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When and how to cut back petunias

18 years ago

My petunias in my window boxes look dreadful at this time of the year. I am always unsure and afraid to cut them back earlier in the year. I pinch out the spent blooms but end up with a long stalk with one flower on the top. I have tried to experiment with cutting them back gingerly to see what happens but this year it hasn't helped much. What do others do? I think I am going with something different in the window boxes next year!

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Comments (4)

susanzone5 (NY)
18 years ago
Just cut the stems back to where the flowers began growing. Don't leave less than 6 inches on the plant or it may stress out and die. You can see new stems waiting to grow where the leaves meet the stem. Make sure they are watered regularly and fertilize with half strength Miracle Grow. That's my method. There are many threads on this topic. Just click on search in the annuals forum and type in petunias. Enjoy!
Ablinob
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks so much for the tip! I did notice a few other threads...after I posted. Thanks again!
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I think the air stone just keeps the water fresher for longer. I've read about that too, but honestly, I get plenty of success without additional devices added to the simple cup of water. It's certainly worth to try if someone wants to, but imo, not necessary. An example of the simple water container doing the trick is from your own bunch of stems left outside without nary a person caring about them, and they still look good for using as a new plant. In my case, I just cut some of the tops off the growing tips. That lets the remaining plant make branches to grow out and I get some stems to root for making more new plants. I've rooted them in water or sticking them in the ground (and keeping it moist). This is one of the easier plants to root.
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Yes, the bed is mulched, HEAVILY!! We have Turbo grass here. The stuff for which Round-up was made to specifically kill (it doesn't, it can only maim it). And seeds never come up except in cracks in the mulch. I am sure I will have 1000s of blanket flower plants in the crack along the stone wall. :) I spread the seeds on the bare ground right around the base of the current plants. It may not work, that's why I kept some extra seeds. Oh to be able to garden without all this mulch! But Turbo grass is like Bermuda grass on steroids, with runner roots as thick as my pinky. Not fun to remove. It still finds ways through weed mat and mulch in areas. It is diabolical!! :) After years of war and negotiation, we have finally come to an understanding. It keeps me from free seeding and I keep it from taking over the garden. Anna
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LindaMA
18 years ago
My Petunias in my window boxes on my deck are starting to look dreadful too! They are very leggy, leaves are starting to turn a little brown at the bottoms and a lot of the blossoms have holes in them as if bugs are eating them, although I don't see any bugs! I ended up cutting them all back to about 5 or 6 inches. Not sure why I did this but I just got really frustrated right before I left for vacation the week before last and cut them all off! I figured I wouldn't be around to deadhead them and they would look even worse when I came home. They still don't look too good, I figure it's just the end of the season for them and me! It's a shame because they really were so pretty. At least I enjoyed them for almost 3 months!
gardenfanatic2003
18 years ago
Linda,

Water your petunias well, fertilize with a 15-30-15, then sprinkle with Dipel. Those little holes in the blossoms are caused by cabbage worms and Dipel (or BT) will take care of them. In 2 weeks they'll be going gangbusters again!

Deanna

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