Garden Care Guide

Scarlet Avens Care

Geum coccineum

A clump-forming perennial herbaceous plant with vivid red-orange flowers. It loves partial shade (especially afternoon shade) and moist, well-drained, rich soil; in Izmir's heat it needs careful watering in summer.

Hardy · -30 °C / -22 °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: Not required, natural rainfall is sufficient.
  • General care: Make sure drainage is good and that water does not pool.
  • Pests & diseases: Prevent waterlogging to avoid root rot. Frost protection is not needed; it is frost hardy.
February
  • Watering: Not required, natural rainfall is sufficient.
  • Pruning: Clear out old, rotting leaves left over from winter to aerate the plant.
  • General care: Clear weeds.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the new shoots for slugs and snails.
March
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, 2-3 L/m² once a week.
  • Fertilizing: Mix a slow-release balanced fertilizer (e.g. 10-10-10 NPK) into the soil (20-30 g/m²); do not overdo it.
  • Plant protection: Check the new shoots for aphids; apply neem oil if necessary.
  • General care: This is the best time to propagate by division.
  • Pests & diseases: Check for aphids.
April
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • Fertilizing: Once a month, apply a balanced liquid fertilizer (e.g. 20-20-20 NPK) at 1-2 mL per 1 L of water.
  • General care: To preserve soil moisture, apply a light mulch (such as compost).
  • Pests & diseases: If spotting occurs on the leaves, it can be a fungal disease; increase airflow.
May
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Fertilizing: Continue with a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • 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.
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: In mid-month you may make one last liquid fertilizer application.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • Plant protection: Check the undersides of the leaves for spider mites.
  • General care: In hot weather, take care that the plant does not go into stress.
  • Pests & diseases: Check for spider mites (yellowing and webbing on the leaves).
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.
  • Fertilizing: Not needed; fertilizing in hot weather stresses the plant.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • Plant protection: The risk of spider mites is high; apply a miticide if necessary.
  • General care: Make sure it is protected from the afternoon sun.
  • Pests & diseases: Watch for spider mites and signs of heat stress (shriveling).
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.
  • Plant protection: Continue checking for spider mites.
  • General care: Focus on keeping the plant alive; consistent watering is important.
  • Pests & diseases: Watch for heat stress and leaf burn.
September
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Fertilizing: If the weather has cooled, you can support autumn growth by giving a low-dose liquid fertilizer at the end of the month.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • General care: This is a suitable time to propagate by division.
  • Pests & diseases: Be careful about fungal diseases with the autumn rains.
October
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • Pruning: Cut all flower stalks. You may leave the leaves to provide winter protection.
  • General care: Clean up around the plant.
  • Pests & diseases: Check drainage against the risk of root rot.
November
  • Watering: Not required, natural rainfall is sufficient.
  • Pruning: If needed, cut leaves for winter cleanup, but leaving them protects the roots.
  • General care: You can spread a protective mulch (dry leaves or compost) around the base of the plant.
  • Pests & diseases: Continue observing.
December
  • Watering: Not required, natural rainfall is sufficient.
  • Pests & diseases: Against the risk of root rot, make sure the soil does not stay constantly wet. Frost protection is not needed.

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.

Want reminders for every plant in your garden? Our garden-care app with monthly task lists and frost alerts is currently available in Turkish; the English version is on the way.

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