- Stimulate a second wave of flowers
- Cut down to the ground in autumn
- Slice to decorate and eat
- Cut to propagate: get cuttings
It grows into a herbaceous perennial and can do a lot in herb beds as well as perennial beds or even in tubs on the terrace or balcony. But twice a year it's a good idea to grab a pair of scissors!
A pruning can stimulate the scented nettle to flower a second time
Stimulate a second wave of flowers
The sweet nettle (Agastache) blooms in June for the first time of the year. The flowers have dried up towards the beginning/mid-July. Then the candle-like upright inflorescences should be cut. It is best if you cut them to 10 cm above the ground.
Then the Agastache - admittedly with a bit of luck and the right care (good watering, no drought and some fertilizer) - blooms again towards the end of August/beginning of September. This is the second bloom, which can last until October.
Cut down to the ground in autumn
The second prelude to cutting is scheduled for autumn. Then it's over with the scented nettle, because it withdraws. Since their old inflorescences and leaves don't do much in winter, they should be cut back close to the ground - about 5 to 10 cm above the ground. For this you can use a simple secateurs. Then dispose of everything - done!
Seed formation desired?
If you intend to harvest the seeds of the sweet nettle or leave them to self-sowing, you should not rigorously cut off the old buds. Wait until the seeds have formed and cut off the seed pods in autumn (direct sowing in spring) or spring (seeds have fallen out; self-sowing).
Slice to decorate and eat
The scented nettle is edible. You can therefore also cut off individual parts of the plant and flowers of the Agastache and pluck off the leaves to use them to decorate dishes or eat them directly. The parts of the plant smell wonderfully of aniseed or mint.
Cut to propagate: get cuttings
A cut can also be appropriate for propagation:
- in the spring
- only possible with hardy species
- Cut off shoots that are 5 to 10 cm long
- Shoots: Leaves should still be in bud position
- stick in potting soil and keep moist
- Rooting after 4 weeks
tips
In the course of good care, diseased parts of the plant should also be cut off. The scented nettle, for example, is sometimes attacked by downy mildew.