It May Be Late Summer But Signs Show Fall Is In The Air… Plus Is My Geranium Dead Or Just In Need Of Pruning? Rescuing Summer-Weary & Wilted Geraniums From The Florida Heat

"I saw old Autumn in the misty morn stand shadowless like silence, listening to silence."  Thomas Hood

"The quiet August noon has come; a slumberous silence fills the sky; the fields are still, the woods are dumb, in glassy sleep waters lie."

W.C. Bryant, The Old Farmer's Almanac

In many places, it’s easy to not only notice but to actually feel, even if ever so slightly, the signs of impending Autumn as early as the second week of August…  One morning you notice that the air feels almost imperceptibly crisp and dry, lending a new-found freshness to the seemingly endless hazy and humid dog days of midsummer.  Then, one day, as you go about your normal routine, those endless days no longer feel quite so endless.

Almost instinctively, you feel the loss of the long, lingering daylight hours as twilight suddenly seems to creep in ever earlier by the day.  Then, one late afternoon you find yourself looking out the window at a certain hour and the bright summer sun you have become so accustomed to has suddenly taken on an almost golden cast that you know you haven’t seen in some time but reminds you of something… ever so subtle, but certainly a sign of things to come.

Of course, depending on where you live, some signs of Fall may not be so subtle...  Just the other day, barely out of August, a friend of mine living in New York told me that when she woke up that morning, the air actually felt “brisk.”  Brisk... a word I have not heard uttered in quite some time.

Now, contrast all that to the southern latitudes where I now live.  As someone on one of the last painfully hot days of August said to me, exhausted and drenched from the heat during a game of tennis, “It’s the hottest day ever today, isn't it?  But, it's August - August is the worst - it will get better in September...”

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If you would like, you may scroll down to go straight to, "Rehabilitating A Dying, Wilting Geranium With Some Strategic Deadheading - Can A Simple End-Of-Summer Pruning Save This Geranium?"

Subtle Signs Of Impending Autumn In Florida

The beginning of September still does feel very much like summer and you practically have to be hit over the head with a pumpkin or trip over a school bus to be reminded that yes, it’s now September, and Fall is just around the corner.  Actually, that’s not much of an exaggeration, but I wouldn’t say there are no signs, rather that the signs we do have are far more muted and subtle so you just have to pay closer attention to notice them.

For instance, during evening walks, while it still feels quite hot even after 6, the other night there was a decidedly dry, fresh breeze with the air noticeably less humid... a small change, but a sign that the sun's march toward the autumnal equinox, when the sun is positioned exactly above the equator, is underway.

The Autumnal Equinox 2020

And this year, the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere will occur at 9:30am on Tuesday, September 22nd, which is not just the first official day of the autumn season, but the time when the North Pole begins to tilt away from the sun, and uniquely, it is the one day of the year when day and night are approximately the exact same length.  It explains why, even now, where I live relatively close to the equator, the evening walks have to start a little bit sooner, as twilight descends ever earlier on those once endless summer days.

Not So Subtle Signs Fall Is Around The Corner - 'Tis The Season For Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice... Cream Cheese?

Down here in these southern latitudes, signs of autumn's arrival may not be as apparent in the weather or landscape but they do show up in other places.  A few days ago, a quick stop for some groceries took me to Target where I spied in the dairy section one of those annual rights of passage into fall -- Pumpkin Spice -- however, in this case it was Limited Edition Philadelphia pumpkin spice cream cheese... Is this a sign of fall's arrival or a sign of the impending apocalypse?  I decided to test it and find out.

While I am usually good at resisting most of the gimmicky seasonal offerings, I grabbed one.  It turns out the sweet and savory combination of pumpkin spice and cream cheese is one seasonal pairing that actually works, I must admit.  Needless to say, I have no regrets trying it, except maybe of the caloric kind.  It did awaken a sudden craving for autumn spices that now has me thinking of apple pie... so down the fall food craving rabbit hole I go...

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While the summer heat has made many of us enthusiastically welcome any sign of Fall and falling temperatures, nowhere is that more apparent than with my flowers, particularly with my geraniums.

Common Mistakes When Caring For Geraniums In Hot Summers

Despite what I thought were my best efforts to shade and water, not to mention many stormy August nights, somehow my geraniums look like they spent the last month parked out in the dry Arizona desert -- parched, wilted, brown and, frankly, pretty dead looking.

Insufficient Shade & Lack Of Regular Pruning

And while I had enough sense to place my geranium pots in relatively shady spots, evidently, the spots were not quite shady enough for August in the Subtropics.  But perhaps my greatest cardinal sin contributing to the sad state of my geraniums is my simple failure to prune.

Yes, as simple of a word and process as it is, somehow it is probably one of the most neglected but necessary garden tasks, a task that, when done with regularity, can make the biggest difference in your garden's appearance, taking your garden from dead and drab to alive and vibrant with minimal effort.

A Lesson In Growing Geraniums In The Summer From Germany

Craving the Divine Scent Of Geraniums?  Surround Yourself With The Scent Of Geraniums Year-Round With...

Having spent some summers in Europe, I came to envy a few things.  One of which is how, the flowers and especially geraniums showcase beautiful blooms all season long.  I can think of no better example of this flowery phenomenon than none other than the land of lush geranium-filled flower boxes (and, apparently, the best sausages in town), Germany, during July and August.  In that beautiful country, geraniums absolutely thrive in full sun, decorating flower boxes and adding striking color to centuries-old brick buildings in cities and kleine dorfs throughout the German countryside, always looking bright and perky into the Fall.

Is this a magic green thumb that every German is born with?  More likely, Germany's typical summers of long sunny days and cool, dry summer nights with low humidity provide just the ideal conditions that prevent geraniums from getting heat-ravaged, wilted, and keep them perky and fresh all season long.  But back here in Florida, the humid, hot conditions, not to mention the intense Florida sunshine, are another, much more challenging story altogether... If we can't replicate the temperate conditions of mild European summers, what exactly can we do to achieve the same success for our geraniums?

Geraniums May Love Warmth But Need Much More Shade & TLC In Hot, Steamy South Florida Summers - Where I Went Wrong

While I knew that both annual and perennial geraniums thrive in warmth and that geraniums can bloom year round in South Florida, AKA plant hardiness zone 10 or 11, where they are safe from winter frost and freeze especially near the coast, I underestimated geraniums' disdain and intolerance for Florida summer heat and humidity.  In South and Central Florida, the best conditions for growing geraniums is truly during the milder and drier months of October through March.

Early on, there were a few warning signs I should have restricted my geraniums daily sun exposure even more than I did, but I was busy and inadvertently neglectful, failing to monitor their conditions on a regular basis.  Had I done so, I would have been able to address any obvious wilting with regular and timely prunings - which could then have saved my geraniums from winding up in such a dire state later on.

The Benefits Of Deadheading & Pruning - But Can It Revive My Geraniums From The Brink?

So, here I am, pruning shears in hand, hopeful that after a careful pruning or "deadheading," my geranium plants will be revived, given new life and once again bloom profusely.  But seeing how far gone they appear, I can't even say I'm confident that they have a chance.... Hopefully, after the deadheading we will see some signs of life.

Deadheading, for those of you tie-dyed music enthusiasts, has nothing to do with Jerry Garcia and everything to do with trimming or removing old, dead flowers, stems and foliage from your plants to keep new ones coming in.

As blooms and stems die off but remain attached to the plant, the plant then puts its energy into producing seeds while it can no longer flower.  By regularly removing the spent blooms and stems from your geraniums, and from all of your are annuals and perennials for that matter, you are helping your plants redirect their energy back into creating new flowers instead of just seeds.

Also, a proper pruning of leggy, weak overgrown stems by cutting just above a leaf or bud forces the stem to branch, causing the new growth to be more compact as it encourages new bud production, resulting in a fuller and more beautiful geranium.

How To Prune AKA Deadhead Geraniums

1. First, since geraniums grow in clusters of small flowers, you will want to cut away only those that have wilted and died.  Of course, you can cut off individual spent or dead flowers to neaten up your plant but try to avoid cutting the entire cluster if some flowers are still growing.
2. When you find a spent flower cluster that you want to completely remove, follow its stem all the way down to the base where it joins a thicker plant stem.  There are two ways to remove it.  You can use your fingers to snap the thin stem from the thicker stem by pushing the thin stem down to break it off, or even more precisely and easily, use a set of sharp garden shears or scissors to cut the thin stem cleanly about a quarter of an inch from the base of the thick stem.
3. Once you have finished pruning your geranium by removing all the dead flowers, stems and leaves, gather up all this detritus, including any dead fallen leaves and dispose of them properly in your trash or compost pile.  You don't want to leave any detritus lying around at this base of your plant because it could compromise the health of it by encouraging fungal growth and disease.

The End Result - Signs Of Life Deep Inside The "Dead" Geranium Stems! Now, The Best Conditions For Its Delicate State

While from all appearances, my geraniums appeared to be goners, the end result goes to show that you can't call a good geranium a lost cause until you at least undertake some judicious pruning.  As you can see in the photo above, despite all the leaves and stems having turned brown, the fastest, and really only true way to determine if there are any signs of life in your plant is to prune or cut back as much of the dead stems as possible.

If you cut the decaying stem down deep enough close to the root, you just may a discover a firm, yet flexible, green-hued stem still living inside of it, signs of life which could only be revealed through pruning.  Once you do find a living stem, like I did above, leave as much of it as possible.

While the geranium plant is still alive, because of its delicate state, be sure to place it in a location where it receives only half the amount of sun as is normally recommended or indirect sunlight, and be careful to water your geranium when the top soil is dry but without overwatering and drowning the delicate new stems.

If the plant is able to, you should see new stems sprout from the remaining stem in a couple of weeks, and eventually new leaves and buds.  If not, recheck the roots to see if that plant has died.  Even with all the TLC in the world, sometimes a plant is so compromised that it is just not possible to save such a badly damaged geranium.  Just be sure to never let it happen again...

When They Are Restored To Good Condition, Keep Your Geraniums From Drying Out

Don't forget to keep your geraniums watered by providing about one inch of water weekly for geranium plants in your garden and making sure to water potted plants as soon as you notice the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Conclusion // Schedule Pruning Time To Revive Your Geraniums And Your Whole Garden

While pruning alone won't always revive an ailing geranium, regular pruning and deadheading gives the best chance for extending the blooming season and the life of your plants.  The simple act of pruning gives you more abundant flowers making plants fuller by removing leggy, spindly growth, and will help prevent disease and pest infestation, both of which flourish on decaying plant matter.

Proper care and a timely and frequent prune can revive and give new life to struggling plants so they bloom profusely and beautifully again.  Not to mention, pruning or deadheading keeps your garden looking neat and tidy and less like the kind of abandoned garden you see outside an old creepy house like something out of the Addams Family... unless that is the look your going for, of course, in the season leading up to Halloween...

Let These Gorgeous Lush Geraniums In Famous Flowering Window Boxes Of Germany Be Your Garden & Flower Box Inspiration