Verbenas – these beauties, which happily bloom all summer long, do not require much care. But cutting should be given special importance. Find out now why and what you need to consider.
Why and when should you prune verbena?
Verbenas should be cut regularly to extend the flowering period, prevent seeds from forming and to keep the plant strong. Cut spent inflorescences in summer and autumn and shorten the plant in autumn or spring for successful overwintering.
Why should you prune verbena?
There are several reasons for pruning verbena plants from time to time. On the one hand, pruning is important if you want to get your verbena plants over the winter.
On the other hand, pruning is necessary if you want to extend the flowering period and prevent the seeds from forming, which costs the plant a lot of energy. If the spent inflorescences are cut off, the verbena is stimulated to form new flower buds.
A cut can also be useful to create a bouquet of flowers for the vase or dry bouquets. Fruit shoots can also be cut off for later drying and storage of the seeds and eventual propagation.
When do you have to pull out the scissors?
Over the course of the summer and into autumn, the spent inflorescences are regularly cut back. New inflorescences appear on it and the flowering period lasts until the first frost. Bees are particularly pleased with the recurring blooms
If you want to create a bouquet, you should cut the verbena in the morning when the morning dew has dried. Ideally, the flower buds on the shoots are closed or partially open, then the flower stalks last the longest in the vase.
For overwintering, the verbena should be cut back in autumn to just above the ground. All above-ground parts of the plant die over the winter. Alternatively, after overwintering, it can be radically shortened in the spring before budding.
What should you pay attention to when cutting?
The following points should not be forgotten when cutting:
- do not cut at sub-zero temperatures
- Use sharp, clean scissors (not that you have previously used them to remove mildew-affected shoots from another plant)
- cut immediately if the verbena is affected by diseases
Tips & Tricks
If you want to create a verbena bouquet, you should cut the flower stems diagonally, remove the lowest leaves and place the bouquet in a glass with room temperature water and a little lemon juice or sugar.
