Doin' the Chelsea chop! 🌿 Customize your perennials with a little pruning

[@sallywoods7131]

Never heard of chopping Autumn Joy. I always figured I had to divide them to stop the flop. Brilliant!

[@TheImpatientGardener]

That helps too but I’m get pretty lazy so this is a easier way out.

[@peacelily720]

Once you just stick those cuttings in and grow back easily

[@Amanda-cn3pk]

I'm a hairstylist by trade, so everything gets a trim in my garden. 🤣

[@kaymack5304]

😂😂😂

[@mrs.riche3939]

Love it!

[@rdarrett3635]

💕 it! 🤣

[@maynardgreenhouse]

Yes I’ve used it often. One trick is to trim in three level from front to back....lower to higher. Makes a great flower display

[@fayafitech]

Watch a video I made with my father who I work with as a gardener🔥🌷🌱

[@katedorman7042]

The Chelsea Chop sounds like a dance move from the late 80’s…

[@marymathis9299]

oh, you can go further back, have you ever heard of the Florida drag or the PC bop...PC meaning Panama City (FL), thatcould easily be a cool move, which means this all was before the Twist and the shuffle...ha, fun memories of the late 50s and 60s! 🤩💃🕺👍❤️

[@gardengatesopen]

I chop my Penstemon in a wedge shape, making the low side the side most seen. I usually leave the back of the plant tall, not cutting it back. The top blooms first. Then the "wedge" blooms next. It makes for a nice show of flowers all the way up the front of the plant. I like to do this with my Fall blooming Asters too. ✂️ Also, bcuz I live in the South, normally my Chelsea Chop season is a bit earlier by about 6 weeks. If I start hearing the phrase Chelsea Chop, and I haven't done it yet - Uh Oh!!! I might be a chop-aholic! ✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️✂️ But it sure does make a good flower show!!!

[@TheImpatientGardener]

That is genius! Thank you!

[@gardengatesopen]

Well, it's only a good idea if it works!! Hahaha!!! But really, it should work!

[@heathermcelroy7171]

WOW I'm will definitely try this!

[@gardengatesopen]

If y'all really do this, I really want to hear about the results!! I hope they're as good as mine!

[@Edu_Kate]

I'm going to try that with my monarda.

[@joannemurphy7407]

Along with the pre-bloom chelsea haircuts, I do post-bloom haircuts on things like Baptisia and Amsonia to shape and avoid flopping.

[@froggyfur1954]

Oh I should have done this to my Shasta Daisy - it's almost 5 feet tall and starting to flop. Same with Veronica. Thank you for this lesson!

[@nancylefevre4113]

Always do the Chelsea chop on Joe Pye weed as even Baby Joe gets too tall along my driveway.

[@erintaff6635]

This is the best thing I've learned in a while. I love pruning

[@payton8613]

I can't tell you how grateful I am that you introduce us to SO many new plants on your channel. It is fantastic to learn about new varietals that are different than everyone else is growing, or what is found in every nursery around town. The Nepeta Subsessilis "Blue Prelude", and the veronicastrum virginicum "Queen of Diamonds" specifically, are ones I have not heard of until you introduced them via your channel. Thanks SO much for teaching us!

[@carolinamoonslilenglishgar8580]

I'm so happy to hear that the Chelsea chop is a thing in the U.S 😊 love how you explain it, very informative . Always enjoy your vlogs 😊

[@leiaflash5055]

I'm always scared to do this as I feel I'd take too much off and won't have any blooms! I also didn't realize it had a name ;) Thanks Erin for always keeping us in the know :)

[@laurasuitter2442]

I do that to asters. This year I did it to Autumn Joy. Will also try it on the helianthus. Really does great on Asters! Provided the perfect bloom time!

[@MarianneRuffhaven]

I never knew this chopping back had a name. My father taught me to chop, skear, and mow pretty much everything in the garden in June. perennials, annuals, and some shrubs, all got to meet tthe blades.

[@cindylouwhobohl6983]

I do the chop in my garden to lots of my perennials! I do it to my fall asters, my tansy and other plants. I also like that I can stagger their bloom that way.

[@amyhoff1501]

I will make more sedum babies, don’t have nearly enough, it’s a great plant and looks good even without blooms, thanks Erin for a good video

[@leapylouie801]

Yeah, I already knew this but I plan to pop my Neon Pink Sedum cuttings everywhere. Great flower for late season

[@leighmorant5679]

Thank you Erin! I did the same thing with my Penstemons for the first time - only chopped a few - we’ll have to compare notes later in the season. I do love that purple foliage!

[@LFN7]

Yes do it with all my phlox 1/2 of each plant outside radius, this way I am getting twice the bloom time!!! Very good video!

[@Cherryparfait41]

I’ve always had an area of autumn joy and some that I’ve poked in stumps, pots or places that are tricky to grow anything. Lol, I’m so glad it’s coming back into a spotlight of popularity. I can consider CC’ing it and spreading it around even more! Such a reliable easy plant.

[@jsnwick]

Thanks for another great video! I find it so refreshing to prune my "possible floppies" this time of year. It looks so much neater & knowing there is one less chore to do in the heat of the summer feels good.

[@dtoomey9174]

I always do this to Joe Pye Weed because they get so tall and flop over.

[@leapylouie801]

Oh, that is good to know. I have several Joe Pye weed babies

[@eileenmc8808]

I'll try that with the mums. They're already forming buds.

[@jkniederberger5390]

Just started working on my sedums a couple of days ago. I also chop back my mums, or they'd be blooming by late July. I need to do this to my phlox, because they are silly tall already!

[@carolsmith7951]

Love learning the terminology., thanks! You have so much to offer and I always learn so much from you.

[@cynthiabercaw3462]

My deer do a Chelsea chop to my tall phlox.

[@TheImpatientGardener]

Yes they are very good at it!

[@maryberon4193]

A rabbit did the Chelsea chop on one of my sedums and it looks much better now! Thanks for the info. I had no idea about this!

[@saraw8503]

Your clippers have a very satisfying snap sound.

[@reddirtgreenthumb3553]

The deer always did the Chelsea chop for me on my tall plox 🤪 Had to move it to the backyard behind the fence

[@swsunsetseeker7285]

I planned an entire vacation around attending the Chelsea Flower Show a couple of years ago...brings back memories...I will attend again. Love your garden! Your channel exposes me to so many plants I've never seen before. Try and mention where you got your plants from, especially if they are from an online nursery we can access

[@TheImpatientGardener]

Will do! Thank you for the suggestion.

[@nanapoppi3]

I've done the Chelsea chop for several years now after watching it done on Gardeners World and you are so right that chopping your Autumn Sedums now does stop them from flopping.

[@heidibucci2305]

I did this to Blue Fortune Agastache earlier this spring. I intentionally planted them in front of a peony to help block the boring foliage later in summer. But the agastache grew so large so quickly I couldn’t see the beautiful peonies in bloom. The peonies are done now and the agastache is growing nicely. This is a great solution to size control fast-growing perennials.

[@martihurford]

I love that I can give what I’ve been doing a proper title 😂. I always Chelsea Chop the Cranesbill (perennial geraniums), and the Mums this time of year. Thanks for identifying other plants as well. I’ll add the Phlox to the list too. 🌸💖🌸

[@Kate98755]

i chopped my zinnias and basil last year, had really full plants from it

[@Rougebasque]

Thank you Erin. I do this with Gauras and Verbena Bonariensis and asters.

[@5262janna]

I always wondered what the Chelsea chop was and how to utilize it. This was super informative. Thank you.

[@ottosillius5837]

I watched this video last night, I had never heard of the Chelsea chop...great idea...imagine my surprise when I just now watched "John Lord's Secret Garden" (from Ireland) on KZbin and he's talking about the Chelsea chop on his latest video :)

[@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane]

Thanks for the reminder! I always forget to do this to my sedums!

[@izabelaszydlowska3940]

Thank you for the reminder and the lesson Erin :)

[@gardener5158]

I've never heard of this but am definitely going to try it on my phlox!

[@gabthechef3790]

great video and really enjoying gardening 2.0 type of instructions. Thanks

[@gardeningonthewestforkwith8994]

I’ve gone to my garden and chopped this morning thanks🤓😎🤞

[@juliapounds5829]

I usually throw my fall mums away, but two look pretty in the big pot they occupied last fall. I’ve heard you should cut them around Mother’s Day and again at Father’s Day to delay bloom until fall. Hope I’m right??? Love your garden and you wonderful videos.

[@shaunabattle2371]

Well, now that you have shown me what to do I will start chopping on the sedum, phlox and especially the Veronica because it’s already leaning! Thanks as always!

[@Edu_Kate]

Erin, was there a napping baby nearby? You spoke in such hushed tones at the beginning. 😊 I was having fun in my garden today. Cutting back tulip foliage so I could plant annuals on top of the bulbs, chased the hose around since everything was bone dry. Probably not the best time of day to water, but everything looked so parched. Then I learned Minneapolis broke a heat record! Probably more of the same tomorrow. It's always so sad to say goodbye to my peony blooms once the heat hits them. This was a bumper crop year so I still have blooms. I missed my window of opportunity to gather buds and store in the fridge to have blooms in July.

[@TheImpatientGardener]

I know! I sounded kind of weird at the beginning. It was so incredibly still and quiet that it just seemed weird to speak normally. I figured the whole neighborhood would hear me (although they probably do normally anyway).

[@carmenbailey1560]

Great video, can’t wait to tell my daughter about chopping sedum Autumn joy , because she alway complains about them opening up and flopping. I’ve seen someone do the same time to Annabelle Hydrangeas for the same reason. I’m going to do this to my Obedient plant just to see what happens, because I not don’t like the height where it’s planted. Thanks for sharing Erin, your videos are always great. 👍❤️😊

[@christymclain9912]

I didn’t know it was called the Chelsea Chop, But I do this all the time with my day lilies, and it gives them a refresh and new blooms!

[@GardeningOnTaylorMountain]

Great idea about the Day lilies!

[@bruceagneberg5824]

Great, practical advice! Thanks!!

[@jstallings2070]

Best explanation and actual demo I have seen! I did my sedums this year for the first time 🤞

[@opryhill6552]

Sounds like a fun dance ❤️ doing the Chelsey chop.

[@gaylschubert5700]

I chop my phlox. Then they flower later and not while all the spring flowers are blooming.

[@anipierson3398]

This was super helpful. My Autumn Joy drives me crazy every single year because of the autumn flop. I am excited to see how this helps this year!

[@garygreen6013]

Thank you Erin. Great video. Your garden is looking awesome.

[@p.h.c.1113]

After watching this video I went right out to my yard and did this to my sedum and some of the phlox. The sedum was pretty floppy last Fall, so hoping this will make it look better. Thanks!

[@paulacothren3591]

I Chelsea chop aster Raydon's Favorite here in central NC. It's a mistake not to. The performance is improved greatly with more flower on stronger shorter stems that (you guessed it) don't flop!

[@jilladcock5648]

I started doing this last year after so many plants flopped. I do the ones you mentioned plus mums. Mums sometimes again in July. Great video. Thanks!

[@jrgenfjeldnordby9477]

This is my first ish year going all in to the gardening ☺️ my bf sey that I have the flower madness 😆😆 I love your videos giving me grate tips. Though the chelsey sounds risky at first ☺️

[@elenibraley8222]

What kind of Allium are in behind the Queen of Diamonds? What a gorgeous purple!

[@GrannysGarden]

Yes it's a great way to control bloom time or promote succession blooming. I tend to be less dainty about it. More like grab it by the scruff of the neck and chop🤣

[@marymathis9299]

I am so glad I clicked in on this one, I have just discovered sedums and this helps a ton! Loving following your vids...wish you were further south tho...thanks again! 👍❤️👏👏👏👏👏🥰🌺🌿🍀🌳💐

[@MallouMakeup]

My sedum almost every years gets a chop thank to the deer!

[@nicolevandermeulen6809]

Thank you so much, I didn't know that I could trim my sedum! I had flop for the first time last year, tonight I am going to trim it. Thank you!

[@marilynbaldwin2934]

I have never copped my autumn sedum never had a problem with flopping over your gardens look beautiful

[@laurelsayer7557]

Have also been doing the Chelsea Chop here in South East England where the garden is 2 - 3 weeks behind because of the very cold dry Spring we had. But plants are starting to grow now encouraged by the recent rain and sunshine (finally).

[@berlinberlin577]

Love your show by the way. always enjoy! I'm a Michigan/Chicago Gardner!

[@edgygardener2826]

I have chelsea chopped some of my Phlox, and this was a nice reminder to do the others. I didn't know we could do this on Sedum or Culvers Root. I imagine Salvia, Joe Pye Weed, Asters and maybe Monarda or Agastache's would be good too? I also didn't know it had such a cute name. As always, thank you for all your information. My pruners are ready to get to work today

[@seriouslyreally5413]

Russian sage has beautiful blue-grey flower stalks that I love! But its too tall and flops all over the place unless grown in a packed clump. I only have 2 plants strategically placed in my color scheme so to keep them in check, I give it the chop at 24in. 😉

[@dylan8285]

I've never had problems with sedum flopping besides well when it gets overfertilized, or to be honest fertilized period. From having annuals nearby it especially, which they greatly benefit from getting fertilizer socked to them, but it tends to leach over to the sedum then well the rest is history. lol. ( also i've found that perennial saliva has the same issue)

[@RevAcres01]

I had no idea that's what they called it. Looking forward to trying some chop in the garden.

[@Flanuora]

Great tip! Loved the video. I think I’ll give this a try in years to come. I’ll document or journal so I remember the details.

[@kimsenn5024]

I used to do it to my asters, now the rabbits do it for me ;-D I am going to try that with my mom's autumn joy. For some reason mine don't flop or get very big at all. In fact some of the plants I grow get a bit smaller every year LOL!

[@monicavitale7489]

I've been doing this with my sedum for years, but haven't tried it on my penstemon. I will try that this week.

[@chrystalsabin4091]

I don't do the "Chelsea Chop" here but I have in my old yard. I didn't know there was a name for it..

[@denisedelgado3350]

I never heard of this - interesting!

[@shellisspace]

I was just thinking about just my sedums cuz the flop on me but I was hesitant, especially cuz the tops get these neat rosettes and I don't want to chop that off. But the thought of getting more makes me feel better about it.

[@travsgardenstravshauntedya1998]

Thanks for reminding me to do this especially the Sedum Autumn joy! 😊💚

[@LULC0759]

Oh I’m so jealous…I can’t even get into my plants…they are covered with hundreds of Brood X Cicadas.

[@cynthiafisher9907]

Ooo! That would freak me out! Glad we don’t have them, sounds like the plagues of Egypt!

[@plot10homestead58]

I've been going into the garden armed with two 6' bamboo canes...knocking the cicadas off the bushes and plants as I go along. There were hundreds in our raspberry bed yesterday, swarming all around me as I picked strawberries. I'm ready for them to go on their way...

[@gardeningonthewestforkwith8994]

Oooo darn!

[@LULC0759]

@@cynthiafisher9907 it’s not fun….they start to rot after dying & stink so bad🤢

[@cynthiafisher9907]

@@LULC0759 Bleh! I’m so sorry you have to deal with that! I hope they never move to Idaho?

[@maryfarrand1799]

I just saw the dark stalked plant behind you and actually saw this for the first time yesterday on a walk in Blowing Rock NC. What is it?

[@asianangie7209]

The ferns look happy!

[@greenthumbelina7331]

Erin, I heard the name the Chelsea chop but never associated it with pruning back my perennials! I love that even if I didn't know what it was called, I've been doing the Chelsea chop for years, just like my mom used to do. I really enjoy watching your videos, because you always give us great timely advice! Thank you. ~Margie

[@christophertaylor9826]

Always enjoy your videos.

[@maryhelenhayes6859]

Thank you for great information!

[@HowsItGrowing]

Love the Chelsea chop. Great video Erin!

[@TheImpatientGardener]

Mostly it’s just fun to say. 😀

[@eileanroppel4738]

The segway into the Skill Share ad has me rolling 😂😂 great video as always!

[@evanorvell8368]

I love these informative videos--thanks! I have to chop my plants in early May here in my zone 8a garden, although I never knew it had such a fancy name! The sedum doesn't seem to care-it flops anyway because it gets too much water, but it's a reliable perennial. BTW, some of my dahlias are blooming their heads off! Still waiting for Cafe Au Lait, but it won't be long!

[@bryonyhellis]

I have some floppy veronica that I will try this on next year- I missed the boat this year but will file this somewhere in the brain for 2022! Thank you 🙏

[@TheImpatientGardener]

I have really good luck cutting my Veronica back either all the way or down to better looking foliage after they are done blooming. I usually get a rebloom in late summer/early fall by doing this.

[@crisa0390]

Thank you for this video! I thought i had heard you could cut back sedum but could only find videos on cutting it back in the fall or spring!

[@willaerley7140]

Those were some damn good looking steaks in the middle of this video.

[@rdarrett3635]

😂🤣

[@tanyafiol9378]

Thanks Erin! I’m going to try this out on some sedum that is already looking floppy. 🤞🏻🤗

[@berlinberlin577]

also works great for bergamot

[@normarideout62]

Well I’m going to do it now!

[@lisacheezecheeze1002]

Update: I did this with my autum joy sedum after watching this video & wow! It's great, and I used my cuttings to expand the sedum area. Thank you!!!

[@jeannelocke7102]

Hi Erin! This makes total sense. The deer do it to my tall Garden Phlox every year-twice already this year. They are always beautiful so maybe I’ll try it on some other plants! Love the videos!

[@timberhills1778]

They got mine too

[@bridgettecarter7161]

Love the Tea Cup or Coffee Cup elephant ears....I want some😍

[@GardenEvolution]

I do this to asters, mums, nepeta, sedums, and a few others. It’s the best thing in the world!

[@kristinacloss2753]

The deer do this for me!

[@nancyzeh5647]

Thank you for this nformation. I am going to try it.

[@ingedj8338]

wow love your Garden..very nive 👍👍

[@didisinclair3605]

I do this for my Asters.. and thanks for a reminder to do this to my phlox! Great video!!!

[@annheide8856]

Thank you so much for doing this video. My grandkids were over yesterday and I found where one of the kids stepped on one of sedums. I was a little mad about it. Also, I planted new sedum’s this year and they are already budding out. I’ll give them a chop too. I think they are budding because they were spoiled in the nursery. I planted penstemon for the first time this year rand it came with blooms on it from the nursery. I’m going to cutting the blooms back in order to get more stalks.

[@joannevandyke5112]

My almond joy is already blooming, maybe next year.

[@lorrainecourtney4589]

Almond joy 🤣🤣🤣

[@joannevandyke5112]

Auto correct strikes again!

[@lorrainecourtney4589]

Yup,gotta love it 😉