Plants that respond well to the Hampton hack include:

Acanthus
Alchemilla
Brunnera
Centranthus
Delphinium
Early-flowering geraniums (Geranium sylvaticum, Geranium endressii and Geranium phaeum)
Knautia
Lemon balm (to encourage fresh foliage for cooking)
Lupins
Mint (to encourage fresh foliage for cooking)
​Monarda 
Oriental poppies
Polemonium
Pulmonaria
Early-flowering salvias, including x sylvestris cultivars such as 'Mainacht' and 'Blauhügel'
Veronica

Many other early-flowering

Perennials are plants that live for multiple years. They come in all shapes and sizes and fill our gardens with colourful flowers and ornamental foliage. Many are hardy and can survive outdoors all year round, while less hardy types need protection over winter. The term herbaceous perennial is used to describe long-lived plants without a permanent woody structure (they die back to ground level each autumn), distinguishing them from trees, shrubs and sub-shrubs.

The cut-back is performed after flowering, usually in late June or early July, i.e. around the time of the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. The technique works less well during drought conditions, so in very dry periods consider delaying until after rainfall to help the plants put on new growth.

Traditionally many early-flowering

Perennials are plants that live for multiple years. They come in all shapes and sizes and fill our gardens with colourful flowers and ornamental foliage. Many are hardy and can survive outdoors all year round, while less hardy types need protection over winter. The term herbaceous perennial is used to describe long-lived plants without a permanent woody structure (they die back to ground level each autumn), distinguishing them from trees, shrubs and sub-shrubs.

Chemical substances that regulate plant growth and development. There are several types of plant hormones, including auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, abscisic acid and ethylene. These hormones play important roles in processes such as cell division, elongation and differentiation, as well as in responses to environmental stimuli such as light and gravity.

hormones

To carry out the Hampton hack:

1. Clumps of perennials can be cut back to nearly ground level, just above the base of the plant, using shears or secateurs. This will remove tired foliage and faded flowers and promote new growth
2. Compost the foliage and if the ground is dry, consider watering to promote regrowth

There are few problems associated with this technique. However, drought will impede regrowth and inhibit re-flowering.