Preparing Scented Geraniums for Winter
This week I’m preparing some scented geraniums for winter. These are tender perennial plants, meaning you can enjoy them year-on-year, however they struggle to survive the winter. This means we need to cut them back and bring them in, away from frost, to help them flourish again in the spring.
Why Now?
This is the ideal time to bring your scented geraniums in as we haven't seen the first frost of the year just yet, meaning your scented geraniums will still have enough growth on them to preserve some life over the winter and encourage new growth in the spring. Scented geraniums will not survive frost as they are native to South Africa, so it is important to get them in before it gets too cold.
What You’ll Need:
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Scented Geraniums
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Sharp secateurs
- Frost-free space (greenhouses and windowsills are ideal)
Step-by-Step:
- Trim back the plant until you have reduced the plant by about half, leaving some fresh growth
- Store them somewhere dry, in a greenhouse or a windowsill, where they can still get sun but are safe from frost
Aftercare:
Keep the plants watered, although reduce the amount you water while they are dormant. This should allow them to revive again in the spring and produce wonderful colourful blooms year-after-year. They still retain their incredible scented leaves through the winter, so they make for great indoor plants when the weather is colder if you enjoy scented plants.
