Don't write off your hardy geraniums as soon as the flowers fade: a few simple tricks can help trigger a second flush of colour that lasts right through the summer.
Drought-tolerant and tough, hardy geraniums will grow quite happily in sun or shade, providing colour and interest to hanging baskets and pretty patio pots.
"Before you begin deadheading yours, it's worth knowing which geranium you have," says Emily Baylis, founder of the Notting Hill-based floral art studio June in March.
"Hardy geraniums are cranesbills, those gorgeous mounded perennials that come back year after year. The bedding 'geraniums' you see in pots and window boxes are actually pelargoniums, which are a completely different plant and need bringing in before frost. Quite different rules apply, so it's worth being sure."
Take a look at the tips to follow for more beautiful geranium flowers:
1. Don't be afraid to be brutal
Cutting your plant back drastically is one of the best ways to guarantee a second flush of flowers, says Emily.
"I know it feels drastic, but go in with shears and take the whole plant down to about two or three inches above the ground. You'll feel like you've ruined it, I promise you haven't. Within a few weeks, you'll have fresh, neat green foliage and very often a second flush of flowers to enjoy later in the summer."
But it all depends on what plant you have. Geranium 'Rozanne', for example, can be largely left to its own devices.
"It flowers happily from late spring right through to the first frosts without much intervention at all. It's one of those rare plants that genuinely earns its place 10 times over."
2. Feed and water after the chop
"After you've cut back, give the plant a good drink and a liquid feed. It's about to put out a whole new flush of growth, and a little encouragement at this stage makes such a difference," says Emily.
"I think people often forget that the plant has just done a lot of work flowering, and a small bit of TLC really sets it up for the rest of the season."
3. Leave the autumn foliage for as long as you can
Instead of tidying too quickly, leave the blazing autumn foliage for as long as you can. Many hardy geraniums put on a spectacular show with golden red and bronze leaves, while also providing nesting materials for wildlife.
"Once everything has properly died back, then you can clear away the old growth so the plant has a clean slate for spring," says Emily.
4. Lift and divide every few years
"Hardy geraniums are very generous plants. Every three or four years, lift the clump in autumn or early spring, split it into pieces with a spade or two forks back to back, and replant," explains Emily.
"You'll rejuvenate the parent plant and end up with free plants for elsewhere in the garden, or to give to friends. It's one of the easiest jobs in gardening and one of the most rewarding."
Summer gardening edit
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Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.
