Geranium pratense Midnight Reiter

The Geranium Pratense 'Midnight Reiter' is planted during spring or autumn. This variety, like all other perennial geraniums, is not demanding in terms of location and soil quality. Plant it in a rather moist, humus-bearing, acidic or neutral soil. It tolerates limestone. The Geranium Pratense thrives in the sun, which promotes flowering, or in partial shade. To plant your young plant, work the soil in a 20 cm (8in) cube, crumbling the soil well and placing a bottom layer of planting amendment such as dried blood or dehydrated horn. Position your plant, removed from its pot, covering the top of the root ball with 3 cm (1in) of soil, fill in the hole and water generously to eliminate air pockets. In dry weather, regular watering is necessary for a few weeks to facilitate root establishment. From July to September, remove faded flowers and leaves to encourage new growth. If the foliage has not been affected by cold weather, prune back large clumps every spring to keep them compact. It is also possible to prune after flowering and water well to encourage the plant to produce a tidy clump. Like all Geranium Pratense varieties, 'Midnight Reiter' is a tall geranium that tends to flop over. Place it near spring-flowering perennials or between sturdy species that can support it.