Should I be cutting down geraniums now?

Discussion in 'Gardening Discussions' started by Millie16, Jul 13, 2025.

  1. Millie16

    Millie16 Gardener

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    I have a couple of hardy geraniums in the ground they’re not flowering much now and getting seed heads on them, should I cut them down now? Will they flower again ? I just left them last year and they didn’t really do much but I’m not sure if they have finished flowering earlier due to the hot weather ? Must say I didn’t really take much notice last year as they’re a small clump and a bit hidden.
     
  2. AnniD

    AnniD Super Gardener

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    I would shear them over and give them a full can's worth of water. It looks drastic, but new growth should appear in a couple of weeks :smile:.
    You may get some more flowers, but it's not always certain.
     
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    • simone_in_wiltshire

      simone_in_wiltshire Total Gardener

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      Could you check if they have new grow? Despite the heat, my hardy geraniums got new leaves after they had finished flowering. I will cut my flower stems off today before it rains tomorrow (keeping the fingers crossed), but my hardy geraniums got immediately new leaves and some new flowers even it's never as full as in Spring time.
       
    • fairygirl

      fairygirl Total Gardener

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      I deadhead mine to keep them flowering, but yes - you can certainly cut them back if they've finished. I rarely bother to cut them back as they stay green here anyway, but if the top growth is dying off, cutting back refreshes it all.
      Whether they repeat flower will depend on the variety.
       
    • NigelJ

      NigelJ Total Gardener

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      I dead head some hardy geraniums about now, these are the more vigorous ones that have distinct flushes of flowers and spread over neighbouring plants.
       
    • Plantminded

      Plantminded Total Gardener

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      I reduce any hardy geraniums to ground level that have stopped flowering, got too sprawly or are showing signs of yellowing/browning. I water them well afterwards and they bounce back quickly.
       
    • Millie16

      Millie16 Gardener

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      Thanks for the replies! I’m not sure of the varieties one is pink the other is blue! I can see some tiny new leaves at the base of the pink one, the blue just looks a straggly mess of seed heads which I could dead head as the leaves are still nice on that one.
       

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    • fairygirl

      fairygirl Total Gardener

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      You can really do whatever suits you. Remove dead stems/spent flowers back to a healthy point. If the whole plant is generally 'messy' with new growth at the base, you can cut back to that new growth. It just depends on how you feel about the appearance, and whether any of them are crowding another plant.
      Then just wait and see what happens after that. Whether you need to water any of them depends on where you live - ie your general climate. I've never watered any hardy geranium, but in drought ridden areas, they'd benefit from a drink. :smile:
       
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