balm |
Cut stems near ground level; remove ALL debris to prevent powdery mildew next year |
| Blanket Flower |
Cut back to a few inches above ground once freezing temps arrive and flowering stops |
| Hostas |
After first hard frost turns leaves yellow/brown/limp, cut to 2” above ground and clear dead leaves |
Optional swaps: Magnus Coneflower can be cut back now instead of spring if preferred. Marsh Blazing Star can also be divided now (late fall, after blooming) as an alternative to spring.
Do-Not-Divide Reference
| Plant |
Task |
| Swamp Milkweed |
Do not divide |
| Berry White Hydrangea |
Do not divide |
| Cool Splash Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle |
Do not divide |
| Solar Flare False Indigo |
Do not divide |
| Lime Light Hydrangea |
N/A |
| Sweet Autumn Clematis |
N/A |
| Allegheny Serviceberry |
N/A |
| Nine Bark Bushes |
N/A |
| Russian Sage |
N/A |
Timing assumes central Illinois frost dates (last frost ~mid-April, first hard frost ~mid-October). Adjust the section headers and any date-specific chunks if your microclimate runs earlier or later. Source instructions come directly from the original plant maintenance table.