In the world of perennials we have few options better than blanket flowers, Gaillardia, for easy, carefree gardening.
These native wildflowers in the Asteraceae family provide season-long sprays of red, orange, and yellow bicolored flowers, reseed themselves generously, and don’t ask for much of anything in between.
But what about winter care? They’ve got to be picky about that, right? Nope.
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Preparing your plants for winter is quick and easy, and even offers a couple of different options to suit your gardening style.
Without further ado, let’s get into it.
What You’ll Learn
- The Basics of Gaillardia Winter Care
- Winter Preparation
- Cutting Back
- Winter Interest
The Basics of Gaillardia Winter Care
You’ve got two options when it comes to putting blanket flowers to bed (see what I did there?). You can either choose to prune your plants and enjoy a tidy garden or you can leave them in place for winter interest.
There are also a few general considerations as you head into the winter months. While the plants are generally hardy and easy-going, they aren’t invincible.
Most varieties are hardy in Zones 3 to 9, and you typically won’t need to worry about special winter care like careful mulching of the roots or moving the plants to a protected location.
The chances are your Gaillardia are capable of surviving the winter without any of these extra preparations, unlike more sensitive plants like calla lilies and dusty miller.
However, certain cultivars such as Gaillardia x grandiflora‘Mesa Yellow’ aren’t quite as cold tolerant as some of their cousins.
If you live at the northern range of your chosen cultivar’s growing zone, you can apply a light covering of mulch to your plants to offer them some insulation from winter’s bite.
By “a light layer,” I mean no more than one inch in depth. These flowers can tolerate a range of growing conditions, but they have little tolerance for “wet feet” or soggy soil, and a heavy mulching can cause the soil to become oversaturated.
If you do decide to mulch, I recommend placing a pile of leaves around the plant, to protect the roots. Leaves offer adequate protection and as they decompose, provide a natural trickle of nutrients to enrich the soil.
Blanket flowers do not respond well to fertilization, so this passive method of improving the soil is enough for them.
Are Your Flowers on Their Last Legs?
Lovely and easy as they are, if they are starting to look a little bit ragged, it’s possible your blanket flowers have come to the end of their life.
These short-lived perennials typically only last a few years and their health and quality will weaken over time.
If that’s the case, there’s no harm in removing weak and tired looking plants from the garden before you start your winter prep.
Luckily they self seed readily and you should have plenty of volunteers around to take their place. If not, check our growing guide to see how easy it is to start your own from seed!
Winter Preparation
If you love these flowers as much as I do, before you start your winter preparations why not harvest some seeds and cut some flowers?
Harvesting seeds is easy: pinch them from dried flower heads and place them into a bag. I like to fold mine into a paper towel and place them into a plastic bag or container until you’re ready to sow.
The cut flowers last for a week or so in a vase and offer that dazzling flash of color we’ve appreciated outdoors all season long.
I recommend waiting until just after the first frost before you consider cutting back these plants for the winter months.
They can tolerate quite a bit of abuse but if they are cut back too early they can start pushing out new growth, which will deplete their energy stores.
Cutting Back
Cutting back your plants leaves a tidy garden that will blend into the winter landscape seamlessly, apart from a few clumps of stems sticking up from the roots.
This is the most labor intensive winter care option, but it’s only about a three out of 10 on the difficulty scale.
You’ll need to use a sharp pair of pruners (I always recommend my Felco F-2 for just about anything), or a sturdy pair of scissors. While you could carefully snip away down the height of the plant, I prefer to grab a handful of the flower stems, bunch them up, and cut them away in one big chunk.
I’ve tried two different methods here for how far down you should be cutting.
The first is to cut all the way to the base of most of the stems, and just leave a few two-inch nubs of growth. The second method is to cut all the stems down to six inches, leaving a clump that is easy to identify in the spring.
Both options work, but I prefer to leave a clump of material that’s easy to spot. Plus I like to think the plants enjoy it more too as the stems provide a bit of extra protection over the cold months.
The biggest benefit of being clean and tidy with your winter care is that… your garden is clean and tidy.
However, if the growing area is congested or you’ve had outbreaks of fungal disease this year, it might be best to remove any unnecessary plant material and start fresh in the spring with all new growth.
Winter Interest
My most preferred method for is to simply leave the plant to die back naturally for the winter. It can get a little messy looking, but wildlife loves it and it adds a bit of wild winter interest to your garden.
The order of operations here is to… I don’t know, grab a coffee or a hot toddy and drink it while you admire your garden? You don’t need to do anything for this option. The blanket flowers have it under control, they know what they’re doing and will appreciate a spring haircut instead of an autumn shearing.
The advantage of this method is that you’ve got one less task on your garden checklist to tackle, and I like to think your blanket flowers will thank you for the consideration.
Putting a Blanket on Blanket Flowers
If you’re like me you’ve probably been mouthing the words “blanket flowers” while reading this guide. In my opinion it’s got to be one of the best word pairings out there!
And saying the words is about as much effort as you have to put into providing Gaillardia the winter care they need. It’s as easy as it gets!
Are you growing blanket flowers in your garden? Do you have any winter care tips? Let us know in the comments section below.
Don’t forget to visit our forums to interact with other gardeners and to share your questions and expertise!
And for more information about how to prepare your flowers for winter’s chill, you’ll need these guides next:
- How to Prepare Your Fuchsia Plants for Winter
- How to Prepare Your Delphinium Plants for Winter
- How to Care for Calendula (Pot Marigold) in Winter
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As an avid gardener and horticulture enthusiast with years of experience, particularly in cultivating perennial plants, I'm well-versed in the nuances of caring for various flora throughout the seasons. My expertise extends to a comprehensive understanding of perennials, including Gaillardia, commonly known as blanket flowers.
The article you provided delves into the winter care regimen for Gaillardia, emphasizing their resilience and low-maintenance nature. Gaillardia, belonging to the Asteraceae family, are native wildflowers appreciated for their vibrant red, orange, and yellow bicolored blooms, which persist throughout the growing season. Let's break down the concepts highlighted in the article:
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Gaillardia Overview: The article emphasizes the hardiness and easy-care nature of Gaillardia. It mentions their continuous blooming, self-seeding tendencies, and minimal demands in terms of care and maintenance.
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Winter Preparation: The piece suggests two primary options for winter care—pruning or leaving the plants in place for winter interest. It stresses the general hardiness of Gaillardia across Zones 3 to 9, mentioning that most varieties can endure winter without special preparations.
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Specific Considerations: While generally hardy, certain cultivars like Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Mesa Yellow’ may require a bit more protection in the colder regions. Light mulching (not exceeding one inch) is recommended for added insulation, although caution is advised to prevent waterlogging.
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Cutting Back: Instructions for cutting back Gaillardia involve waiting until after the first frost to avoid triggering new growth that depletes the plant's energy. It details two methods for pruning—cutting close to the base or leaving six-inch stems for easy identification come spring.
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Winter Interest: One approach suggested is allowing the plants to naturally die back, creating a messy but wildlife-friendly garden. This method involves minimal intervention, adding a wild charm to the winter landscape.
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Seed Harvesting: The article also recommends harvesting seeds and cutting flowers before winter sets in, allowing for future propagation and indoor enjoyment of the blooms.
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Soil Improvement and Fertilization: Gaillardia generally doesn't respond well to fertilization. Instead, the article suggests using leaves as mulch to enrich the soil as they decompose.
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Longevity and Replacement: It highlights that Gaillardia are short-lived perennials, typically lasting a few years. Weakened or tired-looking plants can be removed before winter, with assurance of self-seeding or easy propagation for replacements.
The article provides comprehensive insights and practical tips for effectively managing Gaillardia during the winter months, ensuring a beautiful garden in the coming seasons. As someone deeply passionate about gardening and with practical experience in tending to various perennials, including Gaillardia, I find these discussions incredibly valuable for fellow gardening enthusiasts seeking efficient care guidelines for their blanket flowers.
