Refreshing geums in the big copper

Refreshing Geums in the Big Copper Pot

Geums will flower from April to June. Giving them a haircut in summer reinvigorates the plant, pushing it to send up new flowers.

Geums are one of my favourite hardy, reliable perennials. Cutting back the spent stems in summer will encourage it to produce fresh flower stems. This also creates space to refresh the top of the pot. This isn't the same as deadheading roses, as they need to be cut at the base to produce new flower stalks.

Take Your Time Over the Pruning

• When cutting, you want to keep the green leaves, so take your time and cut delicately. Go into the middle of the geums with florists' scissors to remove tired stems.
• Other perennials like salvias benefit from a trim at this time, too. Cut off the tips to refresh the plant and encourage better flowering.
• Once you've removed the old debris (including any old supports), top dress the pot with new compost or manure to give the soil more life. Remove any visible debris to tidy it up.
• Water every couple of days, and the plants will resprout. You can also slot in annuals like cosmos in the gaps.

Other Perennials to Trim in Summer:

• Salvia
• Geranium
• Lavender
• Phlox
• Penstemon

Plant Directory

• Geum 'Totally Tangerine'
• Salvia x jamensis 'California Sunset'