skip to main content

Annuals Rocky Mountain Gardening garden

Should I thin my larkspur?

5 years ago

First, something that thise of you whose spouses don’t Garden may appreciate: my husband came out into the yard, looked at one of my flower beds and said, “What a shame, so many weeds already!” I started cracking up with laughter; they were larkspur seedlings that I had very deliberately sowed in that spot. :-)

My question also revolves around the larkspur seedlings. They self-seed quite prolifically around my yard. They seem lots thicker than they were last year or the year before; do I need to thin them out? Or are they fine as-is? Here’s a pic of one of the thicker areas:

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
They seem lots thicker

==>>> they are annuals ... so they arent older.. thicker only means you had more seed heads.. and you did strew them around ... so i guess i dont know why it surprises you ...

i planted the plain old.. plain old.. about 10 years ago .. they are still around.. they get nothing from me.. except for benign neglect ... lol ... so i doubt you need to do anything ...

i surely wouldnt be out there trying to separate clumps of multiples .... unless you just want to be out there.. and experiment ... which is always a good way to learn ...

if i wanted to spread them even further.. i might take whole clumps .. and move them around .. i used to do that with all kinds of plants.. especially on rainy days ... so they would water themselves in.. i too used to have spring fever in a bad way ... lol ..

ken
popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
5 years ago
Just wait until they get bigger, Faith. Then dig the ones you don't like and bring them to the swap! Or pull and toss them in the compost if you think there are too many. Are you concerned they may choke out other plants? I know can relate to that feeling.
Related Discussions
Should I thin out my apples
Q
Comments (7)
The cluster is a "King" fruit surrounded by its crown (five? fruit). Generally you pluck everyone but the King who has a two day head start on the others. If the King is mis-shapen, or otherwise not appealing then pluck him and leave one of the bigger/best looking crown fruits. Some areas leave a sacrificial crown fruit to shade the King at least for a while. There may be other tricks for other reasons in other areas. Generally I start early and simply pinch the buds off once pedal fall occurs so the bees get their nectar. Keep in mind there are 3 bearing apple types: tip bearing, spur bearing and "normal" (sorry can't remember what the most common type is called) bearing. Tip bearing and spur bearing should be handled with greater care and consideration due to lesser fruit production. -------- As an interesting aside I planted six columnar apples (see pic from 2 years ago) (Northpole, Scarlett Sentinel and some yellow one; 2 each) on the east side of my tool shed in Phoenix, AZ 3 years ago. This is the first year they synced bloom which is going on right now. Most apples bloom in Feb-March around here. I don't know if I will ever get apples, but if I do I think they will be Halloween to Christmas apples which would be great timing for here which is pretty much limited to figs, pomegranates, persimmons and pecans by then. This post was edited by Fascist_Nation on Tue, Jun 17, 14 at 11:07
...See More
Thinning loose leaf lettuce, should I or not?
Q
Comments (3)
It happens all the time. Pinch out or cut off the smaller plants and use them in salads. You don't have to do it all at once. Start by removing the smallest plants to make them a couple of inches apart ... keep thinning as they grow until they are the recommended 4-6 inches apart.
...See More
Pink Evening Primrose - should I thin them out ?
Q
Comments (3)
Ken - looking for the cottage garden look. But my concern was more about was I going to be sorry for letting it get out of control, i.e., from what you can see by my pics, was that overkill as far as crowding out my other plants. So, Daylily, I guess I'm more like you...liking it to fill in empty spots. I, too, have some tall 'weeds' with little white thingys on top (like miniture wheat) here and there that will be hard to get down to root, so will follow your lead and just pull up chunks along with the weeds. Like you said, Ken, not like I don't have more....LOL Answers were perfect timing since I wanted to tackle this issue today so thanks to both !! Bonnie
...See More
Larkspur Thinning
Q
Comments (2)
Sadly, I only dream of having enough larkspur to worry about thinning. This may be my year though. I'm trying two different methods and one of them is bound to pay off. I hope. All I know is what I read in Armitage, who suggests anywhere from 4-6 inch spacing up to 10-12 inches. Good luck with yours, however you thin them. ThinMan
...See More
Faith
Original Author
5 years ago
Yes, I’m concerned that they’ll choke out other plants or even one another, perhaps? I do know that they’re super hardy, so probably more of the former and less of the latter.

Ken, I know they’re annuals and that they just seeded more heavily. I was surprised that they came in so thickly there, since In that area I had actually cut them down to shake the seed heads over my new bed (the one my husband commented on). This is my fourth year of having them, and they seem to have proliferated much more heavily this year.

I think I’ll pull them out around other plants coming in, and watch and wait for the rest. Popmama, bringing some to the Swap sounds like a plan.
popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
5 years ago
Garden thugs! That's what I call those plants that proliferate and choke out their neighbors. I have a hardy geranium that is a garden thug. It's really pretty but it has no manners!

Related Stories

Houzz Interview: French Larkspur

GARDENING GUIDES How I Learned to Be an Imperfect Gardener

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Letting go can lead to a deeper level of gardening and a richer relationship with the landscape. Here's how one nature lover did it

FEEL-GOOD HOME 12 Very Useful Things I've Learned From Designers

By Becky Harris

These simple ideas can make life at home more efficient and enjoyable

DECORATING GUIDES The Dumbest Decorating Decisions I’ve Ever Made

Caution: Do not try these at home

MATERIALS Pro Panel: ‘The Material I Love to Work With Most’

By Grace Chamia

7 experts weigh in on their favorite materials for walls, flooring, siding and counters

LIFE The Polite House: Do I Have to Display Decor Given to Me as a Gift?

Etiquette columnist Lizzie Post tackles the challenge of accepting and displaying home decor gifts from frequent visitors

LIGHTING Help! I Need a Light!

DECORATING GUIDES I'm Ready for My Close-Up: Beautiful Building Materials

Look closely, and soak up the beauty in some favorite details of fine home design

PAINTING Help! I Spilled Paint on My Clothes — Now What?

By Jennifer Ott Design

If you’ve spattered paint on your favorite jeans, here’s what to do next

KITCHEN CABINETS Why I Combined Open Shelves and Cabinets in My Kitchen Remodel

By Lyndsye Felsman // By Design Podcast

A designer and her builder husband opt for two styles of storage. She offers advice, how-tos and cost info

Sponsored

Peabody Landscape Group

8 Reviews

Franklin County's Reliable Landscape Design & Contracting

More Discussions

Help with petunias ! recomendations needed

5

Moonlight nasturtium climb?

11

What do white stripes on red camellia blossoms indicate?

4

Has anyone tried freezing seeds in ice?

9

Suggestions for low growing, easy to sow annual in zone 7A

6