How to prune geranium phaeum

After flowering (late spring to early summer); early spring to remove dead growth. Cut all stems back to within a few inches of the ground with shears once flowers finish. This also limits prolific self-seeding, which can be invasive in suitable conditions. New basal growth emerges rapidly.

Once annually, with spring tidy-up. Geranium phaeum (mourning widow) blooms in late spring in shade conditions where few other plants flower. After blooming, cut the whole plant back hard to near ground level. This removes the self-seeding risk (it seeds freely), refreshes the foliage, and often produces a second flush of flowers. Tidy dead stems in early spring.

Cut all stems back to within a few inches of the ground with shears once flowers finish. This also limits prolific self-seeding, which can be invasive in suitable conditions. New basal growth emerges rapidly.