THE QUESTION
This fall, I have planted the flowering Caryopteris 'Dark Knight' and 'First Choice.' How should I look after them?
THE ANSWER
Both magnificent choices for autumn colour. The deep blue flowers are late to come out and we need them. Bees love them. Make sure they are well mulched after hard frost. And when they start looking ratty (they will die back), prune them back to about a foot. They bloom on new wood, so they'll be set to go in spring. If you are in a very cold area, wait until spring to prune. Once you can see the first growth, then cut back to that area.
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