Garden Care Guide

Sweet Alyssum Care

Lobularia maritima

A spreading annual known for its honey-scented small flowers, ideal for borders and pots. It loves cool weather; in Izmir it is sown in autumn and flowers abundantly in spring, and it usually dies in the summer heat.

Half-hardy · -8 °C / 18 °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; if dry weather continues, keep the soil lightly moist.
  • Plant protection: Check for snails and slugs.
  • General care: This is the period when roots develop; remove weeds.
  • Pests & diseases: Against the risk of root rot, make sure drainage is good.
  • Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -8 °C.
February
  • Watering: Winter precipitation is generally sufficient.
  • Plant protection: Check for snails.
  • General care: The plant continues to grow and spread slowly.
  • Pests & diseases: Root rot may occur in excessively wet soil.
  • Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -8 °C.
March
  • Watering: Keep the soil constantly moist (7-10 L/m² per week); reduce if there is rain.
  • Fertilizing: Feed a balanced liquid fertilizer (e.g., NPK 20-20-20) every 3-4 weeks; do not overfeed.
  • Pruning: When flowers decline, cut the plant back by one third to encourage new flowering.
  • Plant protection: Against aphids (neem oil).
  • General care: Mowing gives a fuller appearance and abundant flowering.
  • Pests & diseases: Check for aphids.
April
  • Watering: Keep the soil constantly moist (7-10 L/m² per week).
  • Fertilizing: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every 3-4 weeks.
  • Pruning: Cut the plant regularly to keep it flowering continuously.
  • Plant protection: Watch out for aphids.
  • General care: It looks great in pots and hanging baskets.
  • Pests & diseases: Watch out for root rot and powdery mildew.
May
  • Watering: Keep the soil constantly moist (7-10 L/m² per week).
  • Fertilizing: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every 3-4 weeks.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • Plant protection: Watch out for aphids.
  • General care: Deadheading encourages continuous flowering.
  • Pests & diseases: Be careful about root rot.
June
  • Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
  • Fertilizing: At the start of the month, you may apply one last fertilizer.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • Plant protection: Spider mites can be a problem in hot, dry weather (abamectin).
  • General care: It lasts longer in places with afternoon shade.
  • Pests & diseases: Monitor for signs of heat stress (wilting, flowering stopping).
July
  • Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. Water so that the soil is wetted to a depth of 10-15 cm from the surface.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • General care: Allow it to drop its seeds for next year. Remove the plant once it has dried out completely.
  • Pests & diseases: The plant's life cycle is coming to an end.
August
  • Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. Water so that the soil is wetted to a depth of 10-15 cm from the surface.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • General care: Fallen seeds wait for the autumn rains. Prepare the area for new sowing.
September
  • Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
  • Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
  • Plant protection: Watch for damping-off disease (fungicide) in new seedlings.
  • General care: It is the ideal month for sowing seeds or planting seedlings. Prepare and loosen the soil.
  • Pests & diseases: Excess watering can rot young seedlings.
October
  • Watering: Keep the soil of newly sown seeds or seedlings moist and follow the rains.
  • General care: It is removed at the end of the season; it is replaced with seasonal planting.
  • Pests & diseases: Snails can eat young seedlings.
November
  • Watering: Autumn rains are generally sufficient. Seedlings are established.
  • Plant protection: Keep checking for snails.
  • General care: Allow the seedlings to develop their root systems.
  • Pests & diseases: Watch out for root rot.
  • Frost risk: Toward the end of the month, there may be a slight risk of frost, but the plant is usually hardy.
December
  • Watering: Winter precipitation is generally sufficient.
  • Plant protection: Check for snails.
  • General care: The plant develops slowly throughout the winter.
  • Pests & diseases: Make sure drainage is not blocked.
  • Frost risk: In hard and prolonged frosts, cover the root zone with mulch or dry leaves; also protect young plants. It is damaged below about -8 °C.

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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