Foamflower in November: monthly care

Tiarella cordifolia requires very little pruning, which is part of its appeal as a low-maintenance ground cover. The main pruning windows are March and November, but the tasks are straightforward and minimal. This is not a plant you cut back hard; instead, focus on tidying and refreshing the foliage to keep it looking its best. In November, after flowering has long finished and as the plant begins to slow for winter, remove any tatty, damaged, or browned leaves. Use your fingers or a pair of sharp secateurs to snip off individual leaves at the base where they meet the crown. Tiarella is semi-evergreen in milder winters, so you may find much of the foliage remains presentable through the cold months. Don't feel compelled to strip everything away—only remove what looks unsightly or diseased. In March, as new growth begins to emerge, carry out a spring tidy. Cut away any foliage that has been damaged by winter weather—frost-blackened or slimy leaves should be removed promptly to reduce the risk of fungal issues. This is also the time to deadhead any old flower stems left from the previous year if you didn't remove them earlier. Simply cut the spent flower spikes down to the base of the plant. Deadheading during and after the late spring to early summer flowering period is optional. Removing faded white flower spikes keeps the plant looking neat and may encourage a few additional blooms, but Tiarella will not rebloom significantly. If you prefer a naturalistic look, leave the spent flowers—they do no harm.