how to get rid of hollyhocks

What is killing my hollyhocks?

A major problem with hollyhocks is a fungal disease called rust which can survive on infected plant parts from year to year. Other pests such as weevils, caterpillars, and slugs can damage or kill your hollyhocks.

When should I cut down my hollyhocks?

Pinch off spent blooms and dead leaves regularly to promote more growth and flowers. Toward the end of the growing season, when most of the blooms are finished, you can cut down the main stems of your hollyhocks. If you want the plant to continue coming back year after year, you can leave some seed pods on the stalk.

Do you cut down hollyhocks in the fall?

A haircut is the first step to preparing hollyhock for winter. 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.

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.

How do you keep hollyhocks healthy?

Tips for Maintaining Your Hollyhocks

Plant Hollyhocks in a Suitable Location. Hollyhock's relish full sunlight with balanced soil that drains efficiently. ...
Water Hollyhocks Regularly. ...
Fertilizer Use. ...
Companion Planting. ...
Remove Spent Blossoms. ...
Prune Your Hollyhocks. ...
Winterizing Your Hollyhocks.

What do you spray Hollyhocks with?

If these remedies fail, you can spray with environmentally-safe insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. Spray with pyrethrin, carbaryl or acephate only as a last resort, as these broad spectrum insecticides can also kill any beneficial insects residing in the garden.

Should hollyhocks be cut back?

Hollyhock Pruning Requirements

Hollyhocks are short-lived flowers. ... Although pruning is not required for healthy plants, cutting back the stalks after they flower can encourage them to bloom more than once in a season, advises the University of California Master Gardeners of Napa County.

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.

Do hollyhocks multiply?

Hollyhocks normally grow as biennials or possibly short lived perennials and thus are traditionally allowed to self sow in order to replenish their patch.

Do hollyhocks need a lot of water?

Watering: Provide regular water and keep soil moist for starting hollyhocks. However, once well established, they are fairly drought tolerant. Water from below and avoid wetting the foliage, as this can lead to diseased leaves.

Do hollyhocks need sun or shade?

Hollyhocks are not fussy and survive in many spots but do best in soil that has been amended with compost. 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 hollyhocks reseed themselves?

The one benefit that comes from growing hollyhock flowers is that they easily reseed themselves. While they may be short lived, in their proper growing conditions they will continually grow more, which will keep the hollyhock flowers consistent in years to come.

What do I do with hollyhocks after flowering?

Hollyhocks need very little care. Stake flowering plants and water in dry weather. After flowering. cut the flower spike off once the seeds have dispersed.

What month do you plant hollyhock seeds?

When to plant

Pot grown hollyhocks are best planted in spring or autumn, but can be planted at any time, spacing them 60cm (24in) apart.

What do hollyhocks symbolize?

Hollyhocks are symbolic of the cycle of life, and so you find them i funeral practices of the ancients, as well as fertility. You're hard pressed to find a malevolent use for the plant. Bees and butterflies are attracted to the pollen which drips onto the petals, spreading fertility to the witch's garden.

How often do you water hollyhocks?

Water hollyhocks regularly to keep the soil moist.

If it's dry more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep, add water around the base of the plant. If you insist on watering on a regular schedule, water them daily for the first few weeks, then roughly twice per week for the rest of the growing season.

Why are my hollyhocks drooping?

Anthracnose. The fungal pathogen that causes anthracnose typically occurs in moist, humid weather and causes black, red or tan spots to appear on the leaves. As the disease progresses, the infected foliage will yellow, wilt and fall from the hollyhock.

Why are the leaves on my hollyhocks turning yellow?

Caused by the fungus Puccinia heterospora, hollyhock rust is a disfiguring disease that infects members of the Alcea (hollyhock) family. It begins as yellow spots on top of the leaves with rusty pustules on the undersides.

How do I protect my hollyhocks from bugs?

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.

What animals eat hollyhocks?

If the plants are being chewed off whole or in large pieces, the possible suspects would include groundhogs or woodchucks. These animals are unpredictable and potentially quite dangerous and are best removed by an animal control specialist.

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.