My Sweet William flowers have all died back now and the plants are looking really tatty. I want to tidy them up, so do I just cut off all the dead foliage and seed heads, back to ground level, does anyone know, please?
Well Mc-- when I grew them I them before...I let them die back, turn brown and overwinter in situ. Come spring I looked carefully to see where the new shoots were forming and removed what debris there was at that time. My theory is that leaving the dead or dying plant material in place protects it a little from frost that can get into the roots and freeze them dead. ...secondly it has been proven that it is better for one's top soil to have it covered with something (even weeds) during the winter. The sun, wind and elements can combine to detract from the topsoil's quality.
You are welcom, Sharon. I do too...and I am pleased when techniques are simple AND good for plants and soil.
I might trim them back a bit, just to tidy them up a bit but I'm happy to leave some seed-heads on the ground to see if they germinate and to protect the soil.
Sweet Williams are biennial, planted out in the Autumn to flower the following spring/summer. However, I usually take a chance and leave them in for a further year after which they tend to get a bit tatty. When that happens, I collect the seeds and start all over again. That way you get nice new fresh plants and you never know what colours you are going to get as the bees cross polinate. Isn't gardening fun!
