@MOrgana If you look at each single piece of root it has nodes from where it will shoot. If you cut back hard after flowering and water well not only will you have a neat plant that will regrow in weeks giving a tidy plant through the winte,r you will also have dozens of cuttings from those stems you cut off. Roots really easily. You can also lay pieces of root in the ground cover with a couple of inches of soil keep watered again it will soon grow.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
I always cut off a stem, about 10cm including leaves, remove all but the top three leaves, lay the stem in a tiny trench and cover with soil, then top it off with a large stone and water well. The stone is to stop birds pulling out the cutting before it has had time to root. You can cover a large area with geraniums in next to no time providing you remember to keep them watered and out of very bright sunlight until they are established.
Dividing is the easiest way, as long as there's enough viable material - ie sections with root that you can pot on. You can even just replant sections if they're a reasonable size. As @Ceres And @GardenerSuze have said - just keep them watered well enough until you see them growing new stems/foliage.
Re the mulching - it isn't really necessary, but it helps to keep those weeds down [ ] and generally feeds the soil, so if you tidy up the area and just add some compost or similar, that will do a good job. If it's very dry where you are - and against walls tends to be drier too, then it's good to do that after a thorough watering. You can add compost at any time really. Home made is good if you do that, but anything will do, including spent compost from containers etc
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I'm not saying they're easy but I rooted some up by accident. I broke bits off whilst deadheading something beside it and laid it on a seed tray with something else in. They rooted and I now have two more I didn't know I needed! Hurrah!
I'm really new to gardening. Just started late last year. It's been experimental and a learning experience but I've had some lovely results!
Two big lessons I've learned are that vine weevils and scale insects are a thing.... and that those tiny seeds they gave away with the magazine turn into massive plants! We're walking into verbana, cosmos & those nicotine plants everywhere now. And I'll have lots of chillies & tomatoes hopefully. I should have checked the end result sizes before planting haha.
The great thing is - you've had successes with your seed sowing - and that is something that definitely isn't always straightforward, so -pat yourself on the back, have some cake, and a drink of your choice, and enjoy it all!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@MOrgana Great to see you are making some progress. Gardening is always a learning curve but that is why it is fun. Spatial awareness is a challenge even for professional gardeners. Soil and aspect have a big impact on how big a plant grows and varies from garden to garden and from year to year.When you buy a new plant the information on how large it grows is only a guide.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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Source: https://greenfingersonline.nl/en/dividing-geranium-macrorrhizum/
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw'
You can also lay pieces of root in the ground cover with a couple of inches of soil keep watered again it will soon grow.
Re the mulching - it isn't really necessary, but it helps to keep those weeds down [
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I broke bits off whilst deadheading something beside it and laid it on a seed tray with something else in. They rooted and I now have two more I didn't know I needed! Hurrah!
Thanks I'll keep an eye on them.
I'm really new to gardening. Just started late last year. It's been experimental and a learning experience but I've had some lovely results!
Two big lessons I've learned are that vine weevils and scale insects are a thing.... and that those tiny seeds they gave away with the magazine turn into massive plants! We're walking into verbana, cosmos & those nicotine plants everywhere now. And I'll have lots of chillies & tomatoes hopefully. I should have checked the end result sizes before planting haha.
The great thing is - you've had successes with your seed sowing - and that is something that definitely isn't always straightforward, so -pat yourself on the back, have some cake, and a drink of your choice, and enjoy it all!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...