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Pruning/deadheading sunflowers and honeysuckle

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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If you have a GC or nursery relatively near - this is a good time to buy perennials. They can often be on sale, but also - at this time of year, they're usually filling their pots, so you can split them and get 2 or 3 plants. Pot them up, and by next spring you have more to plant out, and it's cost less.

    Tight Scot, so it's often when I buy plants  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Fairygirl said:
    If you have a GC or nursery relatively near - this is a good time to buy perennials. They can often be on sale, but also - at this time of year, they're usually filling their pots, so you can split them and get 2 or 3 plants. Pot them up, and by next spring you have more to plant out, and it's cost less.

    Tight Scot, so it's often when I buy plants  ;)
    Top tip! Love any way to save a bit of cash (was born in Aberdeen, so probably the Scot in me  ;)). 

    I have a lovely little nursery in my village so will check there. Should the plants be kept potted over the winter? I don't have a greenhouse, only a relatively small cold frame which I use more for acclimatising plants/young seedlings/protecting smaller plants from strong winds. Or can the plants go straight in the ground?
    "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need"
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If it's hardy geraniums, and they're big and strong, they can be split, potted up and left to over winter outdoors somewhere. They might grow on a bit this year, but  best to keep them until spring before planting out, and they'll romp away, and be bigger plants for going in the ground.
    If your conditions were really good and frost free, you could plant them out, as long as they looked a good enough size.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Sounds great! I'll see what the local nursery has, and depending how mature they are, will aim to over winter them outside and if size allows, split them. I presume normal compost is fine?

    I could use my cold frame to stand them in and maybe throw a horticultural fleece over them if we get a really cold snap? Sadly we don't get the best weather (Cambridgeshire); fairly dry but this means we get plenty of frosty nights.
    "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need"
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Normal compost will be absolutely fine. They need no protection - completely hardy  :)

    We have upwards of 50 or 60 frosts here, from next month onwards, and I've never protected a hardy geranium yet  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Awesome! I'll get down the GC this week and see what they have. Thanks!
    "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need"
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Hope you find something suitable   :)

    Just take a view on the size of them if you're able to split them - in terms of planting out. If in doubt, wait until spring  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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