Photo: Captain-tucker, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Perennial
Blanket flower: when and how to prune
Gaillardia × grandiflora
Blanket flower is best pruned in August.
| Pruning months | August |
|---|---|
| Flowering | June–October |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees and butterflies |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Blanket flower: when to prune it?
In August, plus deadheading all summer.
What else to prune in those months? August
Blanket flower: how to prune it?
- In August, cut the flower stems back to 10–15 cm above the ground; leave the leaf rosette at the base.
- It then forms new rosettes, often flowers a little more in autumn and lives longer.
- Throughout the summer, cut spent flowers back to just above a leaf.
- In April, clear away dead leaves without cutting down to the ground.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: August.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Blanket flower flowers in June–October, when it attracts bees and butterflies.
- If pruning falls during flowering, wait until it is over or leave part of the plant to flower, so bees and butterflies still benefit.
Caution: Do not cut down to the ground in late autumn: the plant needs to go into winter with its leaf rosettes.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Blanket flower · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.