Posted by Eddy on April 23, 2011, 8:15 am
We put in a dozen heathers three years ago, in an effort to populate
part of the garden, and our over-riding aim was do everything possible
then to help them GROW, and grow BIG.
Most of them have done quite well, I think. But several of them are now
looking a bit straggly in their higher parts, so I'm wondering if I
should be trimming them.
Should I?
If so, by how much? And when is the best time of year to do it?
I took a pic of the "staggliest-looking" ones last night. You can see
it here:
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg82/EddyBentley/heathersuntrimmed.jpg
Many thanks.
Eddy.
Posted by Chris Hogg on April 23, 2011, 12:20 pm
On Sat, 23 Apr 2011 13:15:32 +0100, Eddy
>We put in a dozen heathers three years ago, in an effort to populate
>part of the garden, and our over-riding aim was do everything possible
>then to help them GROW, and grow BIG.
>Most of them have done quite well, I think. But several of them are now
>looking a bit straggly in their higher parts, so I'm wondering if I
>should be trimming them.
>Should I?
>If so, by how much? And when is the best time of year to do it?
>I took a pic of the "staggliest-looking" ones last night. You can see
>it here:
>http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg82/EddyBentley/heathersuntrimmed.jpg
>Many thanks.
>Eddy.
Heathers are usually trimmed shortly after flowering, to cut off the
old flower heads and keep the plants compact. Use shears; quicker than
secateurs. New growth then comes from below what was the flower spike.
But I see no problem with trimming them now. It might mean that this
year's flowers are a bit late, but it won't be a disaster, and trim
them again in the Autumn, after the flowers have died.
--
Chris
Gardening in West Cornwall overlooking the sea.
Mild, but very exposed to salt gales
Posted by Eddy on April 23, 2011, 12:58 pm
Chris Hogg wrote:
> Heathers are usually trimmed shortly after flowering, to cut off the
> old flower heads and keep the plants compact. Use shears; quicker than
> secateurs. New growth then comes from below what was the flower spike.
> But I see no problem with trimming them now. It might mean that this
> year's flowers are a bit late, but it won't be a disaster, and trim
> them again in the Autumn, after the flowers have died.
Thanks, Chris.
I'm inclined to trim them in order to give them smooth flattish tops.
(I don't want to trim their width.)
If I just shear them in order to make them pleasant to look at, is that
OK? Of is there a recommended place to cut?
Eddy.
Posted by Chris Hogg on April 23, 2011, 1:59 pm
On Sat, 23 Apr 2011 17:58:20 +0100, Eddy
>Chris Hogg wrote:
>> Heathers are usually trimmed shortly after flowering, to cut off the
>> old flower heads and keep the plants compact. Use shears; quicker than
>> secateurs. New growth then comes from below what was the flower spike.
>> But I see no problem with trimming them now. It might mean that this
>> year's flowers are a bit late, but it won't be a disaster, and trim
>> them again in the Autumn, after the flowers have died.
>Thanks, Chris.
>I'm inclined to trim them in order to give them smooth flattish tops.
>(I don't want to trim their width.)
>If I just shear them in order to make them pleasant to look at, is that
>OK? Of is there a recommended place to cut?
>Eddy.
Just shearing them over will be OK, but don't cut too far into old
woody growth. In the Autumn, try and cut just below the dead flower
spike, but that's a council of perfection. In reality a light shearing
will suffice.
--
Chris
Gardening in West Cornwall overlooking the sea.
Mild, but very exposed to salt gales
Posted by Dave Hill on April 23, 2011, 3:19 pm
> On Sat, 23 Apr 2011 17:58:20 +0100, Eddy
> >Chris Hogg wrote:
> >> Heathers are usually trimmed shortly after flowering, to cut off the
> >> old flower heads and keep the plants compact. Use shears; quicker than
> >> secateurs. New growth then comes from below what was the flower spike.
> >> But I see no problem with trimming them now. It might mean that this
> >> year's flowers are a bit late, but it won't be a disaster, and trim
> >> them again in the Autumn, after the flowers have died.
> >Thanks, Chris.
> >I'm inclined to trim them in order to give them smooth flattish tops.
> >(I don't want to trim their width.)
> >If I just shear them in order to make them pleasant to look at, is that
> >OK? Of is there a recommended place to cut?
> >Eddy.
> Just shearing them over will be OK, but don't cut too far into old
> woody growth. In the Autumn, try and cut just below the dead flower
> spike, but that's a council of perfection. In reality a light shearing
> will suffice.
> --
> Chris
> Gardening in West Cornwall overlooking the sea.
> Mild, but very exposed to salt gales- Hide quoted text -
> - Show quoted text -
You could also top dress them with a peat/sand mix working it well
into the centre of the plants, 2 or 3 inches would be great.
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>part of the garden, and our over-riding aim was do everything possible
>then to help them GROW, and grow BIG.
>Most of them have done quite well, I think. But several of them are now
>looking a bit straggly in their higher parts, so I'm wondering if I
>should be trimming them.
>Should I?
>If so, by how much? And when is the best time of year to do it?
>I took a pic of the "staggliest-looking" ones last night. You can see
>it here:
>http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg82/EddyBentley/heathersuntrimmed.jpg
>Many thanks.
>Eddy.