Chelsea Chop (pinching and propagating Sedum)

Very late flowering plants such as Sedum can be cut back in May (around the time of the 'Chelsea Flower Show') to produce shorter bushier plants that will then not require staking.
I find this makes the garden look much neater and borders appear fuller as a result.
Following exactly the same principals as 'pinching' Annuals, we remove the top of the plants (by about 1/3) which has 'apical dominance' and inhibits the development of the side shoots.
There is a hormone called Auxin in the tip of the plant causing this.
By removing the tip we remove the hormone and the side shoots are no longer inhibited and can grow strongly.
Note: The cut back plants will flower slightly later, but I find this then gives fresh looking flowers in the garden just as everything is beginning to look tired.
Sedum is also incredibly easy to propagate simply in water, full instructions is given in this video.
It's important not to use this as a general rule, most perennials are not suitable for the Chelsea Chop and you will lose the flowers by cutting them back.
Other plants suitable for the the Chelsea Chop are as follows:
Anthemis tinctoria (Dyer's Chamomile)
Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)
Helenium (Sneezeweed)
Phlox paniculata (Perennial Garden Phlox)
Sedum (upright, strong-growing forms such as 'Autumn Joy' (Herbstfreude))
Solidago (Goldenrod)
Some plants such as hardy geraniums can be cut back AFTER flowering to encourage the chance of another flush of flowers in September. But really you are doing this to tidy the plants up which tend to flop after blooming.

[@traceyb3345]

I chopped mine quite hard this year as they were so floppy last year. I didn't realise they would grow roots so easy from my choppings though so will definitely try this. Your sedum hedge is glorious ❤

[@zoewoodwardgardening]

It makes you feel like a genius grower lol xxxx

[@holubeckmila3334]

Got lots of sedum autumn joy plants ,now I know what to do with them so it won’t flop.Thank you Miss Zoe ❤❤❤

[@zoewoodwardgardening]

Awww you are so welcome xxx

[@stefano_4593]

outstanding video, thanks for mounting the different seasons in one, I had my dsedum all flopped over and I am going to try the Chelsea Chop next sping, and thanks to your advice, I will propagate the cuts along the edge where other plants dies, cheers

[@zoewoodwardgardening]

My pleasure I quite often do ‘fast forwards’ in my videos, you can find loads on my website
Zoewoodwardgardening.com you can just google me and the name of the plant

[@nelidascott6917]

Absolutely brilliant !! Love this post and exactly what I need to do next year ! Wish ni found it sooner !! Thanks 🙏

[@zoewoodwardgardening]

Yay! You've found me now xxx

[@johnbeard7404]

Excellent. Thank you.

[@boysrus61]

You make this look so perfectly easy! I live in zone 6B in US state of Idaho and I am going to go outside and get my cuttings. So do you think after about 3 weeks of rooting in water I can plant them back into my garden?

[@zoewoodwardgardening]

Yes once there are roots you are good to go 👍

[@brianherbert9608]

This is a great help to a gardening newbie. What time of year did you chop them as you said it was later than Chelsea? Thanks.

[@zoewoodwardgardening]

Chelsea is the last full week in May so around about now will be perfect, you need to give the plant a chance to grow back before flowering.

[@brianherbert9608]

@@zoewoodwardgardening Done - thanks very much.