How to prune alpines.
DickieLeysh
Posts: 27
I could use some advice as to what to do next with my alpines. As you can see form the photos they are looking a bit tatty now. The saxifrage and sea thrift could possibly do with some heavy pruning.
I was thinking of taking a scissors to them and cutting them back so that they no longer obscure the stones. When would be the best time to do this, Autumn, Winter or Spring?
Also, my houseleeks have produced lots of lovely little offsets. Some are growing over the stones, attached to the parent plant by long stalks. Do I just snip the stalks and pot the offsets up?
If you can offer any advice I would be very grateful. So far I've found my alpine rockery very rewarding and low maintenance. I just need to ensure I can keep it looking presentable going forward.
Posts
No, that looks perfect to me. Leave them alone. The only maintenance they need is removing any spent flower stalks which you seem to have done.
If you want more Semps then yes you may remove the offsets and pot them up, otherwise let them do their thing.
Thanks for the feedback Berghill. Yes I've been deadheading regularly throughout the summer.
the point of an alpine rockery is to try and cover the stones with plant, you can always remove the stone, fill the gap with soil and put a smaller stone in its place, but personally that looks fine and dandy to me!