As American as apple pie, the petunia is one of our most popular bedding plants. Available in many colors, a mass planting of them [1] can be a show stopper.

Often though, petunias can take on an untidy appearance, particularly after extended periods of hot weather during the long summer days. A mid-summer rejuvenation may be just what they need.

In early August, give the plant a good hair cut, removing at least two-thirds of the existing growth [2]. To ease the shock of pruning, provide the plant with a good drink of water and an application of fertilizer. Soon you should see new growth appearing at the leaf nodes. In about three weeks you should expect new blooms.

As the days get both shorter and cooler in September, your renewed petunias will be an added bonus along side of the other fall blooming plants.