When, how and how often?

Stimulate a second bloom

When the first bloom is over, the old blooms are cut away. You can use a standard Secateurs use. The point behind this is that a second flower bouquet is stimulated in the year. Usually this cut is appropriate towards the end of May.

Prevent self-sowing

Furthermore, a cut can be made in order to prevent the fruit and its seeds from forming. Check regularly to see if flowers have wilted and fruit has already formed. This means getting rid of that if you want to avoid self-sowing the plant.

Cut back before the onset of winter

Those who did not cut the flowers in May should nevertheless carry out a pruning in the course of the summer and by September at the latest. This prepares the blue pillow for the approaching one winter before. Cut the shoots back in half!

Avoid aging of the plant

It is true that the blue pillow grows without any problems without pruning. But in order to be able to serve for a long time to green and visually enhance rock gardens, dry stone walls and the like, the cushion-forming and floor-covering blue pillow should be regularly cut back and thinned out will:

• Cut away old shoots at the roots
• remove crossing shoots
• Remove dead and diseased plant parts as quickly as possible
• Goal: Avoid balding from the inside
• Result: bushy, compact growth

Gaining cuttings for propagation

On top of that, a cut can be made in the course of the Multiplication become necessary. Shoots for cuttings are easy to obtain. You should cut these off from the blue pillow in late summer. Put them in damp for rooting Potting soil and don't plant them out until next spring!

Harvest capsule fruits for sowing

Last but not least, you can cut the blue pillow to harvest its capsule fruits with the seeds. The pods are spherical to egg-shaped and ripen after the Heyday off in summer. Cut them off before they open. Otherwise the seeds will fall out quickly.