Is your soil very rich? Maybe too much moisture? That could be the reason it is flopping so much. Mine is planted in poor soil and it never flops (just gets squashed by cats, lol!)

Nepeta subsessilis is one that likes it moist and doesn't seem to be bothered by rich soil (at least in my garden). Flowers and foliage are larger than that of WL, but very pretty. In fact, I like it better than WL for just that reason. Have seeds if you are interested in sasbe. ;-)
CMK

My Walker's Low is getting so big that it's beginning to flop, especially after it rains or I water it. It's growing right into my Salvia behind it, and they're not that close. I am going to divide it at the end of the summer or next Spring. I feel the same as you, I love the plant and it looks so pretty but when it gets too large, it begins to flop. I also have a varigate Nepeta out in my front yard and the flowers are a hot pin color. This plant stays lower and I love the color. Wish I could remember the name.

Linda

I love Nepeta "Walker's Low." Mine isn't flopping either. It looks so perfect with just about anything. I have made so many of them by just breaking a piece off and sticking them in the ground, even in July. LOL. I want them everywhere. Could someone post a photo of their flopping "Walker's Low?" I'd be interested to see where they are planted.

Prairemoon, I try pinching mine back before they set bloom and it keeps them from plopping and delays the blooms a bit. I didn't do it this year because by the time I got to it they had set blooms and I'm regretting it. I will be trimming it back this weekend and forgoing the first flush of flowers just because I can't stand the hole in the middle. Mine aren't Walkers low but they should be alike.

I will try to get a photo of the flopper tomorrow.

No, I don't think that my soil is particularly rich. It is in a full sun bed that I never add compost to. It is not moist at all. It slopes, it's the last place that I remember to water and it's in full sun a full day. I do have clay soil which may be naturally rich, I guess. I think the plant is three years old but I divided it in two when I moved it. It's looking large though.

I will be trimming it hard when this first flush of bloom is done. My bed is in the front of my house and when I walk around it and look at it, it does bug me, but today I was coming down the street to the house and it looked pretty good from the street. [g]

mine flops too. This year I tried using a ring support as it was coming up and it looks awesome compared to the other 2 that I did not support. try it! :)

Thanks hurlee, I suppose I can try that. I try to keep rings to a minimum. I do one Baptisia, one Hydrangea Annabelle and one Peony and that's it so far. [g]

Re dividing Walkers Low. They can more easily be kept to size by cutting out around the edges. The center never seems to die out, so this technique can be used forever.

I have always wanted this plant because I have seen photos of Carolyn Aiken's beautiful gardens in Prince Edward Island, Canada(Aiken House and Gardens). It is my assumption that she plants them close together and she has told me that she keeps them trimmed back. I was going to suggest a grow ring/aka peony support ring also. I was given some garden phlox at a recent plant swap and that's what I have done to those, until the get a good start. Even decided to put a grow ring around the one that a church friend gave me last year. May also do this on Monarda until they get established. You can always take them off later. Got mine from K-Mart for $4.29 each. They are 14 inc. size.

I almost bought Nepeta x faassenii but decided to ask first.

Are its blooms the same size & color as Walkers Low? Is Walker's Low more desirable?

When my nepeta was just starting to come up this year, I put an obelisk trellis around the crown (about 2 feet high). As the new growth emerged, I pulled it through the top openings as much as possible. By June, you couldn't see the trellis at all and the nepeta looked gorgeous. I think it lasted longer this year too because it wasn't lying around all over itself.

I have no problems with flopping. Its planted in plain soil, no amendents, gets full sun. I don't shear back after 1st bloom, don't have time, don't think about it either. The hummingbirds and bees love it! Right now my plants are huge and still putting out a few blooms.

Jodi

I am two years late on this - but mine is also flopping big time (WL).

It IS getting more water this year inadvertently since I started some new plants near it and am watering those until they get established.

So, now that is HAS decidedly flopped all over and is kinda bare in center, and besides that is in BLOOM, one of the few things in my border that is this early...

What to do? Can I cut it was back and will it likely rebloom when it recovers? Or will it go on looking tattered and flopped and I'll have cut off all the good parts for nothing..

I can try rings, but I'd rather trim it once or twice a year if any one has had success with that instead.

And here's a photo for those who asked.

{{gwi:225383}}

Let me know what you all think!

N

Usually some time in June, I go through the gardens and give many plants a haircut, using a pair of smaller hedge clippers. This includes Helianthus, Solidago, Asters, some phlox, Monarda, etc. Trimming or shearing back works pretty well, and makes the plants bushier and shorter, and delays the bloom somewhat. Nevertheless, there always seems to be a floppy plant here and there and I have to use some supports.

It looks like 'Walker's Low' might be a good candidate for this. I think I have the "Junior Walker", because it only gets about 6-8 inches tall and stays that way. I would like to get the taller one.

I was just thinking today that some of the plants are already ready for a haircut, since everything is about 2-3 weeks ahead this year.