cutting back hardy geranium

[peridito]

Well established ,straggly as I've only ever trimmed it .

It's first flush of flowers is over and it's looking v brown and sad .

How far can I cut it back? Can I go right down to the woody stem ,or do I have to leave some green leaves on ?

Give it the Chelsea Chop! That means cut it down to about 3 inches keep it watered well and it will spring back again and with any luck have a new flush of flowers.

Yes right down - did ours last week and it already has 6 inches of growth back on it.

Right down to the woody stem ,leaving no leaves ?

nervous

Mine is a crown not a stem...are you sure you mean a hardy geranium? Can you post a photo?

Do you mean a cranesbill?

Sorry no photo ,no smart phone so tricky ,but yes to cranesbill ,hardy and perennial .

It grows alongside a fence ,on a tiny strip between fence and concrete path .

Ok so chop it right down to the crown...there shouldn't be a woody stem - all the stems grow from a main crown. If mine were closer to the edge I'd mow it back.

Ok thanks ,it probably does have a crown/s which I've not noticed because I've not really investigated .There's a lot of groeth .

Thanks v much !

You can chop off all the old growth; you should find some new green shoots you can leave.

Thank you so much ,that's just the kind of info I need !

Now all I need is for a slight lessening in temperature so that I can get out there .

I pulled all the flowering stalks off mine 2-3 weeks ago & now just have a mound of dark green leaves

If I don’t chop it won’t it flower again?

(I have no shears so I’d have to secateur it )

This is mine (apols for piggyback, OP )

Leave it now @Lapdance - by cutting back I meant just the old flowering stems which you’ve already done. It may flower again... it may not, but at least it’s tidy.

ah, ok - thanks, @Knittedfairies (saves me getting down on my aged knees )

I thought the Chop had to be around Chelsea flower show time. Is it not too late to chop my astrantias?

I Chelsea chopped mine and there's lovely new leaves and some flowers on mine now, I'm really pleased, never done it before just left them looking scruffy