Can You Cut Verbena Plant?

Growing Verbena

• All verbenas require well-draining soil and prefer full sun. In the southernmost regions, a little afternoon shade will benefit the plants, but otherwise they are sun-lovers. These are drought-tolerant plants, but if you notice a lack of blooms, give the plants a good soaking, as blooms are one of the first things to go when water is scarce. If you use fertilizer in the garden, a good all-purpose fertilizer about once a month during the bloom period will benefit the plants.

Pruning for Blooms

• Verbena is prized for its blooms and the plant blooms rather quickly after establishment, even after the first year. Blooms may slow during the summer and if that occurs, the entire plant can be trimmed back to encourage new blooms. Removing 1/4 of the plant's height and reigning it in by approximately the same amount will result in new blooms within a few weeks. Water the plants thoroughly after trimming -- and if you fertilize, fertilize at the same time, as Clemson Cooperative Extension recommends. Texas A&M recommends pruning for blooms two or three times per season, depending on where you live.

Fall Pruning

• Verbena can get rather tall and fall pruning of perennial plants will be necessary, but because the plants will have probably been trimmed a few times during the summer, fall pruning should be fairly minimal. If you don't want a rangy-looking plant hanging out in the garden all winter, then trim it up just so it looks tidy. Clemson Cooperative Extension warns against severe fall pruning, which can render the plants less able to survive the winter.

Trimming Lemon Verbena

• Lemon verbena has a strong scent that is useful in producing soaps, ointments and herbal tinctures. Those who grow lemon verbena grow it for the scented foliage, not for the tiny, rather insignificant flowers. Growing lemon verbena will likely result in routine trimming and harvesting of foliage to be dried. Frequent pruning will increase foliage production, which is beneficial if you love the plant for its foliage. This type of pruning will maintain the plant's bushy appearance and prevent it from becoming too leggy.