Can Coreopsis And Echinacea Be Pruned In Spring To Make Plants Shorter And Bushier

Question From: New York, United States
Q: I know that some plants (for example phlox, asters and heliopsis) can be pruned in the spring to make the plants shorter and bushier. Can this be done with coreopsis crème brule, rudbeckia hirta varieties and Echinacea?

A: Joyce - Pruning these plants in spring will delay the bloom but not shorten the stems. Better to look for shorter more compact varieties at your independent garden center. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy