According to botany, the yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a so-called cosmopolitan, since the very adaptable plant with its many subspecies is found almost all over the world. Since the yarrow is not only perennial, but also hardy without any problems, it is very popular with many perennial gardeners.

Frost does not bother the yarrow at all

Prepare the yarrow perfectly for the winter

The yarrow appreciates locations with lots of sun and moist but well-drained soil. In terms of pH, yarrows are relatively tolerant. While many gardeners cut the yarrow back to a height of about 10 centimeters before winter, others leave the dried inflorescences of the yarrow over the winter as a natural decoration in the perennial bed. As long as the plant material is dry and not susceptible to rot, the yarrow can only be cut when the new shoots appear in spring. In winter months with frosts, you should water sparingly on frost-free days so that the roots of the yarrow do not dry out too much in the ground.

Fertilize sparingly before and after winter

In general, the yarrow, as a frugal plant, hardly needs any additional fertilizer if it has an average nutrient-rich plant substrate at its disposal. In autumn and spring you can improve the soil in the perennial bed with a sparing addition of stored compost. If yarrows are fertilized too intensively, the plant stems tend to grow very long. This makes the plants less stable and prone to buckling in strong gusts of wind.

Drying stocks of yarrow for the winter

You can enjoy the healthy effect of edible yarrow in summer by boiling fresh shoot tips or squeezing out the juice. But you don't have to do without it in winter either if you stock up on alcohol-based dried flowers, leaves or tinctures in good time. The traditional medicinal plant helps, for example, with the following complaints:

  • indigestion
  • irregular menstrual cycle
  • nosebleeds

Dose teas and tinctures only sparingly, as excessive consumption can cause skin irritation.

tips

The umbel-like inflorescences of the yarrow are false umbels, since the plant actually belongs to the daisy family. Therefore, be careful when planting and eating if you are allergic to daisy family.

Category:

Herbs