Cornflower in November: monthly care

Cornflowers don't require traditional pruning in the way shrubs do, but regular deadheading and seasonal tidying will keep them flowering longer and looking their best. The main pruning activity takes place in March and November, though you'll also want to remove spent blooms throughout the flowering season from early summer onward. Deadhead faded flowers regularly by snipping them off just above a leaf joint or side bud. This encourages the plant to produce more blooms rather than setting seed, extending the flowering period by several weeks. Use sharp secateurs or simply pinch off spent flowerheads with your fingers. If you want to save seed for next year, leave a few late-season flowers to mature fully; the seeds will ripen in papery brown seedheads that you can collect and store in a cool, dry place. In November, once flowering has finished and the foliage begins to die back, cut the whole plant down to ground level. Remove all dead stems and leaves to tidy the area and reduce hiding places for pests and diseases over winter. If you've allowed some plants to self-seed, be careful not to disturb the soil too much, as seedlings may already be germinating. In March, give the planting area a light tidy, removing any winter debris and cutting back any remaining dead growth you may have missed. This is also a good time to thin out overcrowded seedlings if your cornflowers have self-sown enthusiastically. No special tools are needed beyond a pair of clean, sharp secateurs or garden scissors.