Pruning pink turtlehead
Advice for October in the Netherlands
Pink turtlehead supplies colour late in the season. Retain healthy summer growth on Chelone obliqua for those flowers; the main tidy concerns only dead stems. Months are guidelines for the Netherlands and Belgium; also assess growth, flowering and the weather forecast.
Pink turtlehead — October
Light trim only
Cut only completely spent spikes back above healthy foliage. An overall late-summer trim would remove flowers and buds.
Pay attention to this
- Do not cut the entire clump back in August.
- Check each spike for unopened buds.
- Pruning does not remedy wilting from dry soil; check moisture first.
Frequently asked questions
- Why avoid a hard summer cut on turtlehead?
- This species flowers in late summer and autumn. Such a cut can remove the approaching display.
- May spent spikes be removed?
- Yes. Remove them individually once the last flowers on each spike have finished.
- Should I shorten a plant that flops?
- Check its position and support first. Excess shade can cause weak stems; cutting during bud formation sacrifices flowers.