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Geranium very 'leggy'.

9 replies

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 24/05/2017 22:25

My geraniums have all been fine, apart from one that is very tall and leggy, rather than the fat bushy specimen I would like! What should I be doing to it please? TIA.

OP posts:
elephantoverthehill · 24/05/2017 22:32

Are they geraniums or pelargoniums? Can you do a photo? If they are pelargoniums you can cut them down and they will bush. Also what you cut off you can cut into sections with an angular cut and stick them in compost and they should make new plants.

JeNeSuisPasVotreMiel · 25/05/2017 06:52

And if they are perennial geraniums you can also chop them back.

In fact it's called the Chelsea Chop because you do it about now, and many summer to autumn flowering perennials can be cut back by half to encourage more flowering and sturdier, bushier growth without the need for staking.

GinGeum · 25/05/2017 07:10

JeNe I'm wondering if I should do the Chelsea Chop on some of my geraniums. They were planted last autumn as little plants pinched from MIL's garden, and have thrown up a few flowers already. I'd rather they concentrate on thickening out their leaf growth this year though. Would the Chelsea Chop help with that?

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 25/05/2017 14:47

I think they are geraniums, but my techno-numptiness will not let me do a photo. So, this Chelsea Chop of which you speak...do you mean I just chop it off Thanks everyone.

OP posts:
SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 25/05/2017 14:49

They are perennial btw.

OP posts:
elephantoverthehill · 25/05/2017 16:15

I can't believe I wrote 'do a photo' [Grin]. In my defence it was quite late last night. Most of my geraniums are the ground cover type so this has never happened to me. This year I do have a taller growing variety which have only just started flowering but when they go over I will give the Chelsea chop a go.

HumphreyCobblers · 25/05/2017 16:17

yes, chop it off about three or four inches from the ground

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 25/05/2017 22:55

Thanks all.

OP posts:
JeNeSuisPasVotreMiel · 25/05/2017 23:59

GinGeum yes. Mine are starting to throw up a few flowers and I need to chop the whole plant back.

Be ruthless! You'll have a drastic reduction on leaves initially but it will be worth it.

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