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Deadheading

Filed under: — admin @ 12:13 pm


Deadheading your flowers

What is deadheading? Deadheading is removing dead or spent flowers off your plants. This keeps your flowerbed fresh looking and well manicured throughout the season. It is important to deadhead for several reasons. Not only does it improve the looks of your flowers bed, for one it prolongs blooming time and may even give you a second blooming. By pinching or cutting spent flowers, the plants redirects its energy back to more flower production instead of seed production. The more you discourage seed production the harder the plant will try produce flowers. Deadheading also keeps unwanted perennials from spreading all over your flower bed.

When you deadhead, it stimulates new growth and plants will be stronger, bushier and healthier. For best results cut plants back after they have bloomed for 6 weeks which by this time tend to get leggy with less flowers.

Depending on the type of plants, the general guidelines to deadheading (which may vary with some plants) is accomplished the following ways.

Single individual flowers such as bee balm, delphinium, cosmos, phlox, zinnias, Shasta daisies, salvia can be cut back to the strong side buds where they will make new flowers.

With tall individual flowers such as hollyhocks, foxglove, balloon flowers, gladiolus, faded florets should be pinched off along the stem. This will promote larger flowers as the new buds open. Once all the flowers are finished blooming cut the stem to the ground. Some may re-bloom later with smaller flowers.

For small bushy plants that produce lots of blooms such as alyssum, lobelia, dianthus, and thread leaf coreopsis, it is best to snip the drying/faded heads with scissors or shears when the blooming season is half over. This is much faster than trying the tedious task of clipping each flower. The plant may look a little scrawny but will recover in time for fall bloom.

As you admire your colorful flowerbed outside, don’t hesitate to pick a bouquet to bring inside to enjoy. It’s good for the plant and good for the soul.

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9 Comments on Deadheading»

  1. My liatris have already bloomed . Am I supposed to cut the large stalk back or not.

    Yes,you can cut it back. The stalk only blooms once.

    Comment by Sue — 9/3/2004 @ 12:15 pm

  2. I am very interested in planting some foxgloves, I was told they are a perennial, but someone told me they are biennial. What is the difference and how do I keep them growing strong

    They are both ,true species of Digitalis are perennials, but the most commonly grown are biennial (blooms every other year). Mine blooms every year(perennial). Foxglove needs rich well drained soil, part shade to sun. If conditions are right they will reseed. All parts of this plant are poisonous.

    Comment by Rhikki — 5/16/2005 @ 3:36 pm

  3. I just purchased (3) Hymenoxys Acaulis(Angelita Daisy) how do I care for it, does it need to be deadheaded? How do you deadhead it?

    Angelita daisy is a great xeriscape plant that tolerates dry conditions. Great for banks and rock gardens in groups or individual mounds. Grow it in full sun. Don’t overwater it. Yes, they do benefit from deadheading. To keep it blooming all season long, remove the flower spikes/old flower heads before they produce seeds.

    Comment by Gail — 5/31/2005 @ 3:39 pm

  4. When deadheading does it matter if you pinch or cut the flower off.

    No, its usually what is easier. Sometimes the stems are so woody that you can’t pinch the flower head off you have to cut it.

    Comment by Becky — 6/8/2005 @ 1:27 pm

  5. Balloon Flowers- Mine are already close to 3 feet tall. Can these be cut back before they bud?

    You can cut them back but it should be done in May to early June and then blooming will be slowed up to 2 weeks. In late June/July -blooming is delayed for 4 wks.

    Comment by Flo — 6/22/2005 @ 3:43 am

  6. I am wondering if I should mow my lawn. We have had an extended period of hot and dry weather and I left the lawn long on purpose because I had heard the forcast. It still has not rained and the extended forcast calls for hot and dry weather, but the lawn is getting pretty shaggy. What would be best –to leave it or give up and mow? Will it be more damaging to mow it?

    When the weather is hot and dry it is best to let the grass grow as the long grass blades help to shade the roots and conserve the little moisture you have in the soil. Probably better not to mow but if you can’t stand the looks of it and choose to mow, set the blade on a high and endure the dust storm.

    Comment by Jeanine — 7/20/2006 @ 2:01 am

  7. How far down the stem should you deadhead a dianthus?

    Cut the stem down to the first set of leaves, which will send out more growth producing more flowers.

    Comment by Susan — 5/26/2007 @ 3:46 pm

  8. Should I deadhead my Gerbera Daisy and where,
    at the top or base of stem?

    Yes, its a good idea to remove the old flower so that it doesn’t go to seed. Seed production can reduce the number of new flowers. Simply pinch or cut off the stem close to the the base of the stem trying not to disturb the leaves inside the crown or cut off the dead flower head. Works either way. more info on Gerbera daisy

    Comment by Pam — 6/11/2007 @ 10:43 pm

  9. Are you supposed to deadhead an spring to fall blooming Clematis?

    If you have a young plant you may want to pinch off the spent flowers to keep them from producing seedheads. Seed production drains a lot of energy from a young plant. By cutting off the seedhead you can get more flowers and sometimes (depending on the variety) a second smaller blooming later in the season. If you have an older established clematis, then deadheading is not necessary unless you find the seedhead unattractive .more on Clematis

    Comment by Cheryl — 6/16/2007 @ 4:36 pm

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