Wood cranesbill
Geranium sylvaticum
An ornamental plant, planted at any time of year.
In September: cut back the wood cranesbill. It can be planted now.
Add wood cranesbill to my plot
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Wood cranesbill, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant a pot-grown wood cranesbill. | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual |
| Lift and divide the wood cranesbill. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Cut the wood cranesbill back hard after flowering. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | none |
| Cut back the wood cranesbill. | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Planting
Plant a pot-grown wood cranesbill at any time of year, 60cm apart. Strong source: RHS. Weaker source for the spacing: Plants For A Future.
Lift and divide the wood cranesbill
Every 3 years, not every year.
Usually March to May. Strong source: RHS.
Cut the wood cranesbill back hard after flowering
Gardeners call this the Hampton hack.
Almost to the ground, straight after its first flowers. Fresh leaves follow, and often a second flush of flowers.
Usually June to July. Moderate source: RHS.
Cut back the wood cranesbill
With a knife, shears or secateurs, cut the stems close to the base of the plant.
Usually September to November. Strong source: RHS.
What the source words mean
Strong: the RHS page for this plant is among them.Moderate: another trusted UK source, or the RHS on its group.Weaker: a blog, a forum, a small website or a page from outside the UK. Treat it as a guide.
Add wood cranesbill to my plot
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Wood cranesbill” comes from.