Sedums

Do I dead head my large pink sedums please?

 

I would, Wee Tattie. They look SO unsightly, otherwise.:gnthb:

 

If they have dried out then you can also keep them as "winter interest". Well, according to some gardening books I have. But I agree with David, better to cut them back to the new growth already starting to appear.

 

Like Aaron said you can keep them as "winter interest" they do look pretty if still up right with snow on them or just dried. Mine generally flop to bad at the end of fall so I just cut them down to the ground and have never had any issue with come back in spring and double in size too. I am going to also cut them 1/2 down in mid July, maybe that will keep them up right, and they are in the sun. Other than that, I would have to stake them, and rather not given all the other stuff I tend to in the gardens.

 

Many thanks to the three of you, all good advice, I do agree they look unsightly, and here down south coast of England we get more damp than snow, so they are a bit yukky, so 'Off with their heads'

 

Whilst on the subject of sedums, someone advised that to get really densely packed blooms next year, trim them back in Spring when the new growth is appearing, not completely, to make them bush out. Anyone heard this or better still tried it with good results?

 

I'd be interested in that too, as it would hopefully attract more bees

 

What happens with Sedums is the centre gets rather weak as the new growth at the outside edges increases. Lifting, dividing and replanting gives more plants and allows the new growth plenty of room to spread. Adding some compost to the planting holes also improves vitality. you can discard the old centre as you will have lots of new vigorous plants to enjoy. :thumb:

 

The sedums I have were only planted last year, so I think its too early for lifting and dividing. I am going to try cutting back a third of the new growth on one of them this Spring, as an experiment.

 

No need for the one third to be cut, cut them all down to ground level and I can assure you they will come back in the spring bigger and better than ever. :thumb:

 

It is one of those plants that can get the Chelsea Cut, they bloom a bit later but on shorter, stronger stems so that they don't flop all over the place.