Robust, flowering and bee-friendly, this is how the germander can be described briefly and succinctly. Its strong growth coupled with undemanding care makes it a versatile mini bush. Do the shoots have to be kept under control with scissors?
When and how should you prune germander?
Gamander should be cut back to 10 cm in autumn to prevent baldness and maintain a compact growth habit. Hedges may require additional topiary in spring, sacrificing flowers.
The Evergreen Germander
The evergreen germander forms slightly woody shoots and can therefore be easily shaped with secateurs. Since this variety only sprouts a few runners, the plant remains beautifully compact for a long time.
- cut back all shoots in autumn
- at a length of approx. 10 cm
- pull out all disturbing runners
Evergreen germander as a hedge
Because it is easy to shape, evergreen germander is popular as a low hedge, for example as a bed border. The hedge, like individual specimens, is shortened significantly in autumn and freed from runners. In addition to reducing the height, the hedge is shaped from all sides in autumn.
If topiaries are to maintain a clear contour throughout, they even have to be cut twice a year. Then the flowers have to be sacrificed.
Prevent baldness
If a germander plant does not have to maintain a specific shape, it does not necessarily need to be cut. However, over the years it can become more and more bald because little light penetrates into the interior. At this point at the latest, the plant should be radically cut back to 10 cm so that it can then sprout freshly.
Turn clippings into cuttings
Whenever you cut back your germander, you have ideal propagation material in your hand with the cuttings. It is recommended to plant each cutting in a separate pot. Of course, this takes some work.
In practice, however, it has been shown that germander cuttings even root if they are simply stuck into the garden soil without going through pots. After cutting, any gaps in the hedge can be closed wonderfully and, above all, cost-effectively.
The wintergreen noble germander
The wintergreen noble germander spreads widely through runners. If its spread is only desired to a certain area, a lot of work awaits the owner. The new runners are not cut, but rather torn out of the ground along with their roots. This can be done all year round if necessary. However, all remaining shoots should be cut after flowering in September. The same applies here: all shoots are cut back to 10 cm.
