The beautiful perennial has provided a nice structure in the garden all summer, but now it's time to care for it properly. Here you will find tips on how to cut the cranesbill.
The cranesbill should not be confused with the annual geraniums or pelargoniums. The hardy, perennial perennial plant is a spectacular addition to pots or hanging baskets, but is also the perfect ground cover for the garden to conceal bare spots under taller plants. It blooms from spring to early fall and its lobed foliage is as interesting as the flowers, which come in both bright and more muted tones such as blue, pink, purple and white. But as fall approaches, we should turn our attention to preparing for the colder months, and pruning has a crucial role in maintaining plant health. You can find out how to trim a cranesbill to promote flowering and growth in this article.
Cutting cranesbills: when and how is it done correctly?
The cranesbill is fairly easy to care for once established. It blooms magnificently from spring with increasing intensity until the nights get really cold in winter. Some gardeners may be surprised at how much it can spread throughout the garden. Although this may be a pleasant surprise for some as the plant has abeautiful ground cover, which covers up weeds, others find them more invasive. To ensure that your plant grows happily and doesn't crowd out other plants in the garden, it should be cut back a few times a year. Below you will find out how to do this correctly.
Should the perennial actually be cut?
Cranesbill pruning is a simple but important task for any gardener who wants healthy and vibrant plants. By removing dead plant parts, shaping the plant and promoting root development, you create the conditions for a successful growing season next year. However, it is important to note which type of plant is in the garden, as not all of them tolerate autumn pruning in the same way.
Early flowering species need rejuvenation pruning after flowering. So it's a good idea to prune them after flowering, when they're starting to look a little limp and no longer sobloom profusely. In some cases this can even encourage a second bloom. It might not be as lush and beautiful as in mid-summer, but still quite pretty and refreshing for the fall garden, where a little splash of color is often missing.
Be careful not to prune late-blooming species in September, as this may result in them not blooming at all. These plants tolerate pruning in spring much better.
Prune cranesbills after flowering
First, remove all flowers on both annuals and perennials as soon as they begin to wilt and die. Do this regularly to keep the plant fresh. Cut them off 1/4 inch below the flower head and discard. This will help your cranesbill focus on flowering rather than producing seeds.
However, if you want to grow plants from seed, you should leave some pods on so they can mature in place.
Remove all dead and brown leaves and cut back the heavily woody stems by a third. Late-flowering species should only be thinned out in autumn.
Using sharp scissors, cut back any stems that are longer than the rest of the plant to keep it full and bushy.
If your plant is looking poorly in late summer and flowering has slowed, you can do a complete pruning to encourage new growth. Then cut the perennial back to 10cm above the ground, leaving a rosette of leaves on each stem.
Care for the perennial after cutting
After cutting back the early flowering species of cranesbill, it is recommended to give the plant a balanced fertilizer to encourage new growth and bud formation. Fertilize again once new growth begins. Late-flowering species should not be fertilized now.
Make surethe perennialThoroughly water before pruning and fertilizing. Make sure the soil is moist, but not wet. Water the plant regularly until it replaces the removed foliage.
