Chelsea Chop

Encouraged by Rachel (thank-goodness-my-husband-wasn’t-watching) de Thame’s, notable report on Gardener’s World in early June, the Greenhouse borders were subjected to their first ever Chelsea Chop. Since, their infamous crew cut, progress has been carefully monitored by yours truly, to gauge the chop’s efficacy. No need to explain that this experiment has absolutely no lab coat & clipboard gravitas, though the results are interesting and will dictate next years approach. Just [...]

Four and half weeks have passed since braving the Chelsea Chop on some of the summer- and autumn-flowering perennials in the Greenhouse borders. Since, their drastic crew cut, it has been intriguing to see how the individual plants have responded to this infamous border maintenance method. Just under five weeks ago, the Asters, Sedums, Eupatoriums, Veronicastrums, Chelone and Phlox all had the Colin-Crosbie-50%-off short back and sides treatment. Regrowth varies [...]

The idea of chopping off stately plant growth in mid pride, seems utter madness. Though, the inevitable sag in one’s floppy sedums, always brings fourth that nagging question. Should one brave the famous Chelsea Chop? Completely contrary to last weekend’s gardening plans, Rachel (thank-goodness-my-husband-wasn’t-watching) de Thame’s report on the Chelsea chop, encouraged me to take the plunge and start chopping. In last week’s packed episode of Gardeners’ World, RHS Wisley [...]