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Kent, United Kingdom

Advice please.
I purchased some small perennials from T & M earlier this year and I am pleased to say that all survived apart from 1 plant.
I have recently potted them on into 3 LT pots and intend to overwinter in an unheated greenhouse.
The plants are Aquilegia 'Mrs Scott Elliot
Verbascum 'Southern Charm
Lavender 'Hidcote
Gaura 'Sparkle White'
Verbena 'Buenos Aires'
Doronicum 'Little Leo'
Delphinium 'Magic Fountains Mixed
Eryngium 'Blue Hobbit'
Foxglove 'Sugar Plum
Achillea 'Cassis'
Dianthus 'Arctic Fire
Echinacea 'Primadonna Mixed
I have looked up the after care and they say trim all OLD foliage to ground level in the autumn and put mulch around the base. Does that mean ALL the foliage on EVERY plant should be cut back to base level or should I let them all go dormant naturally.
Some have already flowered and some are showing signs of flowering / budding at the moment.
Thanks for your help.




Answers

 

Lavender and Dianthus should be left alone or only lightly trimmed. Lavender will not normally shoot from old brown stems so always leave some of the new green growth.
The Foxglove is biennial so leave that alone too, remove any dead or dying leaves.

13 Aug, 2018

 

I agree with the advice given.

13 Aug, 2018

 

Hi, I agree also, but knowing the ''small'' size of plants that t &m send out, I'm surprised that they have grown large enough to warrant a 3 litre pot, I would have expected perhaps a 1 1/2 litre pot would have been appropriate, especially for overwintering them, Derek.

13 Aug, 2018

dgw
Dgw
 

Only further advice would be keeping these all on the dry side or they will rot over winter, especially if in too large a pot.

13 Aug, 2018

 

Just wondering why yo want to overwinter in the greenhouse? They are all hardy?

14 Aug, 2018

 

Thanks for all advice.
Stera - I have no other room other than greenhouse, don't want to leave them on grass in back garden.
The plants are all quite big now and many were becoming root bound in the original 4 " pots. this is the third time they have been re potted this year.
I will use all the advice you have provided. Thanks.

16 Aug, 2018

 

What I meant was why not plant them out?

16 Aug, 2018

 

Arr, sorry Stera.
Believe it or not, I don't actually have any beds in my garden. I generally grow them to plant in large tubs for myself or plant some of them out at the bowling green. Unfortunately when I have planted them at the green previously and people who like to help with the weeding pull them out in the spring, thinking they are weeds.
Even though I mark them with canes.

18 Aug, 2018

 

Goodness, how infuriating! See why you grow them on in pots then!

18 Aug, 2018

How do I say thanks?

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