Before you can kick back and enjoy those beautiful blooms, there’s a little bit of groundwork to do—literally! I’m talking about planting. But don’t worry; if you know what to look for, the whole process is a breeze. I’ve put together this guide to cover the most important “success factors” for your garden. Follow these steps, and you’ll be all set for a stunning summer.
Finding the Perfect Spot
Before you head to the garden center or try propagating your own trailing geraniums at home, you need to make sure you can give them the VIP treatment they crave. These beauties (technically called Pelargoniums) originally hail from South Africa, so they have some specific needs. They’ll thrive if they have:
- Tons of light and warmth.
- Direct sun! The more sunlight they get, the more flowers they’ll produce.
- A spot shielded from the wind so those delicate trailing stems don’t snap.
- Protection from heavy rain (a roof or overhang is ideal).
Pro Tip:
If you’re planting several geraniums in one container, give them about 8 to 12 inches of breathing room. If they’re packed too tightly, they won’t dry out properly after a rain, which can lead to pests and diseases.
Timing is Everything
None of the trailing geranium varieties handle the cold well, and frost is a total dealbreaker. If you’re planting them in window boxes, wait until mid-May (after the last frost) to move them outside for good. If you’re using pots you can move around, you can start as early as April—just bring them inside whenever the temperature dips.
If you’ve overwintered your geraniums in a dark spot, they probably look like little more than a “skeleton” right now because of the fall pruning. To make sure they grow new, flower-bearing stems in time for blooming season, you should repot them starting in February. Keep them indoors and gradually introduce them to more light and warmth to wake them up.
Choosing the Right Soil
Since geraniums grow fast and bloom like crazy, they are “heavy feeders,” meaning they need a lot of nutrients. You’ll definitely need to fertilize them regularly throughout the summer, but you also want to start them off in a nutrient-rich soil. Specialized geranium potting mix is great because it’s tailored to their needs, but it can be pricey. A high-quality all-purpose potting soil works just fine too, especially if you mix in some compost and clay granules for drainage.
How to Plant Your Trailing Geraniums
- Pick a container with large drainage holes. Cover the holes with a piece of broken pottery or landscape fabric so they don’t get clogged with dirt.
- Add a solid layer of drainage material at the bottom (like gravel or expanded clay), depending on how deep your pot is.
- Fill the pot with your soil mix and dig a small hole for each plant.
- Gently remove the geraniums from their nursery pots and set them in their new home.
- Lightly press the soil down around the base.
- Give your freshly planted geraniums a good, thorough watering.
Pro Tip:
You know those plastic grids or cages that often come with trailing geraniums at the store? Take those off before planting! They’re just there to keep the long, thin stems from breaking or getting tangled on the store shelves. Once they’re in your garden, you want those vines to cascade freely.
