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Gaura cutting back?

*Astrantia**Astrantia* Posts: 307
in Plants
I’ve grown some Gaura from seed they are about 2 years old now and just about finished flowering I thought they’d make nice big clumps but they’ve gone really leggy and are falling over. I’ve read that they should be cut back in spring but they look such a mess, would it be ok to cut them back now say by about half?

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I have a white one that flops every year so I've given it a support to keep it upright.  Winters here are milder than most of the UK but, even so, I don't cut mine back till spring as the stems give some frost protection to the crown.   

    If yours are really unsightly, you could try cutting them back but not by more than half so you still get some protection.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    I'm probably further north than you, but i leave mine until the autumn storms start blasting them, then i cut them down to about a foot. When new growth starts next year, i cut them down to the new growth.
    Sunny Dundee
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I cut mine well back this time last year and they flowered again a few weeks later. But the weather was different then so I don't know what'll happen this year.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Simone_in_WiltshireSimone_in_Wiltshire Posts: 1,073
    Gaura plants need support. I bought a few support rings in Spring time for leggy plants like Gaura. Cut back time is March/ April when the first new shoots start to grow. 

    I ♥ my garden.

  • *Astrantia**Astrantia* Posts: 307
    Thanks everyone! I have given them supports but they’ve grown huge 🤣 think I’ll do the half ish cut now just to tidy them as they’re dropping over the path, and see how it goes I could leave the ones further back alone till spring and resist the urge to be too tidy! Thanks again for the advice.
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