Bellflower in November: monthly care

Campanula persicifolia doesn't require heavy pruning, but timely deadheading and seasonal tidying will keep plants healthy and encourage a longer flowering display. The main pruning windows are March and November, though you'll also want to attend to spent flowers throughout the summer. Deadhead regularly from June onwards by cutting back individual flower stems to just above the basal foliage as the blooms fade. This prevents the plant from setting seed and often prompts a second, smaller flush of flowers later in the season. Use secateurs or sharp scissors and cut cleanly to avoid tearing the stems. If you want the plant to self-seed lightly around the garden, leave a few spent stems in place at the end of summer. In November, once flowering has completely finished and the stems have died back, cut all the old flower stalks down to ground level. Remove any yellowed or damaged foliage, but leave the rosette of evergreen basal leaves intact—these will persist through winter and provide the energy for next year's growth. In March, tidy up the clump by removing any winter-damaged leaves or debris that has collected around the crown. This is also a good time to divide congested clumps every three to four years. Lift the plant with a fork, tease or cut the rootstock into sections with healthy shoots, and replant immediately at the original spacing. Division rejuvenates older plants and maintains vigour, ensuring strong flowering stems each summer.