Preventing Flop with the Chelsea Chop

Many late-season flowering natives will have a tendency to flop over without sufficient root competition. Many of these can be trimmed down in late spring, creating a shorter, shrubbier look. This is called a "Garden Haircut" or the "Chelsea Chop" and is typically done in late May or early June. Some species such as New England Aster can be trimmed several times prior to blooming. 

Here is a helpful explainer about how and when to do the "Chelsea Chop."