Dividing Peonies and Bleeding Hearts, Trimming Yarrow

A gardener asks when to divide peonies and bleeding hearts, and whether to trim yarrow for compactness.

Bleeding Heart

Divide any time (shade protects). Do it evening or cloudy day. Replant immediately.

Divide in fall (less heat stress). Plant eyes 1-2 inches deep. Water well. May take 2-3 years to bloom well.

Deadhead spent blooms for possible fall rebloom. Cut to 3 inches in late fall.

Perennials: When and How to Cut Back English Ivy Aggressively; Should You Cut Back Knock Out Roses in Fall in Michigan?; Spring Pruning Is Better Than Fall Cutting for Mature Knock Out Roses in Cold Climates; How to Propagate a Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans) by Cutting; Propagating Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans) From Stem Cuttings; Perennial Cutback Calendar: Spring vs. Fall Pruning for Healthier Gardens; Pruning Wisteria: When and How to Cut Back an Overgrown Vine; When and How to Prune Hydrangeas for Maximum Blooms; Hydrangeas Cut to Ground in Late Fall on Cape Cod: Assessing Damage to ‘Endless Summer’ and ‘Lacecap’; Cutting Back Leggy Annuals and Repotting Perennials in Containers

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