The evergreen rosemary is native to the hot summer Mediterranean regions. It also grows wild there and is often planted as a hedge due to its rapid growth - the shrub can grow up to two meters high. In Germany the plant rarely grows that tall - it is usually too cold here. Rosemary is quite undemanding in terms of care, only the location should be right. The shrub also does not tolerate moisture.
How do you care for rosemary properly?
Proper care for rosemary includes a sunny location, dry and poor soil, sparing watering without waterlogging and infrequent fertilization, only for older plants. In addition, rosemary should only be carefully pruned and protected in winter.
When and how often do you need to water rosemary?
As a true Mediterranean plant, rosemary does not need too much water - on the contrary, because waterlogging in particular has fatal consequences for the drought-loving herb. Planted rosemary usually does not need watering unless the summer is very hot and dry. As soon as the shoots let their tips droop, you should grab a watering can. You can water with tap water, as rosemary tolerates lime very well. Potted rosemary is watered as soon as the top layer of soil has dried thoroughly.
Do you have to fertilize rosemary?
Rosemary has extremely low nutrient requirements, which is why fertilizing is essentially unnecessary. Rosemary plants should not be fertilized, especially in the first year or when they have been recently repotted, as this excess supply can lead to the plant dying. Only older shrubs that have been in their location for several years can be supplied sparingly with an organic liquid fertilizer or, at the beginning of the growing season, with mature compost.
How do I mix the right soil for rosemary?
Rosemary loves dry and lean soil, so you should either reserve a suitable spot for it in the garden - the plant thrives very well in rock or gravel gardens - or mix the right substrate. To do this, use garden soil or, for potted rosemary, commercially available potting soil (€10.00 on Amazon) and mix it in a 1:1 ratio with sand or coarse gravel. For better drainage, you can also add expanded clay or small pebbles.
When do I have to repot rosemary?
Rosemary in a pot should be moved to a larger container about every two to three years, although it is better for the container to be too large rather than too small - the plant's widely branched roots need enough space. Place the rosemary in fresh substrate and, if possible, choose a pot made of natural materials, ideally clay or ceramic. If you repot every year, you can even skip fertilizing - the nutrient content of the fresh substrate fully covers the plant's needs. The best time to transplant is early spring, before the rosemary is brought out of winter dormancy.
Cut rosemary correctly
In contrast to thyme or lavender, you should not prune rosemary too generously, as the shrub quickly takes offense at such care measures. Instead, cut away individual, dried shoots and thin out the plant from time to time. If the rosemary becomes too large or becomes too woody, you can cut it back in spring. Be careful not to damage the old wood. Otherwise, a rejuvenation treatment is also possible through division.
Rosemary looks dry and turning brown, what should I do?
If the rosemary looks dried out, the needles turn brown and fall off, this can have two causes. Particularly in dry and hot summers and towards the end of winter, the plant can suffer from severe drought and should be watered more. But be careful: waterlogging can also cause the rosemary to dry out. If the roots are permanently in too much moisture, they begin to rot and can no longer supply the plant with water and nutrients. So before you overwater your dry-looking rosemary, first check the cause. In case of waterlogging, you should move the plant and prune rotting roots.
Rosemary has white spots – what helps?
If the rosemary gets white spots, there are various reasons behind it. If the leaves are covered with a fine, white layer, it is most likely the fungal disease powdery mildew. Leaves affected by powdery mildew must be removed immediately - and should definitely be burned or disposed of with household waste, but under no circumstances should they be put in the compost. A whitish coating can also be caused by a spider mite infestation, which usually occurs after winter. White or light spots on the leaves, on the other hand, are more likely to indicate so-called thrips, which are thrips that are a maximum of three millimeters long and suck leaf juice. Thrips also thrive particularly well in a dry environment, which is why infected plants should be rinsed off.
Is rosemary hardy?
Most rosemary varieties are winter hardy, but not hardy. This means that the plant cannot survive frosty temperatures without protection. However, there are now breeds that have been specifically selected for insensitivity to extremely sub-zero temperatures. Considered particularly robust
- Veitshöchheim rosemary
- Arp
- Blue Winter
- Sudbury Gem
- and Madeleine's Hill.
More sensitive varieties, on the other hand, should not be left outdoors when temperatures are consistently low.
How do I overwinter rosemary?
Simply place potted rosemary indoors when temperatures are below zero - a bright, not too warm place with temperatures around 10 °C is optimal. Planted rosemary, on the other hand, needs a protective layer of brushwood, straw or fleece.
Tips & Tricks
Younger rosemary plants under three years old should either be wrapped well or placed indoors at the beginning of winter. Older rosemaries with deep roots have a better chance of surviving the cold season.
