When do you need to prune lupins?
There are four maintenance measures in which cutting the lupins in the garden or in a pot on the terrace can be useful:
- Faded cutting
- Cut back in autumn
- Cutting cuttings
- Removal of diseased leaves
also read
- Lupins require little maintenance
- Lupins provide color in the garden for several years
- Sow lupins
Cut off dead inflorescences
You should not do without this measure. By cutting off the faded parts you stimulate the perennial to form new flowers.
You also prevent seeds from ripening in the pods. It spreads all over the garden, so that you can no longer save yourself from lupins.
Ornamental lupine seeds are poisonous. This is another reason why it should not arise in the first place, so as not to endanger children and pets.
Cut back in autumn
It is often recommended to cut back the lupine tree completely in autumn. You can of course do that, but it is not necessary. The plant will sprout again well in the next year without pruning.
Most of the plant will pull itself in. The rest serves as natural protection, protecting the soil from leaching in winter.
The plant stalks that remain over the winter lay on the ground and rot there within a few months. On the one hand, they prevent weeds from emerging, on the other hand, through the rotting process, they release nutrients that improve the soil.
Cut cuttings in spring
To propagate lupins, cut new cuttings from the center of the plant in the spring. Put them in potting soil and get new lupins for your garden.
Cut diseased leaves
If the plant is infected with powdery mildew, you should cut off the affected leaves generously. Then the spores that cause the powdery mildew can no longer spread on the plant.
Tips & Tricks
If you want to remove old lupine plants, just cut off the top parts of the plant and leave the root in the ground. It rots there and loosens the soil. It also releases nutrients and thus serves as a natural fertilizer.
