|
Now, when I say the word
deadhead what do you think of? Truck drivers think about a return trip
without any cargo. And you Grateful Dead fans may think about
yourself…deadheads. But in the garden, deadheading has a totally different
meaning.
Deadheading is the art
of removing spent flowers from a plant in order to achieve a few different
things.
-
The main
idea behind deadheading is to stimulate more flowers. By pinching off the
old flowers, it helps to stimulate new growth and more flowers. Some plants
need a simple removal of the spent flower, where others may need removal of
the spent flower as well as the stalk on which it’s growing. This process
is used on both annuals and perennials.
-
Deadheading is similar to a pinching or pruning process that helps keep
plants more compact, rather than getting long and lanky. By removing the
spent flowers and a bit of the stem below the flower, you’re encouraging a
fuller plant. And of course, with more new growth, in turn, you’ll have
more new flowers.
-
Deadheading also helps to eliminate the plants trying to go to seed, like
these daylilies, which can take a lot out of the plant. Instead of
producing seed heads, the energy can be sent to the plant and it’s foliage,
and again, in many cases, like these gaillardias, the plants will continue
to re-bloom. If you have coreopsis, a light shearing will help stimulate
these plants to keep flowering all summer long, as well as keeping them nice
and compact.
-
Deadheading is also a way to help stimulate a second flowering period from
plants that may typically flower only once. Summer flowering spirea is a
good example. Once they’re finished flowering, lightly shear off those
spent flowers, and within a few weeks, a second flush of new growth will
appear, along with a second period of flowering.
-
And, as
with some perennials and woody plants, even if deadheading doesn’t help
stimulate more flowers, it definitely helps to keep your plants looking a
lot nicer for the summer season.
So, if you haven’t been
a deadheader this summer, it’s never too late to get started. Your
flowering plants will be glad you did! |
