Sedums flop everywhere because most garden soils are too rich. They thrive in dry dusty soils and do not require watering. The more sun the better. If you grow in semi-shade, they will try to reach the light and get very leggy and collapse by the time there are flowerheads. The cut in late spring time works because Sedums are growing too tall anyway.
I grow mine in pots and when it's been cut, this encourages more side shoots. The flower heads are smaller, but more abundant. I think this looks more natural.
Agree re: soil being too rich & also needing to be divided. I did this test with two lots, one was given low nutrient dusky soil on my wall & the other loamy clay. The first has less flowers (probably due to division small plants) but not floppy at all, where as the other is splaying like yours. I brought two plant supports and tied string around the stems, which has made them much more centralised.
Herbaceous - I think that's the reason many people chop them back in May/June - it creates a sturdier plant. Some people do half and half, so that you get a succession of flowering times too.
As some of the others have mentioned, your own growing conditions can make them a bit bigger and softer in their habit. Ours aren't big enough to cut back at that time of year, but the rainfall we get means that they then get quite big, quite quickly, and are therefore a bit floppy. I keep them among shrubs where possible, but if you can't do that, a sturdy support put in early on, before they get too big, will help. The foliage will quickly cover it.
It won't stop animals jumping on them I expect, but they may withstand it better.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thankyou for all replies. I hadn't realised they didn't like rich soil particularly. I emptied two composters all along that bed in the spring and was really pleased with myself as it looked so good and nutrious. Oops! First mistake. I thought they looked a bit triffid like this year! Will devide, chop and stake next year. Think I prefer the spectabile variety that I have in another bed. Thanks again everyone for all your comments And advice.
That sounds a grand idea Fairy, mine are in very poor soil, full sun along a fence with a beech hedge t'other side so they aren't really big enough to cut in Spring. They are there to cover the hole in the fence and give cover to any passing hedgehog needing shelter and a snack (they are slug heaven in the depths) and because I love the look of them in all seasons.
If I could find a way of tying them up without causing grief to passing animals they might last a bit longer, Its only the end by the hole that gets trampled so I could just concentrate my efforts there.
"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it." Sir Terry Pratchett
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Sedums flop everywhere because most garden soils are too rich. They thrive in dry dusty soils and do not require watering. The more sun the better. If you grow in semi-shade, they will try to reach the light and get very leggy and collapse by the time there are flowerheads. The cut in late spring time works because Sedums are growing too tall anyway.
I grow mine in pots and when it's been cut, this encourages more side shoots. The flower heads are smaller, but more abundant. I think this looks more natural.
Agree re: soil being too rich & also needing to be divided. I did this test with two lots, one was given low nutrient dusky soil on my wall & the other loamy clay. The first has less flowers (probably due to division small plants) but not floppy at all, where as the other is splaying like yours. I brought two plant supports and tied string around the stems, which has made them much more centralised.
Last edited: 02 September 2017 20:54:36
My ice plants get splayed by local cats and foxes jumping all over them as they use the gap in the fence to move on..............
I would just try to gently lasso the stems and draw then together, reducing the splay.
Herbaceous - I think that's the reason many people chop them back in May/June - it creates a sturdier plant. Some people do half and half, so that you get a succession of flowering times too.
As some of the others have mentioned, your own growing conditions can make them a bit bigger and softer in their habit. Ours aren't big enough to cut back at that time of year, but the rainfall we get means that they then get quite big, quite quickly, and are therefore a bit floppy. I keep them among shrubs where possible, but if you can't do that, a sturdy support put in early on, before they get too big, will help. The foliage will quickly cover it.
It won't stop animals jumping on them I expect, but they may withstand it better.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thankyou for all replies. I hadn't realised they didn't like rich soil particularly. I emptied two composters all along that bed in the spring and was really pleased with myself as it looked so good and nutrious. Oops! First mistake. I thought they looked a bit triffid like this year! Will devide, chop and stake next year. Think I prefer the spectabile variety that I have in another bed. Thanks again everyone for all your comments And advice.
That sounds a grand idea Fairy, mine are in very poor soil, full sun along a fence with a beech hedge t'other side so they aren't really big enough to cut in Spring. They are there to cover the hole in the fence and give cover to any passing hedgehog needing shelter and a snack (they are slug heaven in the depths) and because I love the look of them in all seasons.
If I could find a way of tying them up without causing grief to passing animals they might last a bit longer, Its only the end by the hole that gets trampled so I could just concentrate my efforts there.