Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Prune African Daisy Ground Cover
How to Prune African Daisy Ground Cover. African Daisy (Osteospermum) is a common ground cover that has a spreading growth habit. As the plants get older, they become woody and may develop bare patches. It is simple to prune them back into the lush carpet of flowers they are meant to be.
African Daisy (Osteospermum) is a common ground cover that has a spreading growth habit. As the plants get older, they become woody and may develop bare patches. It is simple to prune them back into the lush carpet of flowers they are meant to be.
Things You'll Need
Bypass Pruners
Lawn Mowers
Tip-prune young plants by removing the soft new top growth down to the second set of leaves. Pinch the soft foliage with your fingernails; it will come off easily. Continuous pinching of the new growth will keep the young plants bushy and full.
Prune older plants with bypass pruners, removing the side growth to the second set of leaves. This means that you will leave some of the old branches on the plant, but reduce the length. New growth will sprout from the pruned branches.
Mow large areas of African Daisy if they become woody or leggy. Set the mower blade to a high setting. This technique is best done when the plants are growing vigorously, usually in spring or summer.
Tips & Warnings
Pruning often will encourage a repeat bloom.
Root the prunings by cutting them into 3 - 4" pieces. Dip the cut end into a rooting hormone and place it into damp sand until roots form - usually in about 3 months. Rooted cuttings can be used to fill in bare spots.
