Q.
My green euryops daisies were doing beautifully last spring and summer, but
this year they became tall and leggy and grew poorly. It is late July now. Is
that too late to prune them back?
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| Euryops Daisy in a planter in Las Vegas |
A.
Euryops daisy grows best at temperatures from 40F to 100F. When it gets above
100F then this plant struggles. The ideal temperature for their growth is probably
about 65 to 75F. If on the west or south side of the home, move it to the east
side (cooler microclimate) this fall (milder time of year) if possible and put
other plants around it that like water. Cut them back hard and improve the soil
with organics such as compost when planting. Use a pre-plant fertilizer mixed
with the soil like the one for roses or tomatoes. If you use a “rich” compost,
then extra fertilizer is not needed. They will not like it much if surrounded
by rock.
As far as cutting them back now,
wait until daytime temperatures are 65 to 75F and then prune them an inch or
two above the ground and let them regrow from the base. In the Las Vegas
climate, that would probably be some time in October. When pruning, cut them
back very close to the ground and let them grow back before it gets cold this
winter.