The Chelsea Chop - How, Why, And When To Do It

[@Kneenibble]

I hope nobody takes for granted what an incredible resource you are! Your videos and articles have shaped my gardening for years now.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you so much - that means a lot to me!

[@srudie]

I agree I really just came across your KZbin and found it quite informational thank you

[@glennknudsen9157]

Great stuff as always, Joe. All killer, no filler. Thanks!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you so much Glenn!

[@andrewgraves4026]

Ha no overgrown overblown dropping flowers, short and tidy

[@pamelacorsi]

Great explanation and thanks for the list of plants!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome Pamela! Glad you found it helpful.

[@annebuchanan3200]

Very helpful, as usual, and timely. I would add sedum/stonecrop (e.g. Autumn Joy) to your list, especially if they are in fairly good soil. They get leggy and flop, so a CC helps this.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you for the suggestion - I will add them!

[@cfhindman]

The deer help out with the Chelsea chop every year. I just don’t apply liquid fence until June and for most plants I’m good to go! 😂

[@growitbuildit]

Hahaha - this is true!

[@GaiaCarney]

I am so grateful for this video 🌼 I’ve been staking/corralling my floppy Shasta Daisy’s & rudbeckia for years and dislike how it looks.

[@growitbuildit]

You are welcome - and good luck this year!

[@MAC-op5fc]

I do this on quite a few of my plants and it really works. On late summer/fall bloomers like Asters and Goldenrods, I sometimes do 2 chops - I use Mother's Day and Independence Day as my guide (Kansas City area).

[@growitbuildit]

I'm glad to hear you find it as useful as I do!

[@NathanAnderson-o3i]

Thanks for some local feedback. Regards from Lawrence, KS.

[@andrewgraves4026]

Goldenrod 2x forthewin

[@bdodson5]

I've tried a lot of options to control flopping-over plants. None of my fixes have been very successful. This was great advice. Thank you much!!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome - this works well for me on stubborn plants that I can't get to stay upright. I bet you'll be successful too.

[@robynloveschocolate]

Your videos and website have been so helpful to me as I've built my native plant garden! Overwintering seeds in orange juice containers (no milk jugs in Ontario, Canada lol) worked amazing and i now have so many plants! I really appreciate the knowlege you share here 😁🌿

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you so much Robyn - that is very generous! I'm very happy that you have found my articles and videos helpful, and great work getting your native garden started!

[@robynloveschocolate]

@@growitbuildit you're welcome 😊

[@ConstantGardener-q9q]

Hah! The deer have already done the “Chelsea Chop” on my perennials. Who knows. Maybe it will help

[@MAC-op5fc]

I call that free pruning!

[@growitbuildit]

Hahaha - this is the truth!

[@svetlanapil8089]

Same here.

[@merricc6911]

This is so timely - I have a Rosinweed plant the towers over everything and then flops, so I thought of doing this. Seeing your video encourages me. Thanks!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome!

[@martinroncetti4134]

As always, a great and informative video.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you Martin!

[@martinroncetti4134]

Joe, a quick follow-up; the "Chelsea Chop" worked well with some of the Goldenrod that I have growing in my yard. There is about 12"-18" of height difference and about a week difference (later in the chopped Goldenrod) in blooming. Thanks for the tip!

[@growitbuildit]

Nice! Glad to hear that it worked out.

[@growitbuildit]

Cool! Glad it worked for you!

[@offsolidground2414]

This is a great method but in the cases where you can, try planting some native grasses/sedges alongside your flopping plants. The grasses/sedges not only provide habitat for insects and nesting materials for birds, but they can also provide structure for floppy plants.

[@growitbuildit]

You are 100% correct. I have done so in some areas. But not enough!

[@tys7794]

I just did this to all my asters. Thanks for showing the differences Joe!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome - glad you found it helpful!

[@lisascenic]

The diagonal version is brilliant!

[@growitbuildit]

It is very effective too!

[@joannesmith1287]

Day late dollar short! My coreopsis has bloomed and flopped. At this point would I chop or am I dead heading to create another flush of blooms. I like the before and after - helps to make the point of this really works. Thanks for the time you use in making these viideos an sharing your knowledge.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Joanne - most coreopsis can rebound from the Chelsea Chop after blooming. In general, if you can deadhead the plant, then you can chop it after blooming. And thank you for the kind words! Glad you found the video helpful. Sorry for not getting the video out earlier.

[@growitbuildit]

I should add that perhaps don't be as aggressive with the chop. But I've been quite aggressive in the past after blooming and it has rebounded.

[@barbarawall6349]

Thank you

[@dedribacell]

Your videos are always great! Thanks for making them!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you so much - I really appreciate the kind words!

[@NathanAnderson-o3i]

Great video, and thanks for the list! I'm trying the chop on obedient plant and showy goldenrod this year. Always necessary for the New England aster and aromatic aster. Once my ashyleaf sunflower really gets going, I'm sure I'll have to use the chop on it too. I usually just use my hedge sheers and chop it all back uniformly, but I'll have to try the other method.

[@growitbuildit]

I mostly just do the straight cut. It is just much easier and faster that way. But sometimes I will try to keep something looking the best that it can.

[@TheStockwell]

So, the Chelsea Chop WASN'T a gardener's dance craze from the 1930s? I could've sworn I saw it in a Fred Astaire film. 🤔 Holy Cow, I'm happy I subscribed to this channel. 😸 Best wishes from Vermont 🍁

[@growitbuildit]

Hahaha - it does sound like some old-timey dance. Thank you for the kind words, and I'm glad you found it helpful. Good luck this season!

[@christinarennich5092]

Great video! Will try this in my prairie garden. Thank you.

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome - good luck!

[@katharine5606]

Thank you!

[@growitbuildit]

And Thank YOU Katharine! Much appreciated!

[@C-Hirsuta]

Always love to see a new video from you man.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you - I appreciate that!

[@pattik8335]

This was great! Thank you so much!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome! Glad you found it helpful!

[@lamppostfog]

You read my mind making this.

[@growitbuildit]

I'm glad you found it helpful - it's always a chore that sneaks up on me

[@KokoraLife]

Interesting method! Thanks!!

[@growitbuildit]

It's a good trick to keep them standing upright.

[@pkortenk]

Great video! Will you be doing Canada goldenrod soon? It dosen't spread like S. Altissima does.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi, thank you. Some day illstart tackling goldenrod. I'm very experienced with S. Canadensis and it's sub variation altissima. But I'm trying to incorporate some of the other types into my landscaping . I don't like to make a video on them until I've gotten to know the plant for several years. But at some point it will be forthcoming.

[@GT0420]

Thanks for the video. I didn't know that they would still bloom if you do this. I have a big patch of cutleaf coneflowers that usually flop over. I didn't see them on the website though. Do you think it would be appropriate for them?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - Cutleaf Coneflower is a member of the Rudbeckia genus, so you can chop it.

[@sannaericditsler4034]

I have had a joe pye weed get broken in a storm and I put the broken pieces in water and when it rooted planted the pieces out.

[@growitbuildit]

That is awesome - I haven't tried rooting Joe Pye Weed before. The only damage mine have suffered is deer.

[@cookiemonsther]

Hi Joe! Would this be helpful for my swamp milkweed next year? Part of my problem is not having enough to help itself stand upright, and I plan to get more, but I wasn't sure if this was a plant I would try this on?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - yes, you absolutely can do this to Swamp Milkweed. Also, if your soil is very fertile, that could be the reason it is flopping. But the Chelsea Chop can definitely help you out.

[@kkbailey8357]

Great video! Very helpful and I will definitely use this info next year 😊 Unfortunately I did a very aggressive chop on my coreopsis about 2 weeks ago. They had bloomed beautifully but then got hit by several heavy rains and had flopped horribly. I thought about staking them but they were too heavy and overgrown I chopped them back almost to the ground thinking they would re-grow Their stocks have turned brown. Do you think I’ve killed them?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - it is possible that they have died, as that is similar to a rabbit mowing them down. It is best to always leave 1-2 sets of leaves so the plant can regenerate via photosynthesis.

[@kkbailey8357]

Thanks for the answer. Nothing like learning the hard way 😢

[@Hannah_Becton]

Would this work well on Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)? I’ve got some *very* happy plants in my garden bed that have grown to over 4ft. tall - yes, taller than their expected maximum height - and could really use a trim. They are in the Aster family, so there’s that. (They bloom mid-October in my area, so I’m good on the timeframe.)

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Hannah - although I have not tried it specifically on Bluemist flower, I would think it would work perfectly fine. Mine is actually blooming now.

[@brigittebilodeau8579]

Thanks for your video , I have been gardening with natives for quite awhile , my only concern doing this is on host plants if there is eggs laid on the leaves you are discarding precious Lepidoptera , how do you prevent this ? At first I was thinking leaving the cut stems at the base of the plants , if the eggs are lucky enough to have time to grow on dry leaves ? It’s a concern of mine , my New England asters would benefit from it . Thank you

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Brigitte, the only way to 100% prevent the situation you are describing would be to inspect the leaves prior to doing the chelsea chop. Leaving the cut stems at the base, it may be possible that the caterpillars will naturally move to the living plant. But this is just speculation, and I have no data to back it up.

[@brigittebilodeau8579]

@@growitbuildit Thank you

[@dib737]

great video!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it

[@pkortenk]

Do you know where helianthus strumosus seeds are? They're not in stock at prairie moon so is there another good place to get them?

[@growitbuildit]

Vermont Wildflower Farm seems to have them. Careful with that species......it's really aggressive.

[@Herculesbiggercousin]

Awesome video! I always wondered if I could get away with this in my garden to keep my wife from accusing me of cultivating a jungle in suburbia lol. Question, do you ever attempt to propagate any of these natives you chop or prune? My wife is way more into houseplants than outdoor gardening so if there’s any species you have tried this on I’d be curious to give it a whack too

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Hercules - I never have tried rooting any of them, as I always seem to suffer from having not enough space to plant as it is! But I know that some can be rooted in water, and others may do just fine in moist potting soil with a bit of rooting hormone. There was another viewer who commented that they were able to root Joe Pye Weed in a jar of water that had been broken off in a storm.

[@srudie]

You said you might do one on that liquid fence and I cannot find it anywhere just wondering if you've done it?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - I have not done one yet. When I do it I don't want to just 'show' how I use it, but make a test to show effectiveness. But in general, if you make a perimeter as well as spray directly on the plant (and under the leaves if you can), it will work. Reapply after rains or weekly for 3 weeks, and then every 3 weeks after that....

[@srudie]

@@growitbuildit thank you That's what I wanted to know as if you had done one and I was just not saying it!

[@orchidbluebird]

Thanks!

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome, and thank you very much!

[@GunGirl1776]

Can you do it on Peonies? My plants are SO HUGE that once those big flowers start blooming, the plants just flop over. I have been using ties to tie them up to hold them upright on the plants I'm able to, but there's 2 that are SOOOOO big that nothing is strong enough to stay the whole season. Would love to do this to help them, if that's a possibility. Does anyone know?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - I have not grown Peonies, so cannot offer advice based on my experience. There are many references that say you can deadhead Peonies, which makes me think it would be ok. Perhaps try it on a few of your plants to see the effect.

[@emkn1479]

No, this doesn’t work in the same way on peonies. They won’t push out more growth and blooms. The best thing to do is to place a permanent peony ring or grate that is suspended above the ground by means of stakes. They then come up and grow through the structure and often fare better. That or plant several right next to each other and they can hold each other up. Certain types, often with smaller or single blooms, may not be as prone to flopping.

[@growitbuildit]

@@emkn1479 Thank you very much to giving direct experience emkn. Much appreciated.

[@GunGirl1776]

@emkn1479 thank you for letting me know! The flowers on mine are about the size of dinner plates these days.. I've had them for several years now and every year they just keep getting bigger and bigger and bigger. 🤣 I haven't known what to do with them. I have about 8 plants, lined up in the flower beds in front of my house and now they are so big they cover up any other flower that is planted in there and basically kill them because they can't get any sunlight because of my monstrous peonies. I have tried so many things to try and keep them contained, to no avail. I'll have to look into the peony rings you mentioned. Thanks a bunch!

[@emkn1479]

@@GunGirl1776 sure thing. Some are very flimsy…you want something you can’t easily bend with your hands or they’ll give under the peony’s weight. Cutting some and enjoying the blooms inside and dead heading old blooms that are starting to fade can at least reduce the weight on the branches. I think some of the bigger ones must have been developed for cut flower growers, not home growers, since they’re so impractical in the average garden. The remaining leaves will then build up the roots for next year’s show.

[@jenniferruth812]

Haha the Chelsea Chop sounds like a dance move. Thank you for this info! I can still cut back my tall spindly plants even while they’re blooming, is that right? Edit: I asked my Q before you got to that part. Thank you!

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Jennifer - glad you liked the video. Some plants you can cut when they are blooming. Just think of it as deadheading, and it will work for Coreopsis and some Rudbeckia. Just don't be as aggressive with the cut though!

[@Herhighness211]

My coreposis is out there embarrassing me like a drunk uncle. Highly visible and flopping all over the place. Smh. I’m in zone 7. I’m gonna cut back my asters tomorrow.

[@growitbuildit]

This comment made me laugh out loud! You can still cut back the Coreopsis! Most plants that can be deadheaded can be chopped after blooming.

[@ThistleKing]

Some animal recently did a Chelsea chop for me to one of my asters, Indian blanket and wild senna. Looks like they’re all putting up new stems from the leaf nodes 😂

[@growitbuildit]

Now that right there is free labor!

[@lordofstupidity100]

Can I chelsea chop first year plants? My monarda is at 5 feet and showing no signs of stopping, while I'm just 5'1 and feeling a bit intimidated 😂 They haven't flopped yet, and I'm afraid of harming them by chelsea chopping them if it's unnecessary for first year plants.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi, yes you can chop first year plants. Just make sure the stalk still has several sets of leaves so it can still generate food via photosynthesis. Some Monarda are prone to flopping like M. Didyma and M. Clinopedia

[@lordofstupidity100]

@@growitbuildit Thanks for the tip!! You're seriously the best 😄😄

[@BD-io6eq]

Can this be done on peonies? I know they are not native Plants, but we have them and they always flop.

[@growitbuildit]

I actually had some people comment on that. Someone with experience in peonies said the don't do well with the Chelsea Chop. And that you should stake them or use a product that is actually called peonies cages

[@flowerpixel]

wow I thought chelsea chop just meant chop n drop LOL. i have a coreopsis that looks like yours and its extremely floppy. next year I'll try chopping. it's flowering so i'm too late now.

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - you can cut back Coreopsis even if it's flopping a bit. Just make sure you aren't as aggressive and that several leaves are still on the stalk

[@sweynforkbeardtraindude]

👍🏼👍🏼

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you!

[@erinstaley2885]

👍🏻

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you!

[@ninja1antelope]

Very French…

[@erosinable]

Thanks!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you so much Evan! I really appreciate that.

[@bdodson5]

Thanks!

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you SO MUCH! I really appreciate that