Deadheading is the process of removing spent flowers from a plant in order to achieve a couple different results. The main idea behind deadheading is to stimulate more flowers. Pinch off the old flowers, stimulate new growth, and that means new flowers. Some plants need a simple removal of the spent flower, and others may need removal of the spent flower as well as the stalk it was produced on.
Deadheading is also like a pinching or pruning process keeping the plants more compact. By removing spent flowers and a bit of the stem below the flower, you encourage a fuller plant, new growth, and again, new flowers.
Deadheading also helps eliminate the plants trying to go to seed during the growing season, which takes a lot of energy out of the plant, rather than putting that energy to new foliage and new flowers.
And deadheading can also stimulate a second flowering period from plants that typically only flower once. Summer blooming Spirea is an example. Shear off spent flowers, and within a few weeks, new flowers will appear.
Deadheading is done on annuals, perennials and woody plants. And even if it doesn’t stimulate new flowers, it certainly keeps the plants looking better for the growing season, getting rid of those old spent flower stems.
So if you haven’t been a deadheader this summer, its never too late to get started. Your flowering plants will be glad you did.
© 2012
