Ignite a burst of blooms in your Hampton yard for a second time with The Hampton Hack: A comprehensive guide to encouraging perennial flowers to bloom twice.
The Hampton Hack, a popular pruning technique, is a simple yet effective method for rejuvenating early flowering perennial plants in your garden. This technique, named after the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, is particularly beneficial for plants like oriental poppies, Alchemilla mollis (lady's mantle), and pulmonarias, but can be applied to a variety of plants.
To perform the Hampton Hack, wait until your perennials have finished blooming and their blooms start to fade. Then, cut the plants back hard, removing the old flowering stems down towards the base. This drastic action often results in the plants looking tidier and promotes a new crop of vibrant foliage.
Following the pruning, it's beneficial to feed and water the plants well to support the growth of new shoots. Thornproof gardening gloves are essential for this process, and good quality, modestly priced secateurs are a must-have tool. Remember to disinfect your pruning shears before use to prevent the spread of diseases.
The Hampton Hack can be done more drastically by cutting the whole plant down to the base or more conservatively by selectively cutting back half of the flowered stems for those less confident in heavy pruning. After the Hampton Hack, it is recommended to water and fertilize the plants with a good quality fertilizer, with organic plant food being a suitable option.
Performing the Hampton Hack early enough in summer gives plants plenty of warm days to come back for another period of flowering. Some of the flowers that should be a part of the Hampton Hack include Salvia, Alchemilla, Catmint, Delphiniums and Lupins, Knautia, Veronica, Red Velarian, and Oriental Poppies, as well as Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium) and Pulmonaria.
It's important to note that deadheading of roses, peonies, and dahlias should not be part of the Hampton Hack. Also, the Chelsea Chop is a different pruning technique that is done in late May. Before investing in fertilizer, it's recommended to perform a soil test to ensure the correct type is used.
The aim of the Hampton Hack is to extend the flowering season and maximize the potential of early-flowering perennials. By following these steps, gardeners aiming to extend the ornamental value of their perennials by getting them to bloom or look fresh again later in the growing season will find the Hampton Hack worth trying. The Hampton Hack rejuvenates gardens in midsummer, extending the beauty of your garden throughout the season.
When you've completed the Hampton Hack on your perennials, consider enhancing your garden's aesthetic appeal by adding some garden furniture, possibly a set of raised beds to accommodate plants on different growth levels. This will surely elevate your home-and-garden lifestyle, creating a more inviting environment for your gardening pursuits. Additionally, with the new growth generated by the Hampton Hack, you may find it essential to implement a regular watering and fertilization regimen, which can be effectively supplemented with good quality organic plant food.
