Not all ornamental onions are the same - that becomes clear once you look at the numerous different varieties. They all have one thing in common and that is that they have very similar requirements and tolerances when it comes to cutting.
How do I cut ornamental onions correctly?
When cutting ornamental onions, yellowing leaves should not be removed too early, as the plant needs the nutrients in the soil to form bulbs. The leaves can be removed when they are completely yellow and dry. The inflorescences can be cut off or left as desired.
Do not remove yellowing leaves too early
When the flowering period begins and the ornamental onion needs an incredible amount of energy and nutrients for its flowers, its leaves gradually turn yellow. Of course that doesn't look particularly nice. You quickly grab the scissors and cut off the leaves. But be careful! This is exactly the mistake you shouldn't make!
The onion needs the nutrients
If you simply remove the yellowing leaves, you risk the ornamental onion dying before it blooms the following year. The reason is that this plant needs the nutrients from the leaves for its bulb in the ground. As the flowering period begins, the nutrients slowly migrate from the leaves and into the bulb.
Only when the leaves are completely yellow - ideally really dried out and lying on the ground - can they be removed without worry. They don't necessarily have to be cut off, but can also be pulled out.
Cover the ugly leaves with ground cover
If you are bothered by the plant's increasingly yellowing leaves, you should plant it under ground cover in autumn or spring. It is ideal to do this immediately when planting the ornamental onion. The following ground cover plants are suitable, for example:
- low ornamental grasses
- Comfrey
- woman's coat
- Storksbill
- Flower roses
- Lavender
- Catnip
- Oregano
Cut the inflorescences or not
A cut doesn't necessarily have to be necessary. When the flowers wither, you have the choice of cutting off old inflorescences or leaving them on the plant. If you choose the former, to prevent the ornamental onion from forming seeds, you can simply cut off the flower stem at the base.
It is also good to leave the inflorescences after the flowering period, as they are extremely decorative when dried until late autumn. On the other hand, the ornamental onion can multiply via self-sowing or you can harvest the seeds.
Tip
Most ornamental allium varieties are perfect as cut flowers. They also look great in dried bouquets.
