Remove any unwanted stems by thinning them out. How to prune leggy, overgrown geraniums (I should have done the pruning outdoors in better light but there were lawnmowers running on either side! Replied October 11, 2016, 1:42 PM EDT. I saved quite a few cuttings for my cousin (I just put the shortened stems in water – geraniums root easily this way) so she can have more or give them away. Always remember to cut off woody or leggy stems. I have a small area for a garden having full sun with little shade, so I chose, "I live in a warm climate and have geraniums that are out year-round, but have gotten woody. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 276,080 times. What kind of soil should be used in a self-watering planter for geraniums? Share it with us! Just make sure each one is trimmed to. This will kill bacteria that could cause an infection in the wounds of the geraniums after pruning. The plant should survive as long as the central stalk is still green. Common geraniums are annuals, and they also do well with pruning, but since they won't last more than a season, it's not absolutely necessary to prune them. Spring Perennial Pruning. Thank you! Geraniums tend to become quite leggy and sparse if left to grow on their own accord. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. How often should you water geraniums? How long does it take geraniums to grow flowers after cutting off the dead ones? Geraniums are naturally leggy, woody plants in the wild, but in our homes we like them to be compact and bushy. After a perennial geranium has spent the season in bloom and begins to die back, you’ll want to prune it. Position in full sun and fill with quality potting mix, such as Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter. (please see photos for more detail). This is great to do at the end of the season. When the last frost has passed, you can either transplant them to the ground or keep them outside in pots. Pruning geraniums will help to promote new growth and allow them to thicken up. True geraniums are perennials, so pruning them is a good investme… You'll know it's time to prune the bush once see the flowers begin to fade. The cuttings need to be from growing stems, not from flowering ones. They need this pruning so they can rest up for next year. If the cutting has one large, healthy leaf, use a scissors to make a slit in the leaf, leaving both halves attached. Whether you have geraniums already growing in containers or are potting up the outdoor plants for winter, pruning them back properly ensures profuse and healthy blooming the following spring. I am learning much on researching different plants that I have in my front and, "Thanks. This being said, you don't have to pinch or prune mums at all. It was much faster to prune because it only had 6 or 7 stems & all the foliage was at the ends. For tips from our Horticultural reviewer on how to prune new geraniums, and when to prune more mature plants, scroll down! I always take my cuttings at an angle because I was told this lessens the chance of infection. By using our site, you agree to our. Grasp the flower stem just behind the dead blossom with your thumb and forefinger. Finally, find any “leggy” stalks that have grown long and tall with few or no leaves, and cut them to the base of the plant to stimulate new growth and create a fuller, bushier geranium. Use sharp, clean shears. You basically want to thin them out and open them up so the new growth has plenty of room to grow in. Often used interchangeably, annual pelargoniums and geraniums are popular because the flowers bloom in many colors. To prune geraniums, start by pinching off any dead blossoms, which encourages the plant to produce new flowers. Cuttings from flowering branches usually will not root, because they don't have the correct hormones in them to create roots. Keep cutting them as it will promote the next blooming phase. Then, use hand clippers to trim dead or dying stems at the base of the plant. Now is the time to prune geraniums and pelargoniums to shape and form a dense bush. This keeps the plant dormant for the winter and also helps it to store energy for spring. (with the Australian Standards logo) Pruning Geraniums benefit from a good pruning once per year to stop them going leggy, Autumn is a good time to do this after the hottest weather has passed, cut 1/3 to 1/2 off the plant and make your cuts just above a leaf joint, shaping the plant as you go. Spring & summer are the best times because plants rest in the cooler months. If a large part of the plant is dead, you'll need to do some drastic trimming. Their soil needs to be well drained. And you don't have to let the cuttings go to waste - you can use them to start new geranium plants. % of people told us that this article helped them. Is there a way to prune these without killing the plant since most of the growth is at the top? How do I know if it's too late to prune my geraniums? By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. How to grow geraniums in a pot. This article received 13 testimonials and 91% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Pruning Geraniums After Winter Dormancy If you place your geraniums into dormancy for overwintering or if you live in an area where geraniums die back some over the winter, the best time to prune geraniums is in early spring. I took a sampling of stems out on the patio so you could see what I was pruning off. Geraniums also grow well in pots filled with … Continue reading Geranium care → No need to fertilize at this time of year (late summer) because the plant will be going to rest. Cut your ivy geranium back to half of its height with garden shears or a sharp knife before moving the plant indoors before overwintering it. Oh boy, more geraniums to prune! The detail and clarity is brilliant. For tips from our Horticultural reviewer on how to prune new geraniums, and when to prune more mature plants, scroll down! Here's how to prune leggy, overgrown geraniums. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/29\/Prune-Geraniums-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Prune-Geraniums-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/29\/Prune-Geraniums-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid838839-v4-728px-Prune-Geraniums-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"