Lady's mantle has been valued as a medicinal plant since the Middle Ages. It often grows wild, but can also be cultivated in garden beds or in pots and is popular for its decorative leaves and flowers. We show you what to do before winter.
Can you overwinter lady's mantle?
It isno problem at all to overwinter lady's mantle with the botanical name Alchemilla. The plant with its edible leaves provides natural frost protection and will sprout again next spring.
Is lady's mantle perennial and hardy?
Lady's mantle is one of theperennial and hardy plants It makes no difference whether you have planted the snail-resistant Alchemilla in the garden bed or placed it in a pot on your terrace or balcony. All varieties of lady's mantle such as Alchemilla mollis (soft lady's mantle), Alchemilla epipsila (delicate lady's mantle) and Alchemilla hoppeana (silver lady's mantle) are very suitable for overwintering outdoors.
Can lady's mantle withstand sub-zero temperatures?
Due to its winter hardiness and frost resistance, lady's mantle can withstand the sub-zero temperatures common in Europewithout requiring special winter protection.
How is lady's mantle overwintered in the garden bed?
To overwinter lady's mantle in the garden bed, subject the perennials or ground cover to aheavy pruning inlate autumnafter the second flowering strong pruningThe shoots are cut off just above the ground. In addition, dead leaves are removed.
Tip
The frost protection typical of Alchemilla comes from the wilted, old leaves. Therefore, only really dead leaves should be removed.
How can you overwinter lady's mantle in a pot?
Lady's mantle in a pot also requiresno special frost protection and can be overwintered without much effort after pruning. Only in very frosty, snowy winters, as occurs in some areas of Germany, can the pots be placed in a more sheltered location. However, it is absolutely not necessary to overwinter the plants indoors.
What care does Lady's Mantle need in winter?
Lady's mantle, which belongs to the rose family (Rosaceae), requires no special care in winter.
What to do after wintering?
If the temperatures are regularly well above freezing point again, even at night, lady's mantle is ideally supported in growth with anorganic fertilizer. Compost is particularly suitable for fertilizing; alternatively, you can also use horn shavings or guano.
If you would like to share specimens that have become too large, spring is exactly the right time for this too. We strongly recommend dividing the self-sowing plant before new growth.
Tip
Best used fresh
Since lady's mantle contains many bitter substances and tannins, it is best to always use the delicate leaves immediately after harvesting. The healing properties valued for its astringent effect can, for example, complement wild herb salads. But it is usually prepared as a tea. When dried, the leaves taste much more bitter, so they can only be used for scalding.
