Heather doesn't need much maintenance

Heather doesn't need much maintenance

Do you have to water the heather?

Heather is very sensitive to drought and must never dry out. Therefore, the soil should always be well moistened, especially in the hot summer months and in dry periods, should be watered regularly and abundantly. The same applies to winter, which is why a layer of mulch in the root area is a sensible preparation for the cold season; the mulch (€ 213.00 at Amazon *) stores moisture and thus counteracts dehydration.

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When and how should you fertilize the heather?

Basically, it is sufficient to fertilize the heather twice a year: once at the beginning of the growing season and once after pruning. Use organic fertilizer for this (horn shavings are particularly suitable) or special fertilizers for bog plants.

When is the right time to prune heather?

Either directly after flowering in autumn (summer heather) or in spring (winter heather), the heather is severely cut back to counteract balding.

What should you watch out for when cultivating heather in a pot?

Heather in the pot should be fertilized regularly with peat plant fertilizer, and the root ball must not dry out - waterlogging should also be avoided, otherwise the plant will rot from below. Whenever possible, choose hardy varieties that do not require additional protection.

Is the heather susceptible to disease or pests?

The heather is very robust and not very susceptible to any diseases or pests. Only the honey fungus can cause considerable damage, especially in summer heather, by causing white rot in the wood. In the event of an infestation, the only thing that usually helps is to pull out the infested heather and replace the contaminated soil.

Is the heather hardy?

Depending on where it comes from, the heather is either hardy or not. Common heather, also known as summer heather - especially bud heather - and winter or snow heather are hardy. Other species (for example the tree heather Erica arborea), on the other hand, come from climatically milder regions and are therefore not really hardy.

How should one hibernate heather?

Hardy varieties actually do not need any additional protection, while more sensitive ones should be protected from frost with a layer of leaves or mulch or with brushwood.

Tips

If the heather dries up from below, ergo brown, then there is usually no lack of water, but - quite the contrary - waterlogging with progressive root rot behind it.