How to Clean Up Hardy Geraniums for the Spring
Happy Friday! Spring is fast approaching, and it's time to get our hands dirty and give our potted hardy geraniums a bit of TLC. I know what you're thinking: "They're hardy – they can cope with anything!" You would be right, but even the hardiest plants benefit from a bit of care, especially after a long winter.
This is something we do every year, and although I am using a hardy geranium here, the tips can be used for so many hardy perennial plants.
Why Clean Up Hardy Geraniums?
- Remove dead foliage: Getting rid of dead and dying foliage that didn't survive the winter is very important. Removing this will encourage better air movement around the plant, prevent diseases, and help the plant look its best.
- Encourage new growth: When you remove dead and dying growth, it will encourage the plant to produce fresh growth, and healthy growth means more flowers!
What tools do I need to tidy my plants up?
The good news is you don't need much at all. In fact, you probably have it all already. Some good gardening gloves and a pair of secateurs are all you need.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Your Plants
- Assess the plant: Take a good look at the hardy geranium. There will almost certainly be some dead leaves and maybe even some dead stems. This is normal, don't worry. You may even come across some weeds that we can deal with.
- Cut the dead away: Using your secateurs, remove the dead and dying growth. Do not be afraid to cut the plants back fairly hard. Hardy geraniums are tough and can cope with this.
- Weed if needed: If you did discover any weeds, now is the time to remove them. As best you can, pull the weeds up along with their roots. This will stop them from coming back.
- Give the plant a feed: Now that all this is done, feeding the plant is a good idea. I like to use a long-term fertiliser, which will gradually release. This means if I forget to feed later, it doesn't matter as much.
There you have it, you're done! Now it's time to sit back and admire your handiwork. Cup of tea, anyone?!
