From Planting to Pruning: A Season-by-Season Guide to Caring for Geranium Biokovo Cranesbill

Geranium biokovo cranesbill is a well-liked perennial and is one of the most popular perennials to grow. While low maintenance does not mean no maintenance, giving this groundcover a bit of attention at the proper time will keep it flowering, compact, full, and looking wonderful year after year instead of simply surviving. 

Whether you're planting in spring or summer or deadheading in the fall, you'll always know what your plants need and when they need it with Biokovo cranesbill. At Greenwood Nursery, you'll find healthy Geranium Biokovo cranesbill plants along with expert growing tips to help your garden thrive season after season.

Getting Started: How to Plant Geranium Biokovo Cranesbill

Geranium Biokovo cranesbill will grow year-round: spring, summer, autumn or winter, but cooler times are preferable for establishing new plants to avoid any heat stress. Grow in any soil which is well drained and in full sun to partial shade (some afternoon shade is good in hot summer locations).

Before planting, loosen soil to 12-16" deep and amend with compost, peat moss, or well rotted manure for soil texture and fertility. This geranium is not particular as to soil type, but prefers slightly acidic to neutral soils. When planting multiple plants together as a groundcover, plant them about 12-15 inches apart, and they will grow up together to form a dense mat of plants over time.

Water immediately after planting, but be careful not to rush it; let the water thoroughly in so that it is no longer running off. New plants will need to establish a good root system, which usually takes about 6 weeks, so watering every few days is recommended at first, then reducing to approximately once a week once established.

Spring Care: Waking Up and Settling In

Spring is when the Biokovo cranesbill really gets going. If you did not clean up tattered or dead leaves from the plant in the fall, remove them as new growth appears from the crown. This allows for new growth and helps to maintain a neat mound.

In most cases, a mature plant does not need fertilising, but if the soil is poor, a light feeding in the spring with slow-release fertilizer will aid the plant during its flowering period. The ideal time to divide lar‌g e clusters of overgrown plants for propagation and/or size reduction is spring. Mulch new plantings, keep s‍oils moist during growing se‌as on to‌ control weeds and moisture

Summer Care: Bloom Time and Light Maintenance

The principal attraction of the summer is a profusion of pale pink to almost white blooms, interspersed with magenta stamens, which begin to flower in late spring and continue through early summer. Consistently dry periods are usually not a problem in established plants, but frequent moist periods during the active flowering stage will maintain good flowering, while those in their first year of growth should be watered more carefully until roots have developed.

A light shearing or deadheading can clean up the plant when it has the first flush of blooms and help to focus the plant's energy on new growth and not old flower stalks. This will often result in another, smaller flush later in the season. Biokovo cranesbill requires little attention for pests and diseases, but can occasionally suffer from leaf spot and rust in more humid environments and dense plantings.

Fall Care: Foliage Color and Cutting Back

As temperatures cool, the foliage of Geranium Biokovo cranesbill takes on rich red and rust tones, one of its most attractive seasonal features, and you may see a light rebloom as well. Fall is also, along with spring, one of the best windows for dividing established clumps.

Many gardeners time this for the cold-winter climates by cutting the plant back to a few inches above the ground as a last chore in the fall garden. In the early season, if the cutting is done before the weather is completely ripe, it may encourage new growth that will be killed by frost. In milder climates, it may be preferable not to do an autumn cutback at all and let the semi-evergreen foliage remain until early spring, as this will provide garden interest.

Winter Care: Rest and Minimal Upkeep

Cranesbill Biokovo is an easy-to-care-for plant for the winter months. In mild climates, the foliage is semi-evergreen and requires only the removal of worn-out leaves from time to time. It dies back to the crown in colder regions and becomes dormant all year round.

Generally, established plantings in their hardiness zones do not require additional winter protection, except for the coldest zone and in the most exposed location, when mulching may be helpful to protect the crown. Other than that, the best thing to do during the winter months is to leave dormant crown undisturbed and allow it to rest.

Pruning geranium (Cranesbill) when and how

Of the various pruning requests, pruning gets a more detailed examination. There are actually two pruning times in the Biokovo cranesbill season:

Shearing after flowering - summer (post bloom). Snip removed the flower stems from the top of the plant back to the base or to a healthy leaf node. This cleans the mound, removes the energy going into the seed, and frequently causes a second flowering.

Seasonal cutback (late fall - after growth has stopped for the season (in cold climates) or in very early spring before new growth (in milder climates or for general overwinter clean-up). Prune all of the clumps to 2-4" above soil level to eliminate old and worn leaves, stimulate new growth.

A few planting instructions worth keeping in mind:

Use clean, sharp scissors:  Ragged cuts heal poorly and can attract disease if caused by dull or dirty tools.

Don't over-prune:  Avoid too much pruning at once, as it could cause stress to the plant and delay flowering - if in any doubt, prune lightly and monitor the situation.

Watch your timing:  If pruned too late in the season, before the first frost, tender new growth will be produced which will not be hardened for the frost.

Give it time to recover:  Even if you remove too much, do not continue to mow, the plant will recover on its own.

Quick Seasonal Care Calendar

Spring: Clear old growth, divide if needed, light feed only in poor soil, keep soil evenly moist.

Summer: Water during dry spells, shear/deadhead after first bloom flush, watch for leaf spot or rust.

Fall: Enjoy fall foliage color, divide if desired, cut back before winter in cold climates only.

Winter: Clean up spent flowers, apply mulch if necessary, leave crowns in the ground.

Final Thoughts

With only a few simple seasonal growing tips, a healthy, thriving Geranium Biokovo cranesbill is surprisingly easy to grow. Take a healthy plant from Greenwood Nursery, water lightly and regularly and fertilise with generous amounts occasionally in the growing season and trim the plant regularly once or twice to encourage new growth and repeat flowering. Plant rests in the winter with little disturbance. This simple maintenance will bring a lush, sweetly scented lawn of Biokovo, months of tender flowers, superb weed control and spectacular fall color to your lawn. From creating a colorful border to a low maintenance groundcover, Greenwood Nursery has the premium quality plants and growing information you need to make your garden a garden that will thrive year after year.