Hollyhocks

Hollyhocks are an old-fashioned, but easy care biennial plant. Sometimes, establishing a patch is difficult, but once you have them in the right spot, they are very low maintenance.

Personally, I prefer to leave my hollyhocks alone until the spring. The long stalks help trap snow and provide extra winter protection. The seeds are allowed to drop naturally when they are ready, and I enjoy watching the birds hunt for late insects or seeds. In the spring, once the flower bed has dried up, I clear out all the dead plant matter to help ensure I get rid of over wintering fungus, insect eggs, or bacteria.

However, it is also perfectly acceptable to clean up the flower beds in the fall. Many people prefer to do this so that none of the diseases, fungus, bacteria or insect eggs gets the chance to over winter. So, if you prefer this method, cut the stalks down to the ground, and dispose.

Remember, though, that hollyhocks are a biennial. It is important that the seeds be allowed to drop to the ground. If you are going to cut them back in the fall, collect the dried-out seed heads before you cut down the flower stalks, and sprinkle them around the ground. These seeds will produce plants next year, and flowering plants the year after.

Whichever method you choose, both are acceptable. It is only a matter of personal preference.