The perennial plant Nepeta x faassenii ‘Walker’s Low’ is a highly valued garden staple, prized for its exceptionally long bloom period and aromatic, silvery-green foliage. This sterile hybrid catmint produces masses of lavender-blue flower spikes that attract pollinators from late spring until frost. Although the plant is generally low-maintenance, cutting it back is necessary to prevent its naturally arching stems from flopping open. Strategic pruning ensures the plant maintains a tidy, mounding habit while producing continuous flushes of flowers throughout the season. Understanding the timing and purpose of these cuts is key to maximizing the performance of ‘Walker’s Low’.
Rejuvenation Pruning: Cutting Back After the First Bloom
The most beneficial and time-sensitive pruning for ‘Walker’s Low’ occurs immediately after the first major flush of flowering begins to fade. This timing usually falls between late June and mid-July, depending on the local climate and the plant’s initial vigor. The primary goal of this mid-season cut is to force the plant to redirect its resources away from seed production and into vegetative growth, which quickly leads to a second, robust wave of blooms.
Once approximately 70-80% of the initial flower spikes show signs of browning or have dropped their petals, it is time to perform a substantial shear. The technique involves cutting the entire plant mass back by one-third to one-half of its total height. This aggressive cut addresses the plant’s tendency to become leggy and flop open in the center after its first heavy bloom.
Removing the spent flower stems and the top portion of the foliage stimulates the growth of new lateral shoots lower down on the existing stems. These new shoots rapidly develop and produce a fresh set of flower buds, resulting in a cleaner, more compact plant profile. This rejuvenation process ensures the catmint remains a dense, attractive mound, rather than splitting into a messy, open sprawl. Applying a light, balanced fertilizer and adequate water immediately after this cut will help accelerate the recovery and second bloom cycle.
Preparing for Dormancy: Timing the Hard Cutback
The second significant cut for ‘Walker’s Low’ is the seasonal reduction, which prepares the plant for its winter dormancy. Gardeners generally have two options for this hard cut: late autumn or early spring, with each choice offering different trade-offs regarding plant protection and garden aesthetics.
One approach is to perform a hard cutback in late fall, typically after the first heavy frost has killed the top foliage and the plant has entered true dormancy. This involves shearing the entire plant down to a height of about two to four inches above the soil crown. The benefit of a fall cut is immediate garden neatness, removing the brown, spent foliage that can harbor fungal spores or insect eggs over winter.
However, many horticultural experts recommend delaying the hard cut until early spring, just as new basal growth begins to emerge. Leaving the dried, standing stems over winter provides a layer of insulation and protection for the plant’s crown from deep freezes. Furthermore, the hollow stems offer shelter for overwintering beneficial insects.
If the plant is cut back in spring, the dead material should be removed before the new shoots grow more than a couple of inches tall. Waiting too long risks damaging the tender new growth, which can temporarily stunt the plant. Regardless of the season chosen, the objective of this cut is a complete reset, clearing old woody material to allow for a fresh, vigorous start to the new growing season.
Essential Tools and Techniques
Implementing the pruning schedules for Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ requires distinct techniques and specific tools. For the mid-season rejuvenation cut, sharp hedge shears or long-bladed hand pruners are the ideal tool. These tools allow for the rapid and uniform shearing of the plant mass, which is far more efficient than attempting to deadhead individual spent flower spikes.
The goal of the rejuvenation shear is a mass reduction, taking the plant down quickly and evenly to the desired height. Making a clean cut is important to minimize stem damage and reduce the chance of disease entry. For the seasonal hard cut, either in fall or spring, a sturdy pair of bypass pruners or sharp shears is sufficient to take the stems down to the final two- to four-inch height.
Maintaining sharpness and cleanliness is paramount for plant health. Dull blades crush and tear plant tissue, leaving ragged wounds that are slower to heal and more susceptible to pathogens. Tools should be wiped down with an alcohol solution or a diluted bleach mixture between plants to prevent the transfer of fungal or bacterial diseases. When making any cut, snip just above a set of healthy leaves or a visible growth node; this signals to the plant where to initiate new, bushier growth.