Chives

Chives, after a haircut

My chives look: horrible. My dear son decided it was a good idea to cut them in half (because they were growing disproportionately) 3 weeks ago to see how they grew back and now they look like this. What would you recommend? :)

Comments for Chives

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Jul 20, 2020

If it were me...
by: Jacki Cammidge, Certified Horticulturist

I would cut them off completely.

Right down to about an inch long. This gives them the best chance to be revived and keep producing. Quite often, right about this time of year (mid summer) they'll start to flower anyway, which although pretty, means that the 'chive' part is no longer available.

By cutting them off completely, and watering them, you'll get a whole new crop of chives.

Don't worry, they're quite forgiving.

Kudos to your son, for his courage in cutting them off in the first place.

Chives can be used as edging in vegetable gardens, in pots on the window sill or as companions for roses, as they repel insects that want to eat them.

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