I just got back from chatting with a friend about this same plant and she suggested I cut mine back. This is the second year we have it and I'm a little hesitant to go chopping it down. Would love to hear what others have to say.

Yes it will work. Same for chrysanthemums that get floppy- just don't trim it after July 4th or so, let it make blooms!

Is it okay to cut back the chrysanthemums now? I hadn't thought of that. I'm always afraid to cut my plants for fear of killing them. No wonder mine are all tall and willowy.

I did cut back my Sedum. Thanks.

Here in Stafford, VA, if I want my chrysanthemums to be mounded instead of sprawling, up until mid-August we cut them back to about 6" high every time they get about 9-12" high. Otherwise they get too leggy. After mid-August let them go. Of course this could vary with different varieties of mums and also the micro-climate you have them in. Mine only get sun from noon forward. I use a manual hedge clipper but my next door neighbor uses a weed whacker (string trimmer).

:) round here they die back to the crown every winter, so they're always putting out 'new' growth, so I've never had to worry about them flopping...

however, I break off half a dozen of the 'stems' from around the base of the plant every spring, and root them. that's why I, my mom, and my MiL all have nice clumps ;)

I just cut back one of my sedums that will flop. Did it last year and it worked! Also, I read that they flop because the soil is too rich. So it may be a good idea not to fertilize them.

My Autumn Joy were devoured by the deer. Never had a problem with sedum in previous home...and I thought this was one plant they rarely ate.