Why deadhead

The flowering process is suspended, and the plant begins to use all its energy to form seeds. Deadheading plants as soon as the blooms begin to fade will promote a second bloom. Making a decision about deadheading can be difficult because it is advantageous for some plants and detrimental for others. Gardeners should evaluate the needs of their plants in order to make a proper determination.

There are some perennials that are great self-seeders. For example, columbine loves to spread and roam its seedlings to places away from the parent plant. An advantage to this is that baby plants can help fill in areas of your garden or allow the gardener to share plants with other gardeners. Some perennials that should not be deadheaded so that they reseed for the following year are Alcea Hollyhock , Digitalis Foxglove , Lobelia Cardinal Flower , and Myosotis Forget-me-not.

However, some perennials benefit from being deadheaded. Taller varieties of Sedum such as Autumn Joy should be cut back to prevent spindly branches and to promote compact growth. In many gardens, no deadheading guidelines apply in the autumn. It is very important to keep seed pods on the plants for wildlife to enjoy during the winter months. Also, some plants have very decorative seed pods and present a beautiful display in the garden during the winter.

Birds enjoy perching on Echinacaea coneflowers and snacking on the seed heads. Four Good Reasons to Deadhead Flowers. Deadheading Flowers. By Robin Sweetser. July 19, About This Blog. Related Articles Flowers Pruning. What do you want to read next? Easy Perennial Flowers for How to Cut Back Perennials in Fall. Growing Allium: The Ornamental Flower Bulb Problems and Solutions. Discover 20 Self-Sowing Flowers! How to Start a Flower Garden. The Best Fall Flowers for Your Crazy for Daisies: Types of Planting Fall Bulbs for Spring Growing the Siberian Iris.

The faded blooms of argyranthemums, cherry pie, pansies, polyanthus and petunias can be removed with finger and thumb Geraniums Pelargonium : Hold the faded flower stalk near the base and pull downwards. Use finger and thumb to pick or snap off each dead head where it joins the stem or secateurs to cut just below the flower head. Avoid damaging buds or developing growths immediately below the flower Climbers: Deadhead climbers where practical, particularly Eccremocarpus as it rapidly produces seed pods Bulbs: Remove flowers from larger bulbs such as daffodils , along with the seed capsule.

However, leave the green flower stalk in place as this photosynthesises produces food , helping to build up the bulb to flower well next season. How to do it With finger and thumb The simplest method is to just pinch off the faded blooms with finger and thumb.

With secateurs, scissors or a knife To deadhead plants with tough or stringy stems, use secateurs, scissors or a knife. Where to cut For border perennials and annuals , trim away the old flowers, generally cutting back to a bud or leaf Some hardy geraniums, delphiniums and lupins produce a second flush of flowers if cut back close to ground level after flowering.

No need to deadhead? Should I be deadheading everything? Thankfully, no; Some obliging plants do not need deadheading. Typically fuchsias , bedding lobelia and salvias either don't set much seed or neatly deadhead themselves Do not remove the faded flowers on plants that produce seed loved by birds, including Rudbeckia , cornflower and sunflower There is no need to deadhead rose cultivars that bear hips or other plants that bear berries in the autumn Leave plants that have ornamental seeds or fruits without deadheading; examples include alliums; love-in-a-mist Nigella , stinking iris Iris foetidissima and bladder cherry Physalis alkekengi.

See also You may also like. Container maintenance. Hanging baskets. Choosing the point to deadhead may seem confusing. If you cut close to the bottom of the bloom, chances are you will be left with a dry and unattractive stem.

Where to deadhead or prune a plant can change depending on the species. This encourages new growth and healthy foliage. Make the deadhead cut. Although some plants can simply be pinched, I like to use my Micro-Tip Snips to deadhead most plants. They give me the ability to quickly reach into a plant and make a clean, tidy cut with minimal damage to the plant. Larger, woody stems, such as roses, may require a stronger tool. Larger stems should be cut at a degree angle.

This reduces the risk of disease or damage. Cleaning up quickly and easily. The main point of deadheading plants is to make your flower beds look amazing — so don't drop your spent blooms on the ground.

It's just as easy to collect them in a small bucket for disposal in your compost pile. Fertilize for continued growth. Deadheading flowers and pruning encourages new growth.

Remember to keep a regular fertilizer schedule so your plants continue growing strong and healthy. Annuals are especially heavy feeders. Standard water-soluble fertilizers with balanced numbers will provide all the essentials your flowers need for continued blooming.

Flowering plants serve many purposes beyond simply brightening our landscapes with a rainbow of colors. A blossom's nectar and pollen provide forage to pollinators like bees, butterflies, beetles and birds. The plant itself may even provide a safe sanctuary and habitat for wildlife. And after your pretty blooms fade away, the fruits, berries and nuts that follow feed both wildlife and people.