Am I Taking Good Care Of My Coreopsis?

Did you planted your coreopsis in full sun?

Did you planted your coreopsis in well-drained soil?

Did you watered young plants regularly, but less often when the plants got established?

Do you fertilize your coreopsis frequently?

Do you deadhead faded flowers to encourage new blooms?

Do you keep your coreopsis free of pests and diseases?

Coreopsis will bloom best in full sun, but it can also be successfully grown in partial sun. The plants may get a bit lankier in partial shade. In areas with intense heat, coreopsis may even prefer some afternoon shade.

Most coreopsis varieties are very easy to grow and are not particular about soil quality or soil pH. They like well-draining soils and some, such as the thread leaf coreopsis, will tolerate dry, rocky soils. Heavy, wet clay soils should be amended with compost to help drainage.

Coreopsis will need regular water when first planted until they are established. After the first year, they are drought tolerant, but they'll bloom most prolifically with regular watering. Water the plants deeply at least once a week to help new roots grow down deeply. Soil should be moist at about one inch below the soil surface (stick your finger in the soil to check.) Early morning watering is best, so the leaves have a chance to dry during the day.

Fertilization of growing coreopsis is not necessary. Too much fertilizer may inhibit flower production. If soils are already good, all you should need to do is add a little compost in the spring.

Deadhead spent blooms on growing coreopsis often for the production of more flowers. Growing coreopsis may be cut back by one-third in late summer for a continued display of blooms.

Good job! You are taking good care of your coreopsis.

For the most part, coreopsis plants grow problem-free. In damp seasons they many fall prey to snails and slugs and fungal diseases can affect them. To avoid these problems as much as possible, give them plenty of air circulation and plant them in full sun.