Quote Originally Posted by Irulan View Post
Also, if you shear once BEFORE it blooms the first time, you'll get a more compact plant in in general.
So just as the new growth is up but the flower stalks aren't formed?

I know you live in a northern clime, too...how do the plants handle cold weather when you shear new growth? I'd be afraid of shearing it back and then having the next May snowstorm destroy it.

The Veronica is kind of squished in between the out-of-control Spirea, which I do mercilessly hack back after bloom. I had an azalea like that once at another house...no matter how much you shear it, it comes back even bigger.

carpaltunnel...the grass is crazy tall here as well. We had a very wet (and cold) winter and spring. The trails that I run have trailside grass (that falls over the trail) that is at least as tall as me. I think last year it was only about 2-3 feet tall. We do not, thankfully, have chiggers. I just get all cut up by the grass.

My goldenrod is going to bloom and we'll get our first tomatoes while we're on vacation next week and the week after. I hope my neighbors enjoy it!