Quite a few hardy geraniums will give later colour if they're cut hard back mid summer.
Ones which don't HAVE to be cut back but (IMO) look better for a haircut include Rozanne, Anne Folkard, Anne Thompson and (my least favourite geranium) Wargrave Pink will all (if left alone) flower sporadically for the whole season - but they also all get very straggly and untidy.
Even though they are still in flower I cut them all hard back at the beginning to middle of July, give them a good watering and, within 2 weeks, they've produced fresh green leaves and 2 -3 weeks later they have flower buds. They can then be left to do their thing until well into autumn.
This is a great thread... my son is marrying in our garden mid August this year!
I presume I can use this haircut technique for phaeum geraniums too? I guess it's just about getting the timing right... you cut about a month or so before you want them to reflower... wish he could've given me a bit more notice, I could've done a practice run last year!
@Janie B I think if you have a wedding planned for August you may need to have plenty of annuals too. Perhaps white cosmos or the new C bipinnatus Apricot Lemonade. The soil at Great Dixter is deep and never artificially watered. The plants form deep roots grow strongly and therefore flower longer. Last August my garden made me sad due to lack of water, things stopped flowering. G phaeum should be cut back after flowering any repeat flowers will be limited like most early flowering hardy perennials. Rosanne and possibly Anne folkard I would leave. Wargrave Pink flowers and then is scruffy by August so I think you will have to make a call as to when you cut it back.You can cut it back hard will be nice and green in three weeks with plenty if water but probably no flowers.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
@Janie B That sounds wonderful, zinnias are such lovely colours. My daughter is a bridesmaid later in the year, they are hiring plants and shrubs for the day.
Good Luck with all your plans.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
@Janie B , My son married on 2 Sept in our garden. I grew lots of these in regular black pots and the day before the wedding plonked them in the borders, in gaps and squeezed between what was there, the pots were invisible and it provided instant full colour. These worked better than the dahlias I also tried. I succession planted short sunflowers in pots too. My last batch was timed right. Good luck and remember to photograph the garden as well as the wedding, you'll enjoy it in retrospect.
@WhereAreMySecateurs ... luckily not too nerve wracking, as both boys are very laid back. They are having a civil ceremony before, so what is happening in our garden is really a simple celebration of their love with family and friends... real festival vibe, stretch tent, trestle tables, jam jar posies and masses of twinkly lights. A friend who's helping me with the flowers asked if there was a colour scheme... I laughed and said whatever is in flower at the time... rainbow flowers for a rainbow wedding!
@Tack ... great idea about hiding plants in cheap pots in the borders... thanks!
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This is a great thread... my son is marrying in our garden mid August this year!
I presume I can use this haircut technique for phaeum geraniums too? I guess it's just about getting the timing right... you cut about a month or so before you want them to reflower... wish he could've given me a bit more notice, I could've done a practice run last year!
G phaeum should be cut back after flowering any repeat flowers will be limited like most early flowering hardy perennials. Rosanne and possibly Anne folkard I would leave. Wargrave Pink flowers and then is scruffy by August so I think you will have to make a call as to when you cut it back.You can cut it back hard will be nice and green in three weeks with plenty if water but probably no flowers.
Good Luck with all your plans.
@Tack ... great idea about hiding plants in cheap pots in the borders... thanks!