Gardening Tips Extend Bloom Season for Balcony Plants and Peonies

Advice for balcony gardeners highlights species that keep flowers vibrant well into autumn. Long‑blooming options include pelargonium, surfiniums, begonias and gazania, each thriving with ample sun, moderate watering and regular fertilising. Proper pruning of spent blooms and removal of faded flowers helps maintain energy for new growth, while weekly feeding supports continuous colour.

For peonies, the recommendation is to prune away spent flowers in July to prevent seed formation and reduce plant stress. Additional leaf trimming can wait until late August, after foliage yellows, and the optimal time to transplant or divide bulbs is late August to early September, when the bulbs are fully developed. These steps aim to promote a strong, fragrant display the following spring.