Red Campion in September: monthly care

Red campion is a woodland native that thrives in shady corners where many other perennials struggle. Choose a spot in partial or full shade—under deciduous trees, along a north-facing fence, or in the dappled light of a shrub border. It tolerates a range of soils but performs best in loam or clay that holds moisture without becoming waterlogged. Prepare the planting area by clearing weeds and working in a little garden compost if your soil is very poor or compacted, though red campion is unfussy and will establish in most garden conditions. The ideal planting times are March to April or September to October, allowing roots to settle before extremes of summer heat or winter cold. If planting pot-grown specimens, dig holes slightly larger than the root ball and set plants at the same depth they were growing in their pots. Space them 30 cm apart to allow for their eventual spread of 20–40 cm. Firm the soil gently around the roots and water in well. For direct sowing, scatter seed thinly on prepared soil in early spring or autumn, pressing it lightly into the surface—red campion seed needs some light to germinate, so don't bury it deeply. Water newly planted red campion regularly for the first few weeks until you see fresh growth, especially if planting in spring. A light mulch of leaf mould or well-rotted compost around the base helps retain moisture and suppresses weeds, but keep it clear of the stems themselves. Red campion self-seeds freely once established, so expect seedlings to appear in subsequent years if you leave a few flower heads to set seed.

Red campion doesn't require formal pruning in the way a shrub does, but a bit of seasonal tidying keeps plants looking their best and can extend flowering. The main task is deadheading and cutting back spent stems in September or October, after the main flush of spring and summer blooms has finished. Once flowering tails off and seed capsules have formed, decide whether you want self-sown seedlings. If you do, leave some stems intact so seed can ripen and scatter naturally—red campion is a prolific self-seeder and will colonise shady spots happily. If you prefer to control spread, cut back all flowering stems to just above the basal rosette of leaves before seed is fully ripe. Use secateurs or garden shears for this job; the stems are soft and cut easily. In early autumn, remove any yellowing or tatty foliage to tidy the plant and reduce hiding places for slugs and snails over winter. Red campion is semi-evergreen in mild winters, so you'll often see a low rosette of leaves persisting through the cold months. Avoid cutting this back hard—just remove damaged or dead material. There's no need to prune in spring. Instead, simply clear away any winter-damaged leaves as new growth emerges. If clumps become congested after a few years, you can lift and divide them in early autumn rather than pruning, replanting vigorous outer sections and discarding the woody centre. This rejuvenates flowering and keeps plants healthy without any complicated cutting regimes.