Am I Taking Good Care Of My Columbine?

Do you live somewhere with a warmer climate?

Are your columbine flowers planted somewhere where they can get 2 to 4 hours of sun per day?

Are your columbine flowers planted somewhere where they can get at least 6 hours of sunlight per day?

Are you keeping a layer of mulch on the soil where your columbine grows?

Are you making sure your columbines are watered weekly?

Have you been pruning off dead or faded flowers?

Have you been fertilizing your columbine monthly?

Are you making sure your columbines are pest-free?

Consider changing the location of your flowers. Although they enjoy full sun in most areas, in places with warm climate like the south, columbine should be grown in partial shade.

Consider changing the location of your flowers. Columbines enjoy full sun in areas where the climate is mild.

You should mulch your columbines to help the soil retain moisture and to insulate and protect columbines during winters.

You should keep the plants moist following columbine planting until well established. After that only weekly watering is necessary with exception to extended periods of drought in which they will require additional watering. Do not overwater them.

You should deadhead faded flowers and new buds will develop along the stems. The bloom season can be extended by as long as six weeks into mid-summer. The foliage should be cut back to the ground in the fall.

You should feed your columbines more often. Fertilize the plant with a water-soluble formula monthly. This will encourage thick foliage and bright flowers.

Good work! You are taking good care of your Columbine.

Although columbine doesn’t suffer from too many pest problems, leaf miners can become an issue on occasion. Treating plants with neem oil is a good way to control these pests.