Topic: Verbena Bonariensis help!

[Dan 2]

Unlike the question down below about Vebena, I've decided to keep it outside and cut it right down so theres only about 15cm sticking up, (Untechnical language I know!).Have I done the right thing? Please help! Im very   ???,

Dan :-)

[undercarriage plan]

Hey Dan, hope you don't mind me asking, but what is that in your avatar pic? Or do I need glasses? Mmmm.. Oh yes...Verbenas, I cut mine back in Spring, and they come back no probs, I wouldn't worry cos they tend to self seed everywhere anyway, just be careful when weeding and don't pull up the little ones.. It's bound to turn up somewhere!

[Twospot Ladybird]

Unlike the question down below about Vebena, I've decided to keep it outside and cut it right down so theres only about 15cm sticking up, (Untechnical language I know!).Have I done the right thing? Please help! Im very   ???,

Dan :-)

I think you should be okay in your part of the country Dan. I know of other people who cut their VB back after flowering and they have grown back the following year. The most important thing is protecting the root with a mulch if you are in a colder part of the UK (eg Scotland), leaving the top growth does help a bit but I don't think it's essential as far south as you are. Keep your fingers crossed and let us know, you should know by June if it's survived.

[BAGGY]

Mine is in flower now  :o - World's gone mad !!

[undercarriage plan]

Blimey Bags! Mind you, I still have a lovely red rose out the front, looked very strange with snow on it..

[Twospot Ladybird]

Mine is in flower now  :o - World's gone mad !!

Mine were still in flower mid November, think if the frost hadn't got them they'd still be flowering now.

In previous years mine were finished in October.

[Dan 2]

Sorry, have only just replied, Its a green hellebore 'key lime pie' with snow on it!  ;D

[undercarriage plan]

You know, Dan, Now you've said that, it's screamingly obvious!! Wards thought it was a sponge... ::)

[Dan 2]

Sponge????!!!!!????? ??? ??? ;D ;D

[Dan 2]

I've now changed it to a winter jasmine to make it clearer!  :)

[undercarriage plan]

Nice flower shaped yellow sponge Dan.... ;D Oooo yes, how's the Verbena bonariensis... :-\

[Dan 2]

Well...Green stems with purple summer flowers...what about yours.... :)

[undercarriage plan]

Well that's me of course... ::)  ;D On my days off, I just loll about the place in a winsome kinda way....
Actually it's from a really, really famous artist and I have a complete mental block at the min, rather than my normal 60% begins with a T...mmm........And Wards has been cleaning again...And Verbena Bonariensis....

[Dan 2]

Oh yes..verbena  ::)  :) :)

[undercarriage plan]

Nope, it's driving me mental now!! Or more so.. ::) I'm at me mum's. supposed to be digging and it's pouring with rain.. :( I have the prints at home, I'll check, cos I know it's worrying you.... ;D
My Verbena seems fine Dan, thank you for thinking of it.... :) How's yours?

[Dan 2]

chilled out...literally  ;D

[undercarriage plan]

And headless, by the sounds of it.....poor thing....are you racked with guilt yet? ;D

[Dan 2]

Nope! well I did  :'( a bit... ;D

[Garden Manager]

I dont cut my verbenas down until spring when the worst of the frosts are over, just as I do with penstemons.

My verbenas though just dont seem to stop to rest even in winter. The flowers and seed heads last a long time, and given a mild spell they might even start growing again from lower down the main stem as well as from the base of the plant. Growth i might add that seems remarkably tough and hardy. On some plants there is so much new grwoth come cutting back time it is hard to know where to prune them!