Tips On Hollyhocks Growing Hollyhocks Successfully

Hollyhocks need full sun and moist, rich, well drained soil. The mistake many novice hollyhock growers make is to plant this flower in soil that is too dry. If you are planting seeds, sow the seeds outside about a week before last frost. If you are planting seedlings out, wait about two to three weeks after last frost.

How do you grow hollyhocks successfully?
When should hollyhocks be pruned?
What do you spray Hollyhocks with?
Do hollyhocks come back every year?
Can hollyhocks grow in shade?
Do you deadhead hollyhocks?
Do hollyhocks spread?
How do you keep hollyhocks healthy?
Are hollyhocks invasive?
Do hollyhocks kill other plants?
How do you stop slugs eating hollyhocks?

How do you grow hollyhocks successfully?

Sow at just ¼ inch deep and about 2 feet apart. Hollyhocks have long taproots, so if seeds are started indoors, use tall, individual pots and transplant early to avoid damage. Start indoor seeds about 9 weeks before the last average frost date. Seedlings can be placed outside two to three weeks after the last frost.

When should hollyhocks be pruned?

Prune the leaves and stems back to 6 inches (15 cm.) from the ground in fall. The hollyhocks then need a layer of organic material over the root zone to protect them from freezing.

What do you spray Hollyhocks with?

Spray insecticidal soap directly on these pests; it will kill them on contact. If caught early in the season, you may be able to prevent them from laying eggs by checking nightly, destroying the pests you find, until no more hollyhock weevils are detected.

Do hollyhocks come back every year?

They appear to be perennials as they do come back year after year but they are actually biennials which self-seed prolifically. Being a biennial means that it is often best to start new Hollyhocks in August or September so that they will then bloom the following summer.

Can hollyhocks grow in shade?

They do not like dry soil. With adequate moisture and good drainage, hollyhocks can thrive in full sun or partial shade. Try them in a few different spots in your yard and see where they are happiest.

Do you deadhead hollyhocks?

Deadheading hollyhock plants isn't necessary, but it is a good idea. It can help keep the blooms going longer throughout the season and also keeps your plants looking nicer and tidier. Think of deadheading this plant as a way of pruning to coax it into producing flowers right up to the fall and even the first frost.

Do hollyhocks spread?

Once you get Hollyhocks established you will have them forever. You will have to be sure and dead head them to prevent getting too many, they spread easily but that is all part of gardening. Single flower hollyhocks attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies and they are host plants for the Paint Lady larvae.

How do you keep hollyhocks healthy?

Make sure the plants have good air circulation. They look great growing up against a wall, but the air can't circulate around them and moisture builds up. Cut down hollyhock plants at the end of the season and burn or bury the debris. Use fungicides if necessary.

Are hollyhocks invasive?

Hollyhock mallow is recommended for U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 10. Although it is not considered invasive, other Malva species can become weedy and potentially invasive in some areas, so be certain you are purchasing plants or seeds for the desired species.

Do hollyhocks kill other plants?

It will attack all the outer parts of the flower, the stems, even the leaves and eventually reduce the plant growth and in very serous cases, the plant can die.

How do you stop slugs eating hollyhocks?

Here's a summary:

Keep slugs away by planting varieties they don't like eating.
Plant sacrificial plants to tempt slugs away from your favourite flowers.
Physically remove slugs from your garden.
Place beer traps around vulnerable plants.
Surround plants with coffee grounds, copper and gravel mulches.