Knowing how and when to prune geraniums is not easy, and yet it is vitally important if you have this type of plant in your garden. Geraniums usually do pretty, but they do need pruning from time to time.
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A pruning is to cut the stems of the geranium by the root, which has two main functions. The first is a function to favor the growth of the plant, that is, cut the geraniums so that they grow stronger, eliminating dead stems and flowers along the way. Secondly, it is an aesthetic purpose, especially in the case of round geraniums, since, by pruning the sides, we are going to make the plants round and thus much more aesthetic.
Pruning is very easy at a glance, but then it has its considerations. A good pruning can make your garden worthy of a nobleman, because it will be beautiful and flourishing at the same time. However, a bad pruning can spoil your garden, since, for example, pruning at the wrong time is usually fatal.
To learn how to prune, we need to know when to do it, and of course, how to do it. First of all, we have when to prune, something important and that few people know. If we do it at the right time, the stems will grow, but if we do it at the wrong time, you can ruin the health of the plant forever.
Secondly, we have to know how to prune , that is, we have to learn to make the cut in the correct way, we have to learn the stems that we have to prune and those that we don’t, and also, we have to learn some tricks, like for example if we have to sacrifice the flowers or not.
Surely, if you are here you are interested in learning how to prune, and it is also possible that you have made some mistakes in the past, killing plants in the process. Don’t worry, as we all make mistakes and no one is born learned.
Actually, pruning is as easy as it seems, as long as you learn the considerations that I have told you before, which I will explain later. It’s actually not difficult at all once you’ve learned it, so once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to trim all your hedges without any help. In this way, you will save yourself hiring a gardening professional, with money that you can use for other things.
So, without further ado, let’s see how and when to prune geraniums, explained step by step obviously. In addition, we have an extra step in which I will show you how you can take advantage of the stems that you have cut.
Instructions for and when to prune geraniums
1. When to prune:
The first thing we are going to learn is when we have to prune, since it is not only knowing how to prune, but also when is very important. The first thing we are going to see is how often we have to do it and the second, at what time is it better.
How often: Generally, geraniums are pruned once a year, more is usually not needed, and even doing it more frequently is usually bad. However, there are some exceptions, such as if one year it is cold and you have to prune it in the fall and then it is hot and in the spring, but still, there will be at least 9 months between pruning and pruning.
At what time: The time of year is also very important, since doing it at a time that is not convenient can bring you problems and spoil your geranium. Generally, they are usually pruned in autumn, especially if it has been a hot year. This is done because in autumn the leaves fall and are renewed later, so it will be easier for them to germinate again with more force. On the other hand, if it is cold, we will have to do it in March, at the beginning of spring. The reason for this is because if it is too cold, the pruned plants will not be able to withstand the cold, and it is better to leave it for when it is hot.
2. How to prune:
Now we are going to see how we can prune, because it is not only knowing when we should prune, but also how we should do it. To learn how to prune, we are going to see all the steps that we must take, all the considerations and some advice. Doing a good pruning can make a difference, because if you do it right, the plant will grow much stronger. If, on the other hand, the pruning is of poor quality and is done poorly, it can completely spoil the entire plant. Let’s go with all the detailed steps.
Take into account the type of geranium to give it one shape or another:
First, we are going to see the type of geranium that we are going to prune, since the pruning that we do or do not do depends a lot on each type of geranium. For example, if we have ivy, it is natural for it to hang down, so don’t cut too much. On the other hand, rounded geraniums should be pruned in this way, so that they have a much more aesthetic shape.
Cut the stems “flush” with pruning shears:
Now, we are going to see how to prune, something that we will do with small pruning shears, you will see how easy it is. The stem must be cut in the middle, in what is called flush, that is, with a completely clean cut in half. Don’t be afraid to make a good cut, as this is the correct way to do it.
3. Pruning order:
Now that we know how to prune, we are going to see a little the order that we must follow to do a pruning in the correct way… In the first place, we are going to see what is pruned first and then, what is pruned last, going through what is not pruned. First, the weak stems are pruned, that is, the stems that we think are going to die soon, because in this way, we will favor the saving and growth of stronger stems. Now, we go with the stems of the sides, which will be cut because they are the ones that have the most strength and because they are the ones that usually give the most aesthetics and play to our garden. Finally, we are going to leave the ones in the center without pruning, unless of course they are in poor condition. We do this because those in the center are the ones with the greatest chance of growing, so we are going to leave them alone.
4. Don’t be afraid to sacrifice some flowers:
Although it’s embarrassing to sacrifice flowers, many times you have to sacrifice some. Many times, to make an omelet you have to break some eggs so do not be afraid to sacrifice some flowers from the sides when pruning, because this way, the plant will grow stronger than ever. Of course, do not load all the healthy flowers, but only those of the stems in poor condition and the sides.
3. Cuttings:
Finally, if you feel sorry and/or want to have new plants, you can plant cuttings, that is, take the stems that have been uprooted and create a new plant. You can reuse the cut stems, put in a pot to create a new plant. In this way, you will be able to create new geraniums for your garden and you will also be able to create new plants that you can give to your neighbors and your friends.
