Local Gardeners

Deadheading is one of the gardening chores you will need to address regularly through the plant growing season. In essence, deadheading involves the removal of spent flowers from living plants. While it sounds a little scary and rough, it is a way to ensure that your plants produce more flowers for the months to come. 

As one of the essential skills, deadheading is something every gardener out there should master. It is simple, though there are some tips you should consider to ensure a good outcome. So, when it comes to doing this chore on flowers, there are a few possible techniques you can employ. The one you pick largely depends on the type of plant you have – its size and the number of flowers it produces will tell you which of these three deadheading methods to utilise: 

1. Pinching

A lot of flower stalks are relatively thin and soft. This means it is pretty much enough to pinch them off with your fingers. This method is quite quick, as it requires little to no preparation, to execute it. Consider using it on coleus. That is one plant you want no flowers of because you are probably growing it for the leaves mostly. 

1. Pruning

Pruning is ideal for any plant with big flowers. For example, you will use on coneflowers and daylilies. Hand pruners make the best tool for the job. One mistake people often make to remove unopened buds, thinking that they will never make it. Expert gardeners recommend you first remove the flowers on the top and leave some time for the buds. There is a good chance they will flower soon enough. If you find that the whole stalk is done with its blooming, remove it from the base of the plant. 

1. Shearing

If you are dealing with a profusion of tiny flowers, you need to take your time. Wait until all of the flowers have reached their prime. That is when you should shear the plant back by at least one-third. Sure, you will lose a few flowers in the process, but it won’t be long before you see the plant fully recover and produce new blooms. Doing this also makes the plant look fresh, which is essential for the beauty of your display. It is possible to shear again in the season, or even three times. 

Now that you have learned more about the deadheading methods for flowers, it is time to turn your attention to its benefits. Doing it right has its upsides: 

It makes the plant look neat

If there is one thing common among all flowers, it is that they turn brown and mushy/dry when they die. This means the overall look of the garden will wane. By deadheading the spent flowers, you get a chance to make the place look neater. 

The plant will conserve energy

Another benefit to removing blooms is that it allows the plant to direct energy towards its health. Some perennial flowers, like peonies and Astilbe bloom, once a year, even if you deadhead them. However, cutting the flower stalks ensures the plant can direct energy to the roots, becoming harder. 

Encourage new flower buds

Deadheading enables flowers to set more buds. What this leads to is an extended blooming season, which is always something you’d want to go after. Most of the annual flowers and a great deal of the perennial plants continue to bloom after being deadheaded. 

Now that you know more about deadheading and how to make the most of it, you can properly employ it as part of your gardening chores. 

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