9 Flowers You Should Cut Back Right Now in June

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There’s a moment in every gardener’s summer where you look around and think, “Huh. Everything’s sort of… okay?” Not great. Not awful. Just a weird mix of flopping stems, fading blooms, and that one plant that grew like it was possessed.

And then comes the big question: Is it too early to cut stuff back? Or way too late?

Here’s the truth. If it’s early to mid-June and you’re somewhere in the US where spring felt like spring and summer hasn’t turned your garden into a convection oven just yet, this is the golden window. The sweet spot. The time where you can give a few key plants a good snip, and they’ll reward you with fresh growth, better shape, and sometimes a whole second show of blooms.

This isn’t about hacking everything to bits. It’s about making strategic cuts to keep the garden looking sharp and avoid that midsummer slump where everything turns crispy, leggy, or just plain weird.

1. Catmint (Nepeta)

Catmint is one of those plants that looks amazing in May… and like a collapsed wig by June. But it’s forgiving — and even a little vain. Cut it back now and it’ll reward you with a fresh flush of blooms and foliage that doesn’t look like it just came through a thunderstorm sideways.

• How much to cut: Shear it back by one-third to one-half of its height.
• When: As soon as the first bloom is fading and the stems start flopping.
• What you get: Compact new growth, fewer seedlings, and often a second round of flowers.
• Extra tip: Use hedge shears if you’re dealing with a large patch. It’s fast and satisfying.

2. Salvia

Salvia doesn’t like to be ignored. Once the flower spikes fade, it starts sulking — but it snaps out of it fast with a little tough love. A quick trim now keeps it blooming into summer and looking far less straggly.

• How much to cut: Trim just the spent flower spikes down to the first set of healthy leaves. If it’s really scraggly, you can cut the whole plant back by a third.
• When: Right after the first big bloom finishes, usually early to mid-June.
• What you get: More blooms, better shape, and a plant that actually tries again instead of giving up until fall.
• Extra tip: Don’t forget to water and lightly fertilize after cutting. It helps fuel the comeback.

3. Cranesbill Geranium

These hardy geraniums start off strong but quickly go leggy and unruly once the first bloom is done. A mid-June haircut keeps them tidy and encourages a lush flush of foliage, with a solid chance at reblooming later in the season.

• How much to cut: Don’t be shy — cut it back hard, almost to the ground if needed.
• When: After the first round of flowering has clearly finished.
• What you get: Neater shape, healthier foliage, and possibly a second bloom in late summer.
• Extra tip: Follow up with watering and mulch to help it recover quickly, especially if temps are climbing.

4. Columbine (Aquilegia)

Columbine puts on a delicate show in spring, then immediately tries to turn your garden into a seed factory. Once the flowers are done, the leaves usually start yellowing and flopping. That’s your cue. A firm cutback now keeps things tidy and helps the plant focus on root strength for next year.

• How much to cut: Cut back the entire plant down to the basal foliage, or even to the ground if it’s already looking rough.
• When: As soon as flowering is finished and seed heads start forming.
• What you get: Cleaner borders, fewer surprise seedlings next year, and stronger roots.
• Extra tip: If you love columbine but don’t want a full takeover, cutting now helps keep it under control.

5. Coreopsis

Coreopsis is one of those plants that’s a little too enthusiastic. It flowers non-stop in early summer, then flops into a mess if you don’t step in. A well-timed cut in June keeps it blooming and prevents it from turning into a yellow-tinted tumbleweed.

• How much to cut: Trim back by one-third to one-half. Focus on spent flower stems and any leggy growth.
• When: Mid-June, or whenever the first bloom starts to fizzle.
• What you get: A bushier plant, cleaner form, and often a second wave of flowers.
• Extra tip: If the plant is flopping badly, a good trim plus a light support ring can help it stay upright the rest of the season.

6. Lupine

Lupine blooms are dramatic and short-lived. Once those towering flower spikes turn brown and crispy, the whole plant starts to look like it’s had a rough couple of weeks. Cutting it back now won’t give you more blooms this year, but it does keep your garden looking intentional instead of neglected.

• How much to cut: Remove flower spikes down to the base. If the foliage is ratty, you can trim it back by a third.
• When: As soon as the blooms are done and seed pods start forming.
• What you get: Neater appearance and less self-seeding where you don’t want it.
• Extra tip: If you want the plant to come back strong next year, avoid letting it put all its energy into seeds.

7. Yarrow (Achillea)

Yarrow charges into summer with sturdy stems and bold color, then leans hard into the crunchy, faded look by June. If the blooms are starting to brown and the plant looks like it’s bracing for impact, it’s time for a refresh. Cut it back and it’ll surprise you with a second round of growth that’s way less floppy.

• How much to cut: Deadhead individual blooms early on. By mid-June, it’s better to cut the whole plant back by half if it’s looking tired.
• When: Once the first bloom cycle finishes and stems start sagging.
• What you get: Sturdier second growth, a cleaner look, and a decent chance of more flowers.
• Extra tip: If you’ve got multiple clumps, stagger your cutbacks so something is always blooming.

8. Penstemon

Penstemon bursts out with upright flower spikes and sleek foliage, but it gets leggy fast. By June, the flowers start fading and the whole thing leans like it’s had one too many. A mid-season cut keeps it from turning into a tangled mess and encourages bushier growth, with a possible encore performance later in summer.

• How much to cut: Snip off spent flower spikes first. If stems are thin and leggy, trim back by about one-third overall.
• When: After the first bloom is clearly fading, usually mid to late June.
• What you get: Cleaner structure, more side shoots, and possibly a second flush of blooms if the weather’s on your side.
• Extra tip: Avoid cutting too low into old woody stems. Focus on green, flexible growth for the best rebound.

9. Foxglove (Digitalis)

Foxglove’s tall, dramatic spikes look straight out of a fairytale. But once those towers of color fade, you’re left with something that looks more like a stick of dried asparagus. Cutting them back keeps things tidy and can encourage side shoots to bloom, especially in younger plants.

• How much to cut: Remove the main flower spike down to the base. Leave the foliage unless it’s discolored or diseased.
• When: As soon as the blooms start fading or browning — don’t wait for it to fully go to seed unless you want volunteers everywhere.
• What you get: A neater plant, fewer unwanted seedlings, and sometimes a few bonus blooms from side shoots.
• Extra tip: If you want to collect seed or encourage reseeding in one area, leave just one or two spikes standing and cut the rest.

What Your Garden Will Thank You For

Cutting things back can feel wrong. You spend weeks encouraging your plants to grow, and now you’re supposed to come at them with scissors? But this kind of early summer pruning isn’t harsh. It’s smart. It keeps your garden tidy, your plants healthier, and your future self much happier when things don’t flop over and quit halfway through July.

I used to hesitate too. One year, I trimmed a patch of catmint that looked a little too wild. I watered it, walked away, and half expected it to sulk for the rest of the season. Two weeks later, it looked better than it had all spring. Since then, the mid-June haircut has become a ritual.

If any of these nine plants are looking tired, scruffy, or just plain done, don’t wait. Give them a clean trim and a little attention. The rewards come fast. And trust me, nothing feels better than seeing your garden bounce back even stronger.