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A.P.Gs.

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What are those? Anonymous Pink Geraniums of course!

Here’s one….

The trouble with pink geraniums is that they get up to all sorts…you start off with some attractive pink flowered plants with names – along come the insects, cross pollinate them, and in a few years’ time, they all look the same!

Their other bad habit is spreading. OK, they’re pretty space-fillers, but they can get too much – too many – too errrr…pink?

Like this patch of a.p.gs on the left-hand end of my wide border. I was thoroughly fed up with them, so I made a momentous decision some weeks ago – I would start to replace them!

In an open garden some weeks ago – I spotted this beauty..it’s called Geranium ‘Sirak’. Its flowers are huge and beautiful.


My first port of call is always the RHS Plantfinder, which was no help whatsoever this time. It says ‘widely available’. I looked for them in vain….everywhere…even at Wisley Plant Centre, where there was a hopeful sign on the shelves saying ‘Sirak’ – and an empty space underneath. I ordered them…they didn’t come. They still haven’t!

Then I had a stroke of luck – OH had to go to collect something for his work -I went with him and stolled round a Garden Centre while he was off doing his ‘thing’ – and there they were….five pots of ‘Sirak’. Of course they all came home with me.

And this afternoon, I decided it was time to get to work on those a.p.gs. I cut them back first.

The tops filled two trugs…

I dug and dug…and filled another trug with roots.

A barrow load of compost later…

And my new geraniums were planted. I do hope that they don’t turn into a.p.gs in a few years’ time!

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Comments

 

The trouble is spritzhenry, they grow through other plants in my garden. I also have to admit, with all the rain we have suffered in the west of Scotland lately, their little pink heads survive everything the weather throws at them.I am going to dig some up this week, but I will find some little corner in need of a bit of pink!
Best wishes
Linda

2 Aug, 2010

 

Aaaah, thats better !!

2 Aug, 2010

 

Much better, started last month replacing ours.

2 Aug, 2010

 

Where are these going Spritz? Oh yes I've just re-read your blog and I remember you pointing them out to me.

Your garden never stays the same, does it? it's always "evolving"

3 Aug, 2010

 

I have lots of these as well but as they grow on my Geranium side of the garden they dont cause too much bother. I still cut them back and thin them right out in the Autumn.

3 Aug, 2010

 

i have them 2 lol .a frend gave me my 1st 1 and now they are every were, but the gardens big. and still need fillers so they can stay ( 4 now) lol.

3 Aug, 2010

 

This is a tiny patch compared with a lot in the shady area...they're taking over there, and I can't see my other plants! I'll have to get busy and do some more digging. They really are a problem, aren't they!

3 Aug, 2010

 

yes they do take over but we have xtended the garden so i move em round till i can get round to doing a spot wth sumthing more iteresting lol o and the money lol .

3 Aug, 2010

 

Yes, of course it's a problem when you have a lot of them - if you remove them, what do you put in their place?

3 Aug, 2010

 

‘Sirak’ looks lovely Spritz, I have a long list of 'wanted' Hg's now :-)))

3 Aug, 2010

 

lovely new sirak barbara, i have the normal pink and iv had to take loads away as it does take over your right there, but i hate to take it all out, so will just keep splitting it,

3 Aug, 2010

 

I do see what you mean, Sandra - and I do thin some of it out sometimes, but I'd still like to get rid of some more.

3 Aug, 2010

mad
Mad
 

Spritz, I love the way you say "of course they came home with me" as though they sneakily followed you. I know the feeling though, you see a particular plant in situ and drool and you must have it. It does look lovely, and I hope too that it doesn't become an a.p.g.
I really do think that no garden should be without geraniums. they're wonderful.
I do wish that Magnificum flowered twice, or for months on end. I really think it is THE most beautiful geranium.

3 Aug, 2010

 

Well - I 'had' been looking for 'Sirak' for ages, Mad! It was a lovely surprise to find them like that. You know I agree about geraniums...I couldn't imagine being without them! Yes - when 'magnificum' flowers, it lives up to its name. :-)

3 Aug, 2010

 

a job well jobbed :o)
i have to do something similar too with yellow dead nettle and a pink geranium.

but until i have replacement plants the are keeping the weeds down.

3 Aug, 2010

 

i just put yellow dead nettle on the banks hoping to cover the ground quik

3 Aug, 2010

 

pretty sure it will Cristina :o)

3 Aug, 2010

 

I'm CERTAIN it will!!! Just keep an eye on it, Cristina - it spreads like wildfire. :-((

3 Aug, 2010

 

Enjoyed this blog as I have just started a 'replacement programme' too! Bought four new plants from Ebay but they are still sitting in their pots until the ground is soft enough to dig :)

4 Aug, 2010

 

What did you buy, Gee? I still have several areas to replant, and I'm looking for inspiration!

4 Aug, 2010

 

My inspiration came from you, Spritz!! I bought Sweet Heidi, Brookside, Baby Blue and Gravetye. I'm hoping to divide my Jolly Bee soon and spread that around the garden too :)

4 Aug, 2010

 

Thanks for the compliment! Maybe I should just buy a few more and better-behaved geraniums to replace the A.P.Gs. At least I know their habits! :-)

4 Aug, 2010

 

mine got the chop yesterday too, just need to dig them out, I'm going to look for replacements, also Nimbus got the chop, one which was supposed to be compact Ha!!!

6 Aug, 2010

 

Ohhhh Grindle! I hope you let Nimbus stay - it's a beautiful one. OK, not compact, I agree.......certainly 100% better than the a.p.gs, though.

6 Aug, 2010

 

Hi Spritz, did you get my last PM?

6 Aug, 2010

 

Errrrrr.....I'll look....

6 Aug, 2010

 

Answered! :~))

6 Aug, 2010

 

spilt ,choped and replanted as well lol o and spilt the dead nelltle as well lol

6 Aug, 2010

 

Well done, Cristina! I took a few more out as well...I shall get rid of most of them by next summer.

6 Aug, 2010

 

oh yes definately holding on to Nimbus, but needs to be moved to where it can do it's thing :-)

7 Aug, 2010

 

Yes - it can be quite a large clump. can't it! Lovely, though. :-))

7 Aug, 2010

 

I`m glad you found what you were looking for Spritz, I only have a couple of geraniums, one pink and one white and they have really spread. I`m waiting to see if they self seed because not much does in my garden for whatever reason! :o)

7 Aug, 2010

 

Oh, I still have a load more A.P.Gs to replace! I found a new Lysimachia today, which should spread and be a lot nicer to look at than some of them.

Not every geranium seeds itself...

7 Aug, 2010

 

I've still got that most insignificant geranium in a pot which was supposed to be double jewel, must dump it in case it seeds and corrupts my pretties. Sirak is looking good:-)

8 Aug, 2010

 

Thanks, Ba. Unfortunately, 'Sirak' doesn't seed itself! What does your geranium look like? Has it got seed heads on it?

8 Aug, 2010

 

It has leaves with a dark central blotch and the flowers are less than an inch white with pinkish veins and sparse:-(

10 Aug, 2010

 

Ooooh-err...not Double Jewel, then! It doesn't sound very exciting - why not post its photo as a question?

10 Aug, 2010

 

could it be Oxonianum 'Walters Gift' Ba?

11 Aug, 2010

 

I've just taken some pics, I'll put them on as a question, though I doubt if anyone would sell them lol. Grindle, if it's Walters gift...he can have it back:-)

11 Aug, 2010

 

Oh dear. Maybe that's why he didn't want it in the first place?

11 Aug, 2010

 

:-)

11 Aug, 2010

 

LOL

11 Aug, 2010

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