The "Chelsea Chop"

Last year's Church Street plantings (with a few added annuals) flourish on Church Street to the delight of Montclair passers-by and diners.

The Triangle Committee continues its contribution to the beauty of Montclair.

Cynthia Corhan=Aitken writes:

"Thank you to Kathy Bachman, Maggie Rothman and the Triangle Committee for keeping everything looking happy and healthy. I was there on Thurday, June 10 and did the “Chelsea Chop” on the Asters. 

The Chelsea Chop is a pruning technique used for certain perennials. It got the name because it is typically done around the time of the Chelsea Flower Show in London which is late May to early June.  (Clearly, I am rather late!).

You basically gather up the plant like a pony tail and give it a chop. You can go back in afterward and tidy it up but that’s about it. It is done to control the plant size, delay flowering and encourage less leggy more bushy growth. It also prevents taller plants from flopping over.

Some perennials that benefit from the chop:

• Achillea (Yarrow)

• Asters

• Campanula

• Coreopsis

• Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed)

• Geranium

• Helenium

• Solidago"