Can you trim alyssum

Keep it well watered, especially during the hottest parts of the summer. If they are left to become too dry for too long, they will die early.

To potentially revive alyssum when this happens, cut the plant back by one third, and return to a diligent watering regimen. They will do best in high-quality soil rich with organic matter, but will also thrive in unlikely places like between rocks or in rocky soil. Seeds should be placed six inches apart. If you plant closer together to ensure germination, thin them to six inches apart once they sprout. They should be barely pressed into the soil. To make sure they are spaced evenly, you can use a seed spacer or seeding tape.

Fertilize sweet alyssum grown in the ground at the beginning of the season, and again in mid-summer to keep them flowering until fall. This low-growing plant looks great spilling out of containers.

Alyssum grown in pots just requires a little extra care with diligent watering and fertilizing. Photo via Flickr by maplegirlie. Sweet alison pairs well with taller plants. When grown in front of larger shrubs and flowers, it creates the illusion of mounds of snow. Pair alyssum in front of roses, in a pot with geraniums, or in front of taller plants like salvia, catmint, or sage.

It can really fill in any empty space in front of or between plants. It will spill over garden beds nicely, creating a romantic effect. Sweet Alyssum ground cover growing amid Russian sage in a perennial garden. Photo via Flickr by Carol Norquist. Sweet Alison growing in front of tea roses at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. Will alyssum come back? If they are left to become too dry for too long, they will die early. To potentially revive alyssum when this happens, cut the plant back by one third, and return to a diligent watering regimen.

Technically a perennial , sweet alyssum is widely treated as if it were an annual plant in cold-winter climates. But it is one of the hardier annuals , capable of surviving light frosts that would kill more tender plants. Its rounded clusters of flowers are fragrant. Keep alyssum well-watered during hot, dry weather. It has few pests and diseases. Fertilize afterward with a balanced product and water and they will regrow for a late summer flower show.

Almost all alyssum cultivars will reach heights of about 4 to 8 inches and typically grow to form a inch mound. Start from seed in early spring in seed flats indoors and transplant after the danger of frost has passed.

Surface sow the tiny seed and keep lightly moist until germination, which is usually 15 to 20 days. When the seedlings have several pairs of true leaves and soil temperatures are at least 60 F.

You can have colorful annual plants to grow for borders, garden beds and cutting flowers that are safe for dogs. Ideal for edgings and borders, sweet alyssum Lobularia maritima has fragrant white, purple and lavender flower heads for cool-season bloom.

Transplant sweet alyssum in the morning when conditions are cool and moist. Dig holes that are no larger than the rootball. Space the holes 12 inches apart. Remove the plants from their containers and crumble off half the soil from around the roots. It grows as a perennial in U. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 7 through You can germinate alyssum seeds directly in the garden as late as early July and still experience ample flowering , even in cooler areas. The seeds take approximately seven to 14 days to sprout once planted correctly.

Alyssum remains an easy plant to grow from seed , too. To grow alyssum indoors , place some potting soil in individual containers. Cut back the top of the plants by one-half of their height, using small shears. Beneath the leggy stems lusher, greener foliage grows.

Pruning back to the green foliage encourages more flowering. Trim back individual trailing stems that have finished flowering and have begun to develop sparse or unattractive foliage. Cut back these stems to a bud near the lusher portion of the alyssum. Its gray-green leaves are slightly hairy, narrow, and lance-shaped. Easy to grow from plant or seed, sweet alyssum is a cool-season flower that can be set out in early spring once all danger of frost has passed in frost-free climates, sweet alyssum can also be grown throughout the fall and winter.

Most varieties will fade in the heat but bloom again in the fall. Sweet alyssum is nearly unmatched when it comes to ease of care, and is hardy to both heat and drought. The flowers have a lively, honey-like fragrance and are actually members of the mustard family—they will self-sow and can provide bright color year-after-year, especially in milder climates.

Sweet alyssum is generally problem-free, although aphids can become a pest, especially when the plants are under stress. As sweet alyssum plants spread, they create a living mulch under taller plants. You can use sweet alyssum along edges, in the garden, or to fill nooks and crannies on walkways and walls. The tight, free-flowering plants are also great in hanging baskets and containers. Sweet alyssum loves full sun , but it does not like prolonged dry periods.

If your region is especially hot and dry, a slightly shaded area will work best for this plant, though you should keep in mind that it can get stem rot or leaf blight if too much shade prevents the leaves and soil from completely drying out. Generally, you should aim to plant your sweet alyssum somewhere where it can get six to eight hours of sunlight a day. Sweet alyssum plants prefer soils that are of medium moisture and well-draining.

They're tolerant of many different planting locations and can even be found on sandy beaches and dunes—though they can also grow on cultivated fields, walls, slopes, and even in cracks in sidewalks or walls.