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Leggy Geraniums

NoSlugsPleaseNoSlugsPlease Posts: 120
in Problem solving
Hello. My hardy geraniums have grown very tall and are flopping over the surrounding plants. I read that they should be cut back after flowering, but is there anything I can do next year to prevent this happening again? A neighbour suggested pruning them in spring but he said they will then flower later. Seems a bit of a shame to do this as I enjoy their long flowering season, so is there any other way?
Thank you.

Posts

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    All my plants have grown much taller than usual this year. I blame the weather we had in May. It has upset the balance in some parts of my garden - the alliums, which normally stand well above the geraniums were inundated instead, while other plants have grown bigger leaves.
    It is hard to say whether we will get a 'normal' spring next year, or ever! We  and the plants can only hope for a less extreme one and do our best with what we get :)
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Mine have been in the ground for years so are very big plants now,  they do flop over when they start to fade,  when you see more green than flower, grab them and cut back to within a few inches from the base, in no time they will shoot up nice bright green leaves, some flower again, som don’t but at least they’re tidy.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Wot Lyn said. It's in their nature to be floppy/sprawly, some more than others. I find the G. sanguineum types stay more compact, and at the other end of things Ann Folkard sends out long sprawling shoots through and amongst its neighbours, producing new flowers as it goes.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    If they're continually blooming, e.g. Rozanne, Ann Folkard etc, you can cut them to the base at any time and they will resume flowering after a few weeks. If they are types that flower in one flush, you can do the same when they start to fade. To keep them as smaller plants, divide in spring and replace a small section of the plant.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • NoSlugsPleaseNoSlugsPlease Posts: 120
    Thanks, everyone. Looks like cutting them back is the solution for now and I might be brave enough to try dividing them next year.
  • Mrs-B3-Southampton,-HantsMrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants Posts: 732
    I was very tentative when I first touched my geranium because I simply didn't know much about it. It was in the garden when we moved in. You should see me now, secateurs in hand! Division is a doddle now as well.
    Southampton 
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    You can put in plant supports if they flop very badly before they finish flowering and you cut them back. I have some which like to collapse in the middle, especially if we have heavy rain, so I put a support round them as they are growing and that eases the problem.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They're very tough, and very easy, so don't worry about dividing. Chop with a spade or similar, and pot up, or replant. It actually benefits them - as it does with most perennials.  :)
    As others have said, some varieties are more lax than others, so if you have any that are, getting a support in earlier rather than later is beneficial.
    Overfeeding can also cause lots of floppy, soft growth. Geraniums need nothing in the way of extra food. Reasonable soil is all they need  :)
    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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