Garden Care Guide

Common Columbine Care

Aquilegia vulgaris

An elegantly flowering plant suitable for shaded and cool garden corners. To survive Izmir's hot summers it needs afternoon shade and constantly moist soil. Leaf miner is its most common pest.

Hardy · -35 °C / -31 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Watering: Winter precipitation is generally sufficient; during prolonged drought, keep the soil lightly moist.
  • Plant protection: Check for snails and slugs.
  • General care: Spread compost or mulch around the roots to retain soil moisture and enrich the soil.
  • Pests & diseases: Make sure drainage is good against the risk of root rot.
  • Frost risk: None; it is frost tolerant.
February
  • Watering: Winter precipitation is generally sufficient.
  • Plant protection: Check for snails.
  • General care: The plant gathers strength for spring.
  • Pests & diseases: Watch out for root rot.
  • Frost risk: None; it is frost tolerant.
March
  • Watering: Keep the soil constantly moist (10-15 L/m² per week); reduce if there is rain.
  • Fertilizing: During the flowering period, give a balanced liquid fertilizer (e.g., NPK 20-20-20) every 2-3 weeks; do not overapply, and seek advice.
  • Pruning: Encourage new flowering by cutting faded flowers.
  • Plant protection: Start checking for leaf miners (white tunnels) on the leaves (pick off the affected leaves).
  • General care: Flowering begins.
  • Pests & diseases: Leaf miners and powdery mildew are the biggest problems.
April
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • Fertilizing: Continue fertilizing every 2-3 weeks.
  • Pruning: Cut faded flowers regularly.
  • Plant protection: Leaf miner damage will increase; pick off the affected leaves. Watch out for aphids.
  • General care: This is the peak flowering period.
  • Pests & diseases: Check for leaf miners and powdery mildew (sulfur if necessary).
May
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Fertilizing: Continue fertilizing every 2-3 weeks.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • Plant protection: Continue checking for leaf miners and powdery mildew.
  • General care: Spread a 5-7 cm layer of mulch over the root zone; it retains soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Do not pile mulch against the trunk.
  • Pests & diseases: Continue monitoring for pests.
June
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Fertilizing: Stop fertilizing.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • General care: If you want it to come up next year, let some seeds ripen.
  • Pests & diseases: Heat stress begins.
July
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • General care: Keep it in a position sheltered from midday sun; scorching at the leaf edges is a sign of burn.
  • Pests & diseases: Heat stress and drying out are the biggest problems.
August
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • General care: The mulch layer helps keep the roots cool.
  • Pests & diseases: The plant is dormant.
September
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • General care: It is the ideal month for sowing seeds or planting new seedlings. Prepare a partly shaded spot with rich soil.
  • Pests & diseases: Check plants that were stressed in summer; new growth may begin in autumn.
October
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • General care: It is still a suitable month for sowing seeds. New seedlings may emerge from fallen seeds.
  • Pests & diseases: Protect young seedlings from slugs and snails.
November
  • Watering: Autumn rains are generally sufficient.
  • General care: The plant forms its leaf rosette for winter.
  • Pests & diseases: Watch out for root rot.
December
  • Watering: Winter precipitation is generally sufficient.
  • Plant protection: Check for snails.
  • General care: The plant is in its rest and root development period.
  • Pests & diseases: Make sure drainage is not blocked.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

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