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Trimming Brunnera
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Posted by
rosies 6 OH (
My Page) on
Tue, May 1, 12 at 20:44
My Jack Frost Brunnera has gotten leggy and the leaves have gotten smaller. What would cause this and would it help to cut it back,
TIA |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Trimming Brunnera
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- Posted by simcan z5b/Toronto (My Page) on
Tue, May 1, 12 at 22:10
| Not sure of the specifics in your case but this often is the appearance in the spring when it is flowering. Once the flowers fade (wait as long as you can if you want seedlings as it seeds a few extra Jack Frosts for me every year) cut back the rangy parts and any ratty leaves. The plant will send up a new flush soon enough. |
RE: Trimming Brunnera
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| I have a rule: if a change in a plant is sudden(more or less), check the roots. They are either rotting or something is eating them. |
RE: Trimming Brunnera
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| These plants start turning black here and die. I hope you have better luck than me. They are kind of like Delphiniums here and can't stand heat at all. |
RE: Trimming Brunnera
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| its a shade plant.. what creates your shade ... if its maple.. then that might be what is reducing its vigor ... but it is awful early to come to any conclusions.. ken |
RE: Trimming Brunnera
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| Can you post a picture? that might help. It is early. Earlier leaves are smaller on mine. |
RE: Trimming Brunnera
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| I have trouble visualizing a leggy Brunnera (I grow the species, not "Jack Frost"), but I wonder if excessive dense shade and too much water might be involved. I suppose cutting back foliage is an option to see if healthier-looking new growth emerges. Here I just let them grow on after flowering - by the end of a long hot summer there may be a little browning at leaf edges which I could probably prevent by cutting back for new growth, but I've never bothered. |
RE: Trimming Brunnera
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| I am also having trouble picturing a leggy Brunnera. I have the green species, 'Jack Frost', 'Looking Glass', 'Diane's Gold' and none have ever been leggy even in deep shade though the species does not grow in as nice of a compact mound as the others for me anyway. |
RE: Trimming Brunnera
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- Posted by mxk3 z5b/6 MI (My Page) on
Sun, May 6, 12 at 11:55
| The flowering stems, which have smaller leaves, reach higher than the regular foliage - I can see why you think the plant is leggy. This is easily solved with deadheading. When I deadhead, I trace the flowering stems as far back into the plant as I can and snip there; otherwise, the plant looks a little rangy prior to the foliage fully expanding, as the stems usually brown and wither - what I'm trying to say is I hide the cuts down in the base of the plant, and they are covered by the expanding foliage. In a few more weeks the leaves will enlarge to full size in a tidy mound. If you don't deadhead you will have a bazillion seedlings all over the place - in the beds, in the lawn, in cracks and crevices, everywhere. So, yea - take the time to deadhead...otherwise you'll just spend the time weeding later... |
RE: Trimming Brunnera
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| Never had a seedling. Almost wish I did! |
RE: Trimming Brunnera
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I think mxk3 has the answer to my problem only I don't think I have to worry about it reseeding because I use Preen. Maybe I can try shaking the trimmings over a pan of potting soil to see if they'll germinate. Wonder how long it will take them?
Thanks to all who replied. GW has so many wonderful, helpful people. |
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