How Do I Take Care of a Heather Plant?

Pink heather in bloom

Also known as Scotch heather or Ling, the heather plant (Calluna vulgaris) grows up to 3 feet with an equal spread at maturity. This evergreen shrub produces deep green scale-like leaves that give way to showy white, red or pink flowers that bloom in the summer and fall. Heather grows best in well-drained soil within USDA hardiness zones 5 through 8, where the winter temperatures do not fall below minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit. With proper care, the heather plant will continue to bloom year after year.

Things You'll Need

• Sprinkler or soaker hose
• Mulch
• Pruning tool
• All-purpose fertilizer
• Insecticidal soap

Instructions

1. Provide the heather plant with moist soil at all times using a sprinkler or soaker hose. Water the heather weekly at a rate of 1 inch of water per week, in lieu of rain. Twice a week waterings may be necessary if the weather is exceptionally dry.

2. Suppress weeds with a 3 to 4 inch layer of mulch. A layer of bark chips or straw will also improve water drainage and protect the roots of the heather from winter frost and the hot summer sun.

3. Remove dead and damaged branches during the early spring before new growth appears. Use a pruning tool to cut the branches on a 45-degree angle, 1 inch away from the growth point. Pruning will keep the heather plant neat and tidy and also encourage new growth.

4. Feed the heather plant a diet of all-purpose fertilizer. Apply either a water-soluble or a granulated fertilizer to the soil around the heather plant according to manufacturer's instructions. Heather plants appreciate a dose of fertilizer in the early spring before new foliage develops.

5. Control spider mites using an insecticidal soap product. Heather plants are prone to spider mites, especially when the summers are hot. Apply the insecticidal soap according to manufacturer's instructions.

Tips & Warnings

• The heather plant requires at least four to six hours of daily sunlight to thrive. Cut back taller plants or those that extend over the heather plant, blocking the sun.

• Allow the heather plant to die back naturally in the fall. The foliage will turn from green to yellow and finally brown. The heather plant will begin to show signs of new growth in the spring.

• Do not over water the heather plant. Over watering promotes root rot, a disease that can kill the plant. If the soil feels moist 1 inch down, do not add more water to the soil.

References

• Fine Gardening: Calluna vulgaris 'Spring Torch' (Scotch heather, Ling)
• The Flower Expert: Heather Flowers
• Learn 2 Grow: Calluna vulgaris 'Devon'

Resources

• Yardener: Caring for Heather
• Grow It: USDA Hardiness Zone Maps