Knotted cranesbill in November: monthly care

Geranium nodosum requires very little pruning, which is part of its appeal as a low-maintenance ground cover. The main pruning windows are March and November, but the work involved is minimal. In November, after flowering has finished and as the plant begins to look tired, you can tidy it by cutting back any straggly or damaged stems to ground level. However, because this geranium is evergreen, many gardeners prefer to leave the foliage intact over winter to provide structure and ground cover, especially in shady areas where winter interest is valuable. In March, before new growth begins in earnest, give the plant a light trim to remove any winter-damaged leaves or stems that have become tatty. Use clean secateurs or garden shears and cut back to just above the emerging new shoots at the base. This encourages fresh, vigorous foliage and a tidier appearance as the growing season starts. If you didn't cut back in autumn, March is the time to remove all the old top growth. Deadheading spent flowers is not strictly necessary—Geranium nodosum will continue to produce blooms from late spring through to late summer without it—but snipping off faded flower stems keeps the plant looking neat and may encourage a few extra flushes. The main focus should be on removing any dead, diseased, or overcrowded stems to maintain good air circulation. This species is naturally compact and well-behaved, so heavy pruning is never required.