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What to do with these geraniums?

Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
in Plants
Hi,

I purchased these geraniums to fill a thin border next to our fence. These are not standard hardy cranesbill geraniums. I’ve lost the tag but they seem to be summer geraniums/pelargonium geraniums I think. Will they survive the winter if I cut them to the ground and mulch over with bark to insulate them? If not, is it worth the hassle of lifting them?




thanks
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Posts

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Alfie_ Are you in the north or south of the country. Pelargoniums are surviving the winter in the south but not a promise who knows what the weather will be like next. Often they are not worth keeping as they can grow very leggy year two.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • WAMSWAMS Posts: 1,960
    edited August 2022
    Sometimes they survive where I am in Bedfordshire, sometimes not. I have had a couple of miracle survivors pop up this year and it got down to -15 here last winter.

    I dig up ones I want to keep and overwinter them in pots on an indoor windowsill, watering reguarly- blooms all winter, then there are nice big plants to plant out or divide next spring.
  • Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
    GardenerSuze said:
    @Alfie_ Are you in the north or south of the country. Pelargoniums are surviving the winter in the south but not a promise who knows what the weather will be like next. Often they are not worth keeping as they can grow very leggy year two.
    We are in the South (Hertfordshire). Ah ok I might not bother then as I was thinking if I kept them they would be more established and do better next year. I mean these were just a set of 6 plugs for £5. Thanks 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited August 2022
    I have had various types of pelargonium in my garden in sheltered London. I have found that some types are tough and some just don't take any frost or cold at all (not about levels of wetness).  I have a lemon scented leaf one that collapses if you wave an ice cube at it.

    I suspect the zonal pellies that you can often buy in garden centres are much tougher and will take some winter cold as long as they are very well drained.

    It's worth figuring what type you have. You might want to risk some in the ground (if the winter is mild where you are and the ground well drained) and take some inside in pots.... 


  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Yes you could pot some up for your window sill thats a good idea. Perhaps you could buy a pot of the hardy geraniums they take well from cuttings at this time of year. Or better still you could split a pot full now and pot these up so next year, by then you will have enough to fill your border. This will give you some more permanent planting. Just a thought anyway.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Yes, cuttings take really fast. Ocassionally I have taken cuttings and let my smelly pelly die back in winter. 
  • Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
    GardenerSuze said:
    Yes you could pot some up for
    your window sill thats a good idea. Perhaps you could buy a pot of the hardy geraniums they take well from cuttings at this time of year. Or better still you could split a pot full now and pot these up so next year, by then you will have enough to fill your border. This will give you some more permanent planting. Just a thought anyway.
    thanks for all the useful info. Do the type of geraniums in my picture last a while if you dig them up and pot them over winter?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Take a load of cuttings now and they can spend the winter on an indoors windowsill. Then if their ‘parents’ don’t survive you’ve got a load of ‘plugs’ for free 👍 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
    Also yes a good idea about cuttings of hardy ones. We have loads of different hardy geraniums and have never taken cuttings so will definitely try that as we still have lots of space in borders. If I have established patches of hardy geraniums would you advise digging up and splitting versus cuttings? 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Alfie_ If you have establish patches of hardy geraniums they are often easy to lift and split with a few exceptions. I have found G Rosanne more difficult. Just cut them back and gently tease apart into smaller clumps. If your soil is dry and poor you may wish to mix in some compost. The most important thing is water, probably best to wait for some rain and you will need to water if dry possibly into the winter. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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