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How to Prune a Coreopsis Moonbeam

By: Bridget Kelly

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19 April, 2011

Coreopsis verticillata "Moonbeam" is a full-sun, drought-tolerant workhorse of the summer garden. Growing to a height of 2 feet, with an equal spread, Moonbeam adds texture and color to the border or the flower bed. Moonbeam produces soft yellow flowers that resemble daisies, a relative, from spring to late summer. Grow coreopsis Moonbeam within zones 3 through 8 on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zone Map.

Deadhead Moonbeam regularly throughout the flowering season. Cutting off dead flowers prevents the plant from producing seeds and prolongs the blooming period. Allow the last flowers of the season to remain if you want the plant to reseed.

Coreopsis verticillata "Moonbeam" is a full-sun, drought-tolerant workhorse of the summer garden.

Shear the Moonbeam coreopsis after flowering. New buds develop below the current flowers so follow the stems from the flower to the buds. This will give you an idea of how much you can safely cut. A good rule of thumb is to lightly shear the outside of the plant, removing spent flowers and leaving the buds. This may prompt the plant to produce another flush of flowers in the fall.

Dig up and divide Moonbeam every three years. Insert a shovel into the soil 2 feet away from the plant. Lift the shovel and reinsert it next to the first insertion. Repeat the procedure until you have carved a circle around the plant. Use the shovel to pry the plant from the soil. Drive the shovel through the root ball to divide it into smaller plants. Replant the divisions promptly.

Shear the Moonbeam coreopsis after flowering.
Lift the shovel and reinsert it next to the first insertion.

Transplant A Moonbeam Coreopsis

Prepare the soil in a sunny garden spot before you dig the parent plant. Apply the fertilizer at a rate of approximately two heaping cups for each 100 square feet of garden space, or as directed on the product's label. Trimming the plant directs more energy to the roots. Dig a hole in the prepared area. Make the hole as wide as the clump of soil. Tamp soil gently around the roots. Water the plant deeply, using a garden hose or a watering can. Apply enough water to saturate the roots. Water the plant deeply, saturating the root system, only when the top 2 to 3 inches of soil feels dry. Use a mulch such as chopped bark, dry grass clipping, or pine needles.