Here’s how to divide agapanthus the right way (without damaging your plants). Spread it 8 to 10 inches (20-25 cm.) You should be blessed with abundant flowers the very next season. Growing native Australian plants doesn’t just make your outdoor space look great — it helps to create a safe and nourishing environment for Aussie wildlife to flourish too. Plant Agapanthus plants 30-40cm apart in composted, well-drained soil. Do agapanthus in borders need similar treatment? Get violent: now that your agapanthus is bald, you'll be able to get underneath it and dig out the rhizome. Cut back spent flowerheads after blooming and mulch annually with well-rotted compost or other organic matter. 'Yes – except in the mildest areas, they need protection from winter weather.'. March to mid-September. Even deciduous varieties can benefit from this practice. 'Blueberry Cream' - Stunning new colour break; first true hardy bicolour; multiple tones of blue Feed in March with an organic 2:3:2 fertiliser. Agapanthus are low maintenance, easy-to-care for beauties. The plant is a survivor, easy to grow, difficult to kill and the deciduous ones are very, very hardy. 'Margaret' - Powder blue; very free flowering; extremely hardy; deciduous; 70-80cm, 2. This should be enough cheap mulch, but you can always add a different type of mulch on top of it like hay or grass. Agapanthus belongs to the monotypic family, Agapanthaceae, which means that the family consists of only one genus, namely Agapanthus – quite something! When it’s ready, apply a two or four-inch layer to your flower beds and vegetable garden. 'This is a common question. What potting mix do you recommend for container-grown agapanthus? 2. Before winter, Agapanthus can be cut back to four inches above the soil. As a general rule, you can achieve a 1-point reduction in pH by applying 12 pounds of organic soil acidifier containing sulfur per 100 square feet. Water the agapanthus as you normally do after the application. Remove yellowing and dead leaves when necessary. Agapanthus do well in pots. 3. If you want plants to do well in the landscape use the correct mulch, namely coarse grade mulch with no fines. Add a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch around the base of plants to insulate the bulbs, particularly if you live in an area with cold winters. 'The flowers are long-lasting, blooming from early July until September, and are followed If planting Agapanthus in a container leave room for a winter mulch to protect the plant. Well composted fine grade mulch reduces the disease problem, but only slightly. Some gardeners don’t like the look of leaves in their garden, and they probably aren’t appropriate for a formal setting. Snails love to shelter in the leaves of agapanthus plants. You will also entice more earthworms to your garden soil. 4. This feature is from Country Living magazine. Mulch well and water regularly until well-established. A strip close to a sunny house wall is ideal as long as you remember to water your agapanthus well in the growing season. Name – Agapanthus Family – Liliaceae (lily family) Type – perennial. Cut back deciduous foliage when it dies and mulch over the plant to a depth of at least 3 inches. very hardy; 60-80cm, 5. Home » Plants » Agapanthus. fed, it doesn't generally affect flowering. In thewild, agapanthus thrive in clifftop crevices, so they like a growing medium that is very free draining.'. You can restrict their spread by de-heading dead flowers before they turn to seeds and carefully disposing any plants you remove. Outdoor Care of Agapanthus in Winter. Well composted fine grade mulch at least has any disease composted out … Agapanthus are low maintenance, easy-to-care for beauties. by seed heads that look good late into autumn. We offer delivery for in-store purchases within the Gauteng area. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Botrytis can be treated by spraying the buds with fungicide before and after they have opened. Please enquire at our inside information desk or with your sales advisor for assistance with delivery for in-store purchases. 3. Lily of the Nile, with latin name Agapanthus, is a marvelous perennial that blooms from spring to summer, producing magnificent floral scapes.. Lily of the Nile key facts. Can you grow the deciduous varieties outside everywhere in the UK? They can be used as mulch anywhere and have the added bonus of being free. Check with your local council if in doubt. Agapanthus orientalis Blue Velvet has traditional tall stems, great for creating height. SEASON: Evergreen – some varieties go dormant during winter. When did you develop an interest in agapanthus? Tolerant of just about any soil, the Agapanthus does best in a well-drained plot containing soil amended with well-rotted manure and organic mulch material. Sometimes it's because the flower bud has been frosted over winter, but the other reason is that agapanthus need a high- Agapanthus require a thorough watering at least once a week in summer, unless it rains a lot. Care Information. Remove the mulch once warmer weather resumes. 'Arctic Star' - Large pure-white flower heads; best of the whites; You can plant Agapanthus at any time during the growing season, ideally in spring. I found that there were dwarf varieties, started a collection and was soon spending more time growing agapanthus than anything else, so we made the decision to drop the general stuff and concentrate on them. Cover with soil and water as needed. Grow the agapanthus in containers if you live in zones 1-8, and bring them indoors for the winter when temperatures hit below 40°F. All Agapanthus both deciduous and evergreen varieties will survive a winter best planted in soil which is not too wet. The agapanthus bulbs have different degrees of cold hardiness. The name Agapanthus is derived from the Greek words agape (meaning  love) and anthos (meaning flower) which could be interpreted either as ‘flower of love’ or ‘lovely/pleasing flower’ and pleasing and loved it certainly is. They can be planted en masse, as an edging to a path, as bold eye-catchers in the border or in containers. Is it true they like their roots to be restricted? This fungus can be treated by spraying the entire plant with fungicide. Plant Agapanthus plants 30-40cm apart in composted, well-drained soil. Pull the mulch away a bit in spring to allow the new growth to push through. Agapanthus can tolerate less watering than many other plants and can … 'In the beginning, we took the plants to the smaller, northern flower shows, but now we have a full programme, including the RHS Shows, and have the help of my son Colin [another trained horticulturist], who joined the company full time last year.'. Plant the agapanthus rhizomes. If you are fortunate enough to live in a milder climate, you can simply leave the plants in the ground. D ividing agapanthus will rejuvenate these eye-catching plants. This layer will feed, build up, and protect the soil. Regularly check in between leaves for lilyborer  (a black and yellow caterpillar) and treat as soon as possible. They should be kept dry during winter dormancy, otherwise they’ll rot. But first, a little bit about how Steve become a gardener... 'I've been in horticulture all my life. What Mulch Is Bad For Dogs And Agapanthus Bad For Dogs Where to buy 2019 Ads, Deals and Sales. and white; 60cm. Scatter the material evenly around the plant and spread it to the drip line with a rake. Do you want to know how to divide Agapanthus and how to grow Agapanthus? Slugs and snails might live in the leaves but they don't eat them and neither do rabbits or deer. Feed in September and again in December with an organic 3:1:5 fertiliser. What are the star qualities of agapanthus? The original materials you use should turn out crumbly and be brown or black in color. Australia boasts around 24,000 diverse species of native plants, many of which can be sustainable, low-maintenance, and wonderful additions to your garden. Water regularly while establishing. 'Dig them up every four to six years and split the clumps in spring. More on growing agapanthus: How to grow agapanthus from seed; How to grow agapanthus in a pot; 10 beautiful agapanthus to grow; Learn more about growing agapanthus in our Grow Guide, below. If you plant them Both types stop sun and wind removing moisture from soil. Mulch suppresses weeds so your plants get all the available nutrients and you avoid backache. A top dressing of coarse grit or pea gravel also helps drainage. Taking these 4 steps before arranging flowers will help bouquets last longer, 10 care tips to make snowdrops last longer, Learn how to make flowers last longer with this simple trick. Twenty years ago my youngest daughter bought me my first agapanthus – it was actually two plants in the same pot: one blue, one white – and that sparked the interest. Mulch prevents soil erosion. These plants, especially if planted en masse, will survive on good, regular summer rain, but if that is absent, they do need a deep, regular drenching every week. Divide the plants and cut the foliage and roots back by half. Site by Brand Candy. After working in a nursery, I spent three years at Askham Bryan College doing the National Diploma in Horticulture before spending a year at Cambridge University Botanic Garden. Why do agapanthus sometimes fail to flower even though they grow healthy leaves? Subscribe to our newsletter and stay 'Yes, their roots are restricted in their natural habitats, so they are ideal for container growing. Agapanthus are versatile plants that are at their prime in summer. The kind of lifestyle that is created in an attempt to ultimately help you to create and choose your lifestyle. Use a sharp knife to separate roots. • Mulch in autumn or cover the crown of the plant with straw or fleece to protect from cold. I met my wife Elaine there and we returned to Britain together and set up Hoyland Plant Centre over 30 years ago. GROWTH HABIT: Clump-forming with strap-like leaves, FLOWERS: Variations and combinations of blue and white, FLOWERING SEASON: Late spring to late summer, The Agapanthus Purple Flash is a striking deep purple shade. We asked Steve to share his tips on how we can keep our agapanthus thriving for as long as possible. Foliage of old plants can be infected by a virus that causes streaking, but as long as the plants are well