Cranesbill ∗ The 10 best care and planting tips (Geranium)

Plant cranesbills correctly

Good soil preparation is essential when planting Geraniums. Remove weeds, roots and stones so that the perennials find a finely crumbly soil that is deeply loosened. During this time, the still potted root ball is in a bucket of water. Proceed in these steps:

• The planting pit has twice the volume of the root ball
• Optimize the excavated soil with compost, Horn shavings(€ 32.93 at Amazon *) and some sand if necessary
• The potted one geranium plant, press the soil and water

Spread out a layer of mulch suitable for the location, such as leaves, bark mulch or gravel. So a Cranesbill grows well, water regularly from then on. If you plant the perennial in the tub or balcony box, the procedure is similar. In addition, spread some potsherds over the water drain as drainage to prevent waterlogging.
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Care tips

Despite all the species-specific subtleties, the care of geraniums is largely standardized according to the following guidelines:

• Do not let the root ball dry out at any time
• Avoid watering cranesbills overhead if possible
• Fertilize organically or minerally from April to August
• Cut off withered flower stems to attract a second bloom
• Cut the leaves close to the ground until early spring

The hardy perennial receives a mulch in the bed as protection from moisture. Pack planters thickly in foil, as the root ball cannot cope with repeated changes from frost to thaw. If it is clear frost on mild days, water geraniums without warming the water first.
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Which location is suitable?

The fragile beauty of geranium blossoms belies the robust flexibility and location tolerance. In fact, innumerable species thrive in full sun with dry soil conditions, while other cranesbills adorn partially shaded locations with moist soil. Some particularly vigorous specimens stand out as powerful ground cover, which suppress annoying weeds with their strong leaves in beds with little light.
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The correct planting distance

Coordinate the expected growth width and the planting distance. In this way, a geranium is given enough space to unfold without creating unwanted gaps in its appearance. The following examples substantiate the rule of thumb:

• Magnificent cranesbill: growth width 30-50 cm - plant spacing 30-50 cm
• Gray cranesbill: growth width 10-15 cm - plant spacing 10-15 cm

Geraniums that grow compactly are also suitable for cultivation in pots or balcony boxes. In this case, the planting distance may be reduced by 5 cm, due to the modified conditions in planters.

What soil does the plant need?

The flexibility of geraniums in terms of lighting conditions continues in relation to the nature of the soil. There are several cranesbills for almost every location in the garden. So the Dalmatian cranesbill (Geranium dalmaticum) is ideal for the rock garden, the magnificent cranesbill (Geranium x magnificum) sits on it half-shady wooded edge in scene, and the native meadow cranesbill (Geranium patrense) offers even frosty temperatures in open spaces Forehead. The earth should basically have the following properties:

• Nutrient-rich and humic
• Fresh-moist to sandy-loamy
• Well-drained and loose
• Neither very calcareous nor very acidic

In the balcony box or tub, geraniums thrive in commercially available Potting soil Compost-based, which you enrich with a handful of sand or Lava granules.(€ 14.00 at Amazon *)

What is the best time to plant?

A well-chosen planting time are the months of May and June, before the weather gets too hot and dry. In addition, autumn, from late August to early October, is considered a suitable date for planting perennials.

When is the flowering time?

The flowering period extends from May to September, depending on the species and variety. Over this long period of time, the cranesbill delights us with its five-petalled flowers that thrive in the shape of a bowl, wheel or plate. The wide range of colors includes all imaginable nuances in red, blue and blue as well as pure white.
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Cut the cranesbill correctly

If you cut back the geraniums after the first flowering, the perennials will thank you with a wonderful second flowering. In early spring, the dead leaves are removed at the latest to make room for the fresh shoot and to prevent fungal infections. On large areas with ground cover geranium, pruning is often possible with a lawnmower set to the maximum cutting height.
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Water the cranesbill

Regulate the water balance according to the type and variety of cranesbill you have planted. The top priority is never to let a geranium dry out or to expose it to waterlogging. It is best to water the roots in the early morning or in the evening when the thumb test indicates that the substrate has dried on. The sprinkling of flowers and leaves is always associated with the risk of fungal diseases and pests.

Fertilize cranesbill properly

Adjust the nutrient supply specifically to the cultivated species and variety. A gray dwarf cranesbill (Geranium cinereum) 15 cm tall in a gravel bed requires one lower dose of fertilizer than a majestic cranesbill (Geranium ibericum) with a height of 90 cm in the Perennial bed. In general, the following guidelines apply to the correct one Fertilize of geraniums:

• Start fertilizing in the spring after pruning
• Then fertilize with compost every 2-4 weeks until the end of July / beginning of August
• Either solid or liquid in spring and summer Slow release fertilizer administer

The administration of fertilizer ends in August so that a cranesbill can prepare for the coming winter.

Diseases

With proper care, you will rarely have to complain about diseases in geraniums. During warm, humid summer weather, an infection can occur mildew. If a floury-white coating spreads on or under the leaves, cut off the infected parts of the plant immediately and dispose of them in the household waste. Treat the diseased flower with a solution of 100 ml of fresh milk and 900 ml of water until symptoms no longer appear.

Overwinter

A cranesbill has enough frost resistance to survive the local winter unscathed. If you leave the foliage on the perennial until spring, the leaves will act as natural protection. However, the following precautions should be taken in exposed, rough locations and in the planter:

• Pile up the root area with leaves, sticks, straw or compost
• Cover the bucket and balcony box with bubble wrap, felt or jute
• Place containers on cold-insulating material such as wood or styrofoam

Bald frost exposes geraniums to drought stress in winter. Therefore, water the perennials in the bed and planter on mild days.

Propagate cranesbills

The suitable propagation method depends on the specific growth behavior of a geranium. The majority of cranesbills can be reproduced excellently by means of division. How to do it correctly:

• Dig up the entire rhizome in March / April
• Shake off the soil thoroughly
• Tear off short shoot pieces with their own fine roots
• Plant the cracks in small pots, maintain and plant in the partially shaded location until autumn

Alternatively, grow young geraniums with cuttings. Cut healthy, non-flowering shoots in early summer and place them in pots with humus soil. In the partially shaded place, keep the cuttings constantly moist so that they can be planted out after the roots have taken root.
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How do I transplant properly?

With the exception of a few cranesbill species that form very long tap roots, most geraniums can easily handle a change of location. Choose a mild day in April / May or August / September. The more root volume you dig up, the higher the chances of success. Too long root strands become with the spade or knife trimmed. Plant the perennial in the new location without a long delay by maintaining the previous planting depth. Now it is important to have a sufficient water supply so that the stressed geranium can quickly stretch its roots.

Cranesbill in the pot

Cranesbills that remain small, such as the hardy Geranium himalayense, thrive in pots. Choose a container with a bottom opening to spread pottery shards over it as drainage. Fill in good compost-based potting soil and plant the geranium down to the lower pair of leaves. This is how you care for geraniums in the pot in an exemplary manner:

• Always water when the soil is dry
• Apply liquid fertilizer every 14 days from April to July / August
• Cut off withered flower stems after the first flowering
• Before the first frost, wrap the pot with foil or take it to a light, frost-free winter area

Water a cranesbill every now and then during the cold season, because the root ball must not dry out. Cut off the remaining leaves in spring at the latest.

What is the difference between geraniums and geraniums?

Although the popular balcony geraniums (pelargoniums) are botanically assigned to the large family of cranesbills (Geraniaceae) there is an elementary difference to the cranesbill genus: standing and hanging geraniums for the balcony do not have any Winter hardiness. Geranium (cranesbill), on the other hand, thrive as a long-lived, hardy perennial, with deciduous or evergreen leaves depending on the species.

What types of geraniums are suitable for the garden?

More than 400 splendid geranium species around the world make the hearts of gardeners beat faster. A large number of these perennials thrive outdoors for many years in the Central European climate. The following selection presents outstanding cranesbills:

• Blood-red cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum) - creeping permanent bloomer, evergreen, extremely robust
• Gray cranesbill (Geranium cinereum) - cushion-forming, purple-white, veined flowers in the rock garden
• Pyrenean cranesbill (Geranium endressii) - suitable for ground cover in open spaces
• Marsh cranesbill (Geranium palustre) - ideal at the edge of the pond and Stream, red flowers from June to September
• Meadow cranesbill (Geranium pratense) - deciduous, blue flowers from June to August, bed perennial
• Rock cranesbill (Geranium macrorrhizum) - reddish, veined flowers on the partially shaded edge of the wood
• Large cranesbill (Geranium x magnificum) - purple flowers for sunny to partially shaded locations

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Nice varieties

• Patricia: sensational perennial with magenta flowers and black eye; Growth height 60-70 cm
• Philippe Vapelle: purple Caucasian cranesbill with suede-like leaves, robust and drought tolerant
• Album: pure white flowering Geranium sanguineum for the rock garden with wonderful foliage colors in autumn
• Plenum: light purple rose flowers on the completely hardy Himalayan cranesbill; Growth height 30-40 cm
• Czakor: distinctive on the partially shaded edge of the wood with pink flowers from May to July and evergreen foliage
• Rebecca Moss: hardy ground cover cranesbill with lilac-colored flowers from June to August