Hi,

Not talking about the yearly pruning back to soil level that I do, but
during the growing season.
I have a large clump of bronze fennel which is doing very well indeed.
The problem is that it's in a small front garden border and when it
reach its maximum height when flowering, it takes over everything and
it's far too big for the border. I think I should completely remove it
but at the same time I love it right now when the new leaves come out of
the soil in this deep dark red colour and feathery aspect.
Can I try to prune them once they start to get bigger, even if this
means probably no flowering, or will it damage the plant badly?

Thanks

On 2013-06-06 08:59:16 +0100, gogo said:

Hi,

Not talking about the yearly pruning back to soil level that I do, but
during the growing season.
I have a large clump of bronze fennel which is doing very well indeed.
The problem is that it's in a small front garden border and when it
reach its maximum height when flowering, it takes over everything and
it's far too big for the border. I think I should completely remove it
but at the same time I love it right now when the new leaves come out
of the soil in this deep dark red colour and feathery aspect.
Can I try to prune them once they start to get bigger, even if this
means probably no flowering, or will it damage the plant badly?

Thanks

You could save seed from it this year, raise new plants and put them
where you do want them, then dig out the one you have. It's one of
those plants which seeds itself around anyway so you may find others
popping up in the same place for a while. If you deadhead it, you won't
get seeds, of course.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 06/06/2013 11:44, Sacha wrote:
On 2013-06-06 08:59:16 +0100, gogo said:

Hi,

Not talking about the yearly pruning back to soil level that I do, but
during the growing season.
I have a large clump of bronze fennel which is doing very well indeed.
The problem is that it's in a small front garden border and when it
reach its maximum height when flowering, it takes over everything and
it's far too big for the border. I think I should completely remove it
but at the same time I love it right now when the new leaves come out
of the soil in this deep dark red colour and feathery aspect.
Can I try to prune them once they start to get bigger, even if this
means probably no flowering, or will it damage the plant badly?

Thanks

You could save seed from it this year, raise new plants and put them
where you do want them, then dig out the one you have. It's one of
those plants which seeds itself around anyway so you may find others
popping up in the same place for a while. If you deadhead it, you won't
get seeds, of course.

Thanks,

yes, sorry, I should have said that it's already been self-seeding
everywhere! So, I guess from your reply that it's fine to deadhead the
existing one, just to avoid them growing too tall in the border. I'll
try that anyway, and if the plants die, like you said, I'm sure I will
be able to find seedling around!