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Cranesbills bloom colorfully and are therefore one of the most popular garden flowers. But what to do if the plant spreads uncontrollably in the garden? Should you cut back cranesbill or not? We'll enlighten you.

In a nutshell

  • most varieties should be cut back
  • second bloom by remounting pruning
  • Timing of pruning dependent on flower species

cranesbill

The cranesbill (geranium) is a species of flowers found worldwide. There are around 4000 different varieties in total. 16 of them are native to Central Europe, but they can also be found in southern and southeastern Europe and in the Near East. Cranesbills thrive best in a cool, temperate climate. Otherwise, the perennial plants are very easy to care for. They show their magnificent flowers from March to October. Their flower color ranges from white to pink and red to blue.

Cranesbills are popular garden plants because of their colorful flowers.

Cutting back the cranesbill

In principle, most cranesbills can be thinned out again and again during the entire growth period. Removing wilted leaves and pruning shoots that are too long will make the plant denser and more compact. In addition, cranesbills should be completely pruned back at least once a year. Potential reasons for pruning include:

  • Falling apart of shoots as a result of age or extreme growth
  • Preventing the spread of the seed
  • Overgrowth of plants in the immediate vicinity
  • Balkan cranesbill (Geranium macrorrhizum) and Cambridge cranesbill (Geranium cantabrigiense): cutting off woody shoots (not annual)
  • should form a second flower after the remounting pruning

Notice: The flowering period of the cranesbills can be extended by a replacement cut. However, the number of flowers decreases slightly during the second flowering.

Reasons against a cut

However, it is not absolutely necessary to cut back cranesbills. For example, if you want your cranesbill to multiply, you should leave the flowers alone. This is the only way for the flower to distribute its seed. There are also cranesbill species that should not be cut back per se. This includes:

  • Rock Garden Cranesbills
  • Gray cranesbill (Geranium cinereum)
  • Dalmatian cranesbill (Geranium dalmaticum)
  • Caucasus - Cranesbill (Geranium renardii)
  • Plants of which a said perennial is a parent

These flowers are too weak and would hardly tolerate pruning. It is quite sufficient if you remove the withered parts of the plant.

It is better not to cut back the gray cranesbill.

Cut back cranesbill: timing

When is the right time for a complete pruning depends on the species of cranesbill. It is best to cut back the cranesbill immediately after the first flowering period. Early flowering species can therefore be pruned in late spring, while late flowering species should only be trimmed in autumn. So cut about best in

  • Spring: Cambridge cranesbill; Gray cranesbill
  • Autumn: Siberian cranesbill (Geranium wlassovianum); Blood-red cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum)
  • Winter: only Magnificent Cranesbill (Geranium magnificum)

Don't wait too long to cut. The longer you wait, the less likely a second bloom will be. Depending on the variety, it generally takes six to eight weeks after pruning before a second flower can be seen.

Notice: Often a general pruning in July is recommended. However, this does not make sense, since late-blooming plants then have no flowers at all.

Cut back cranesbill: procedure

But how exactly do you proceed when cutting back the cranesbill? It's actually quite easy if you follow these steps:

  • Cranesbills that grow in clumps: Cut off faded stalks including the flower to a hand's breadth above the ground
  • Ground cover: Cut where they outgrow the area
  • Leave new sprouting stems
  • Do not injure or remove the leaf rosette when cutting
  • apply mineral fertilizer
  • water well
Cranesbills are cut back to about a hand's breadth above the ground.

Notice: Cranesbills are not fully hardy. Therefore, you should cover them in winter with a light frost protection, for example made of fir branches. In the spring you can remove it again and cut off dried stems.

frequently asked Questions

What is a remount cut?

Remount describes the natural ability of a plant to flower again after the main flowering period. To make this possible, the plant is cut back after the first flowering.

Is a replacement cut possible with all geraniums?

No. A replacement cut is mainly suitable for the early flowering cranesbills. Late-flowering species will probably not sprout a second time, even after a cut before winter.

Why should you leave a hand's breadth of the plant when cutting?

If some of the flowers remain, the perennials will sprout more quickly.

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Garden plants