Beard flowers need a strong pruning once a year. Only then can many flowers develop. You can be generous when cutting back, as the bushes can even tolerate being cut down to the ground. Tips for cutting beard flowers.
How to cut a beard flower correctly?
To properly cut a beard flower, shorten the bush in spring to a third of its height, remove dead shoots and thin out the plant. Cutting back to 10 cm or even to the ground is also possible to encourage flower formation.
Beard flowers bloom on annual wood
The flowers of the bearded flower develop in the leaf axils of new shoots. No flowers grow at all on older branches. It therefore makes no sense to leave older shoots standing.
Pruning the bearded flowers also makes sense because it promotes the growth of the bush's shoots. When cut, the bearded flower grows more compact and develops significantly more flowers.
Pruning also ensures that the plant stays in shape.
Pruning in spring
The best time to cut beard flowers is early spring. As soon as the temperatures no longer drop below freezing point, you can use knives or scissors.
For bearded flowers that you grow in pots, the pruning is done when you take the bushes out of their winter quarters.
You can't go wrong when pruning the beard flower. The plant doesn't mind if you cut right into the old wood. You should:
- cut down all old shoots
- remove dead shoots completely
- Thinning out plants
How to cut the beard flower
Short the shrub to a third of its height. The bearded flower will also sprout if you cut it down to ten centimeters. Some gardening experts even recommend cutting them back to the ground.
You should definitely cut back all dead or frozen shoots.
If the bush has grown very densely, it is advisable to provide light and cut out some of the weaker shoots.
Fertilize a little after pruning
In the open field, bearded flowers only need a few nutrients. If you fertilize them immediately after cutting, that's completely sufficient.
Rose fertilizer (€11.00 on Amazon) is very suitable as a fertilizer.
Cut cuttings for propagation
Beard flowers can be propagated by sowing or cuttings. In order to obtain pure breeding, it is better to grow new bearded flowers from leaf or axillary cuttings.
Cut cuttings at a slight angle with a sharp knife in June or July. Remove the lower leaves and place them in slightly moist potting soil.
Cutting bearded flowers in autumn
If the faded shoots of the bearded flower really bother you, you can cut the bush back completely in the fall before the first frost.
Afterwards, you should definitely spread a mulch of leaves or straw over the planting site. Beard flowers are only partially hardy and need suitable winter protection outdoors.
Tip
Use sharp knives or secateurs to cut back bearded flowers. This will prevent the interfaces from fraying and allowing bacteria to enter. Clean all cutting devices beforehand to avoid transmitting diseases.