Extension

While it may sound like the faithful following of the band The Grateful Dead, deadheading is an important part of gardening. Flowering plants and bushes look great in the landscape, but once the blooms are spent, they should be removed.

 

Removing these spent flowers is good for the plant. Pinching or cutting them off will encourage new, vigorous blooms. Many different annuals and perennials will reap the benefits of deadheading. When the spent blooms are removed, it allows the plant to channel its energy into developing new blooms. It also helps keep the plants looking shapely. Plus, as gardeners deadhead their perennials and annuals, it gives them time to inspect the plants for signs of pests or disease.

 

To deadhead soft-stemmed plants, simply pinch or snap off the flowers with a short length of stem to just above a set of full, healthy leaves. For plants with tough or woody stems, a small pair of garden pruners will do the trick. Cut away the dead petals and a bit of the stem. Make sure the pruners are cleaned and sharpened to reduce the risk of damage or spreading disease.

 

Plants that flower profusely at the height of the growing season may need to be checked daily. Slower-blooming plants should be deadheaded whenever the flowers fade and begin to wilt. Make a point to deadhead spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils, tulips and hyacinths so the plants will use the energy to feed the bulbs instead of producing seeds.

 

Don’t confuse deadheading with pinching out. Pinching out refers to removing the early shoot tips so the plant puts its energy into bushy growth that will produce more blooms later in the growing season.

 

Plants that flower throughout the summer may benefit from fertilizer every couple of weeks or so. Apply fertilizer after deadheading and according to soil test results. There are many different options available, and choosing the right one can be hard. A good choice for prolific bloomers is a fertilizer designed for blooming plants.

 

As temperatures begin to cool in the fall, stop deadheading perennials. As perennials set seed, the seed heads can be very attractive in the garden and serve as a source of food for birds and other wildlife during the colder weather.