Geraniums are always incredibly popular with gardeners. And for good reason too! Their beautiful blooms are great for adding a burst of colour to any garden. And you too can grow your own with this helpful guide.
General Advice for Geraniums
The colourful geranium should last in your garden from April until winter. They are a very popular bedding plant that are easily maintained. They come in a wide variety of colours and it is this, and the fact that they bloom with plentiful and long lasting flowers, that makes them a constant favourite.
They make for a colourful garden, particularly if 2 to 3 different varieties are grown together. It is best to wait until late spring before planting to protect them from early frost damage.
They should grow easily in any well-watered soil and they like sunlight – so don’t plant them in complete shade or hidden under trees. Aside from this, geraniums are plants that should thrive easily and, while they need protection from frosts when planting, should survive well into the first frosts once established.
Geraniums can cope if the weather is fairly dry for a spell and will give huge colourful flowers from early summer until late autumn. What’s more they are also quite pest resistant! This makes them the perfect outdoor low maintenance bedding plant.
Planting Geraniums
Before planting, prepare the soil by digging over and removing any weeds. Incorporate some well-rotted manure to enrich the soil if necessary.
Knock the plant from its container. Look at the roots – if they are circling around the compost, it is best to tease them out. To do this, push your fingers into the root ball along the bottom edge and pull. Do this in a couple of places. This should encourage the roots to spread into the surrounding soil.
Next use a trowel or spade to create a hole just deep and wide enough to set in the root ball.
The aim is to bury just the roots, leaving the bases of the stems (when in growth in summer) or the shoots (in spring) above ground.
Firm back around the soil, using your hand for small clumps and your heel on larger areas.
Water in well to settle the soil and prevent desiccation.
Aftercare Advice for Geraniums
Prefers compost-enriched soil that stays moist. If planting straight out, keep well-watered until established.
Geraniums are herbaceous perennials and are easy to grow and fuss free.
They need minimal maintenance and are also generally pest and disease resistant.
Once established, they’re drought tolerant and even slugs, snails and rabbits leave them alone!
Pruning Geraniums
A haircut with shears after flowering is all the pruning that is required.
normally need dividing but plants can be split in spring or autumn if needed.