die back

die back

Of plants, to die in a manner that retreats inward, leaving only the stems or roots. My plants died back after that period of unseasonably cold weather.
See also: back, die
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

die back

[for vegetation] to die back to the stems or roots. The hedge died back in the winter but regenerated leaves in the spring. This kind of grass dies back every year.
See also: back, die
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

die back

v.
To be affected by the gradual dying of plant shoots, starting at the tips and working back, as a result of weather conditions, natural growth cycle, or disease: Aerate the soil weekly when the flowers bloom and until they die back.
See also: back, die
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • browse
  • browse among
  • browse among (something)
  • browse on
  • browse on (something)
  • under glass
  • dry spell
  • come into bloom
  • summer
  • an Indian summer
References in periodicals archive
As long as the stream doesn't freeze over, cress shouldn't die back, even when snow covers it.
With or without a stream, watercress is easy to grow
But do wait until the flowers start to die back before you jump in.
Jobs for the week; Gardening
Once it's finished flowering, allow it to die back naturally and take it in over the winter.
Best of the bunch
Surely, if Darwin taught us anything it is raptors and predators thrive in an area of abundant victims and die back with overkill.
Bringing killers back is wrong
If you grow them, you may think they are on their last legs when the leaves turn yellow and start to die back, but then the blue-hooded flowers appear on spikes which tower 1.2m or higher above the border.
Weekend: Gardening: Plant of the Week
They need lots of humus and die back with the first frost.
Best of the bunch - canna
After flowering, keep bulbs watered and feed with high potash fertiliser until the leaves die back.
Gardening: DAFT ABOUT DAFFS
When the flowers die back there is a small fruit, similar to a pineapple.
YOU ASK... IN THE GARDEN
Allow the foliage to die back naturally - there is no need to tie up daffodil foliage.
JOBS for the week
It then needs a period of dormancy, so, in late September, stop feeding and watering and allow it to die back and remove the foliage.
youask..