Content
- Larkspur is dead - What to do now?
- Cut back larkspur after the summer bloom
- Leave blooms on the plant for seed formation
- Delphinium cut after the autumn bloom
- Tips & Tricks
When the larkspur has withered, it makes sense to cut off the flowers
Larkspur is dead - What to do now?
Larkspur (Latin Delphinium) is a beautiful perennial that is found in many gardens with its mostly blue, purple or white flowers. If you cut back the withered shoots in the summer, the plant drives out again and blooms a second time in the fall.
Cut back larkspur after the summer bloom
Most of the delphiniums bloom between June and July, although some varieties may show their flower splendor sooner or later, depending on their location. But no matter when and how long: As soon as the panicles of the summer bloom have faded, cut them to just above the leaves. As a rule, this is with many delphiniums about between 20 and 30 centimeters above the ground. Do not cut deeper, because then the plant is hard to drive out again. With this cut you ensure that the radiant colors of the Delphinium shine again between September and November.
Leave blooms on the plant for seed formation
However, you should not do this cut, if you want to collect the ripe follicles with the seeds in autumn. After the autumn flowering usually neither time nor strength are sufficient, so that the plant can form seeds. Incidentally, you must now protect the down-cut larkspur against snail-eating, for example by appropriate mulching, slug pellets, snail traps or daily picking.
Delphinium cut after the autumn bloom
Therefore, you can cut back the larkspur after the autumn bloom without worries until just above the ground. In spring, Delphinium will drive out again. Further preparation for the winter is basically not necessary, except that you can mulch the shrubs vigorously after composting with compost and / or horn shavings. Even a possible division should be carried out after the pruning - with a gap of several days.
Tips & Tricks
The ideal day for a pruning is a mild, with as much as possible cloudy sky. An old gardener wisdom says that plants can be implemented and trimmed on gray or even rainy days most uncomplicated.