Planting Geraniums After Winter: Follow These Tips for a Summer Full of Blooms
Despite the currently unpredictable weather, spring is just around the corner, bringing with it warmer and more pleasant conditions.
This not only means that we'll be spending more time outdoors, but it's also the perfect time for planting flowers! Here's what you need to know to ensure your overwintered geraniums will fill your garden and terrace with blooms!
Geraniums are a popular, vibrant plant that even beginner gardeners can have great success with. They are beautiful and flowery, but geraniums cannot be left outside in the garden or in a balcony box throughout the year, as frosts can easily damage them, leading to their demise. Many people therefore move their geraniums to a frost-free place, such as a cellar, pantry, or stairwell, to weather the winter. However, once winter is over and spring has arrived, it's time for the geraniums to return outdoors, but the timing and method of reintroducing them to sunlight are crucial!
AWAKEN YOUR GERANIUMS!
Before placing your overwintered geraniums back outside, it's important to acclimate the plants to the fresh air. If the weather forecast for the coming weeks suggests there will be no more night-time frosts and good weather seems certain, then you can start to awaken your geraniums. Part of this awakening process involves removing dry leaves, dead shoots, and weak stems from the plant. There's no need to hold back, says the expert from Eden Garden TV, who also prunes standing and trailing geraniums.
REFRESH THE SOIL
If your geraniums are in balcony boxes or pots, after cleaning off the dry leaves, dead, or weak stems, it's advisable to refresh the top layer of soil with new potting soil (geranium soil is best), followed by a thorough watering.
If the geranium has survived the winter well, having already started to sprout new shoots and buds, then it's sufficient to simply remove the dry, yellow leaves and stems. The top layer of the soil should be replaced with new potting soil.
GERANIUMS MUST GRADUALLY ADJUST TO THE OUTDOORS
With the onset of good weather and no more risk of night-time frosts, it's important to gradually readjust the geraniums to outdoor conditions. Initially, it's recommended to place the overwintered plant in a semi-shaded location to get used to the air and sunlight, as sudden, intense light can easily scorch the geranium's leaves. After a few days in semi-shade, they can be moved to brighter, sunnier locations.