Things You'll Need:
- Bypass Pruners
- Fertilizers
- Garden Trowels
- Mulch
- Plants
- Plants
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Step 1
Shop for bleeding hearts in spring when they're in bloom. Nurseries sell bleeding hearts in 4-inch to 1-gallon containers.
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Step 2
Choose robust-looking plants that have a lot of new growth starting from the base.
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Step 3
Choose the right bleeding heart for your garden - Dicentra formosa grows 9 to 18 inches high, while D. spectabilis can grow to 2 feet.
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Step 1
Plant in the shade - morning sun is fine, but afternoon sun will be too hot.
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Step 2
Grow bleeding hearts under shrubs or evergreen trees. Brighten up the shade with the white flowers of D. spectabilis 'Alba'.
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Step 3
Add a light application of organic fertilizer to the planting hole.
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Step 4
Water well when you're finished planting.
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Step 1
Put a 2- to 3-inch layer of compost around the bleeding hearts in spring to help retain soil moisture.
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Step 2
Keep the plants well-watered to maintain good-looking foliage throughout summer.
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Step 3
Cut down the remaining plants during fall cleanup using bypass pruners.









