GARDEN Q&A: Is it okay to cut back perennials

Whether you're a gardening beginner or expert, Irish Examiner columnist Peter Dowdall has the answer to your questions

Many perennials look far better than we give them credit for in winter.

Question:

Is it okay to cut back perennials now, or should I leave them for wildlife?

Answer:

In most cases, I’d say leave them be. Many perennials look far better than we give them credit for in winter. The spent stems of sedums, echinacea, grasses and rudbeckias catch the frost beautifully and add texture when everything else has died back. More importantly, they’re invaluable for wildlife. Hollow stems provide places for insects to overwinter, seed heads feed birds, and that bit of extra cover gives shelter during cold snaps. The only things I’d cut back now are plants that have collapsed into a soggy heap or are genuinely causing a problem. Otherwise, enjoy the structure, let nature take what it needs, and do the big tidy-up in late winter or early spring.

• Got a gardening question for Peter Dowdall? Email [e-mail]