How to Cut Back Pansies

Pansies have long been a harbinger of spring in the north, and often bloom year round in southern states. The problem is, after a while pansies tend to get leggy and spindly and lose their visual appeal. The solution to this common problem is to cut back the pansies, giving the plants a chance to rejuvenate and put out a bushier growth pattern.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning scissors

Instructions

1. Examine your pansy plant; notice where the spent blossoms were located and the seed pods are forming.

2. Snip each blossom stem back to the area ¼ inch above the top leaf joint on the stem.

3. Trim any tall leggy branches back to form a rounded mound of plant.

4. Cut back the pansies once a month to ensure that the pansies last and bloom throughout the season, without going to seed and looking scraggly.

5. Cut the entire plant back to four inches in height at the end of the growing season and cover with mulch to protect the plant from freezing temperatures.

References

• The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Cooperative Extension Service