Many gardeners plant the cranesbill primarily because of its spectacular, lush flowers. Unfortunately, many cranesbill species only have a very short flowering period, which can, however, be extended by timely pruning. Through the so-called remontant pruning, the gardener encourages the plant to bloom a second time.
How do I cut back the cranesbill after flowering?
To cut back the cranesbill after flowering, remove any dead flower stalks just above the ground and leave the rosette of leaves intact. A remounting cut promotes re-blooming, especially in geranium species such as Geranium endressii or Geranium x magnificum.
Pruning promotes rebloom
For some geranium species, it may be worth pruning them back after flowering, as you will then be rewarded with a second flowering. With this cut, you cut off all stems with dead flowers just above the ground, but leave the rosette of leaves untouched. A little liquid complete fertilizer increases the plant's readiness for a second flowering.
Which cranesbill species bloom a second time
| Storksbill species | Latin name | Flowering time |
|---|---|---|
| Clarke's Cranesbill | Geranium clarkei | June to August |
| Pink Cranesbill | Geranium endressii | April to June |
| Himalayan Cranesbill | Geranium himalayense | June to July |
| Splendid Cranesbill | Geranium x magnificum | May / June |
| Oxford cranesbill | Geranium x oxonianum | June to August |
| Brown Cranesbill | Geranium phaeum | June / July |
| Meadow Cranesbill | Geranium pratense | July to August |
| Armenian cranesbill | Geranium psilostemon | June / July |
| Caucasus Cranesbill | Geranium renardii | June / July |
| Forest Cranesbill | Geranium sylvaticum | June to July |
| Garden Cranesbill | Geranium hybrids | until autumn |
Tip
If you value the long and lush flowering possible, then you are well advised to go with geranium hybrids. These cross breeds often have extremely long flowering times.