When perennial plants gained popularity back in the early 1980s, they were touted as the “nirvana” of horticulture. We were told that all you had to do is plant them and they took care of themselves.

We now know that this isn’t 100 percent accurate, and perennials do need some attention during the summer months to keep them looking their best.

Spring and early summer blooming perennials that are finished with their bloom period benefit from deadheading or cutting back entirely.

Perennials don’t have to be deadheaded in order to keep them blooming all season like annuals do. However, deadheading perennials keeps the garden looking much nicer during the summer.

Deadheading is removing the individual flower stems. Keep in mind that when you remove the stems, cut them clear back down into the plant so that the foliage hides the dead stem ends.

Many perennials, after blooming, tend to get floppy and straggly. In this case, cut the plants back to about 2 to 3 inches from the ground.

This rejuvenates the plant; new growth will begin and the plant will look much nicer. In addition, there might be a second set of flowers. These won’t be as big as the first flush nor will there be as many. However, some flowers are better than a straggly and ugly plant.

Fall-blooming perennials (asters and mums) can still be cut back to delay flowering and encourage a compact, full plant.

Cut them back about one-third of the way. Stop doing this by mid-July.

Don’t add any additional fertilizer to perennials at this time. Fertilizing too late in the summer pushes top growth instead of allowing the plant to develop a strong root system for the winter.

Continue scouting the perennial flower garden for pest problems. Catch problems before they get overwhelming.

Japanese beetles are probably the most annoying pest on perennials at this time and should be addressed. They won’t kill perennials, but they will certainly make them look horrible.

Keep up with weeding. Weeds provide great cover for insect and disease problems as well as rob the plant of nutrients and water.

If we go into a dry spell, check the soil to make sure that it’s still moist down near the root system.

If watering is necessary, deep-water perennials; the rule of thumb is to water thoroughly less often.

Avoid watering perennials the way turf areas are managed. Turfgrass is usually watered very shallow on a regular basis.

By following good maintenance practices during the growing season, you will find that your plants thrive.