How to Cut Back Pansies

Overview

Pansies are a popular cool weather bedding and container plant in most gardening zones. In warmer zones, pansies thrive throughout the winter and in cooler zones pansies survive from spring through the end of fall. Available in a large range of colors and patterns, pansies bring color and visual interest to any garden. The plants will become spindly and unkempt if not properly deadheaded and cut back---especially in southern climates with long growing seasons.

Step 1

Cut off spent blooms. Grasp the flower stem below the top set of leaves and snip of the flower and stem ¼ inch above the leaves.

Step 2

Cut off forming seed pods above the top set of leaves.

Step 3

Separate long stems from the main pansy mound. Cut off these longer stems ¼ inch above a leaf set closest to your desired height for the plant.

Step 4

Cut back the entire plant if it has grown out of control and become scraggly. Cut each stem back to approximately 4 inches long, always cutting just above one of the leaf sets on the stem.