The sandwort impresses many gardeners with its cushion-like growth, with which it is able to cover entire areas in a picturesque manner. The highlight of the year is the flowering period between May and June, during which delicate white flowers appear. But what happens in winter?
Is chickweed hardy and easy to care for in winter?
The chickweed is hardy and can survive temperatures down to -20 °C without any problems. Winter protection is only necessary for young plants, potted plants or extreme weather conditions. Winter hardiness is not affected by the location and care includes sparing watering in dry conditions.
Winterproof up to -20 °C
The chickweed can survive temperatures down to -20 °C without batting an eyelid. Due to its low growth of an average of 10 cm, it is not exposed to icy winds. Its evergreen foliage remains brilliantly preserved. The 5-part, round leaves make the chickweed a valuable specimen all year round.
No winter protection necessary or is it?
Only in exceptional cases should you use brushwood to protect the chickweed from frost. These exceptional cases include:
- tender young plants
- Plants in pots on the balcony or terrace (protected from -10 °C)
- Temperatures fall below -20°C
- heavy snowfall followed by a thaw (risk of wetness)
Does winter hardiness also apply to shady locations?
Whether the chickweed is in a sunny or shady location is irrelevant to its winter hardiness. But in principle you should not plant it in a shady place. It hardly grows there
Care should not be neglected even in winter
Even in winter, the care of this evergreen ground cover should not be neglected. This plant is particularly threatened by drought. If it is dry for several weeks (cold frost), you should water your chickweed sparingly.
You should avoid adding fertilizer in winter. Also important: The ideal time for cutting is before or after winter. Old flowers and weak shoots are removed. Sharing is also timed right before or after winter.
In winter the seeds are encouraged to germinate
Wintertime means germination time for chickweed. Time of stratification. The seeds are cold germinators and need a cold period of at least 6 weeks. During this time, temperatures should be between -3 and 3 °C. When it gets warmer again, the first leaves will appear.
Tip
If you have provided the chickweed with winter protection, you should quickly remove it as soon as it is no longer necessary. This prevents rot from forming under the protective layer.
