Question
Hi,

I cut my Petunias back in the beginning of July - they were out of control and bigger than I wanted them to be and just cut them all down by 2/3 - can you cut them back more than once during a season?  they were blooming beautifully but getting too big and wide

Answer
Amy,
Good for you for cutting them back - most people are afraid to do this, but as you've seen it improves the performance of the plant. At this point in the summer you might want to cut back using a "shotgun method".  Trim about a third of the stems back by 2/3, and another third by 1/2 so they're a bit longer. Leave the best looking as is with flowers. Fertilize and once the trimmed stems start to flower again you can trim the longest ones back as well.

As long as you live in a place that doesn't get September frosts you should have good re-growth and bloom later in August and into the fall. By the way, next year when you cut them back in July try rooting some of those cuttings. Then you can stick five or more rooted stems into another pot and have a new, fresh plant in mid summer.

all the best,
C.L.