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Geranium care

WildlifeloverWildlifelover Posts: 380
in Plants
Morning,

This is the second year of having hardy geraniums after they were planted last year, so they are doing well now. Please could someone let me know which variety needs cutting back and when as I’ve read some don’t need to be cut back. 

I have;

Johnson’s blue,
Patricia
Rozanne
Phaeum
Orion

Many thanks. 

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You can cut back any geranium if the flowers are finished and it's looking tatty.
    It also refreshes all the foliage and can often give a 2nd flush of flowers, depending on where you are and the timing of the cutting back. 
    Some will look fine without it though, and don't need cutting back. It often comes down to personal preference too.
    The bigger, floppier, more sprawling ones generally benefit the most  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Personally I would cut them all back to get fresh growth  :) 
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    It's probably a bit late to cut them back now, some of them will be about to flower.
    You can cut them back early Spring, plus after flowering to tidy them up, sometimes getting a second flowering.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Yes, apologies, l didn't read the question properly,  what l meant to say was l usually cut mine back after flowering.  :) 
  • WildlifeloverWildlifelover Posts: 380
    Thanks everyone, I’ll play it by ear then and see which need it later in the year. Do you literally cut them back to the ground or just cut back by half for example?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Back as much as you want really  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • WildlifeloverWildlifelover Posts: 380
    Ok, many thanks!
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    You can cut right down to the ground, then make sure to give them a good drink. It always looks pretty drastic, but it's surprising just how quickly they start shooting again. 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    The only one I would leave is Rosanne as it continues to flower all summer. Just some deadheading.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • WildlifeloverWildlifelover Posts: 380
    Righty-ho, thanks.
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