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Deadheading flowers is a process that removes the flower head and the developing seed pod from a plant in the hope that it will bloom again. (Basically, you remove dead flowers to make new flowers will bloom in their place.) By removing the flower head and seed pod, a plant will put energy into making new blooms instead of making seeds.
Why It Works:
The goal of a plant is to reproduce. Generally, their entire hope of reproduction is held in their flowers because the flowers are an essential part of the seed making process. When you cut off a flower, the plant gets a little worried it won't be able to reproduce so it sends out a couple more flowers and so on until it has satisfied its goal.
Who to Deadhead:
Plants that respond the most to deadheading are annuals like Zinnias, Marigolds, and Daisies. Google any flower and the word, "deadheading," to check for all the varieties in your garden that can benefit from this process. Some plants, like Impatiens and Petunias deadhead themselves.
How to Deadhead:
Use garden shears or just your fingers to snap the flowers from the stems. Try and get as close as possible to the first leaf that comes after the flower head. If you use garden sheers, remember to keep them clean to avoid transferring diseases from pant to plant.
Ready for spring? I know I am! Let me know what you're going to plant this spring.
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7 comments:
You're making me want a garden! i'd love to be planting spring flowers now.
Since we're in temporary housing right now I'm not going to try to put in a flower bed. I may have a few pots of flowers, though. (I haven't decided on which ones, yet.)
BUT, I am doing my own vegetable garden for the first time this year! I've already put in onions and potatoes at my parents' place. (They weren't going to put one in this year, so I decided to!)
I'm not gardening (that's my grandma's forte) but I am craving some indoor plants and some red flowers to go in a yellow and blue vase. I'm definitely ready for longer, lighter days and some colour.
- Sophia.
My husband is more of a gardener than I am, but our luttuce is already springing back up (volunteer from last year), he's planted peas, and dug up the overabundant daylilies that took over our back walk. (They tend to attract wasps for some reason and I carry epinephrine because I'm allergic to stining insects--not a battle I want to wage on the way to work or anywhere else in the mornings!) My magnolia bush has bloomed--unfortunately, a little too soon for KS weather, I'm sure they're going to get frozen and the bush is turning into tree height--can't drape it anymore. We have purchased cucumber seeds (I'm hoping for canning pickles this year) and will put out some tomato plants when it warms up for good. I have a gernaium plant that I've kept inside this winter and managed to not kill--a step forward for me! I'm sooooo ready for spring!
Last year I did a great job at deadheading my flowerbed. They kept blooming all through the summer. It was so great!
I'll be putting my "vegetable garden" on my deck this year (in pots) - I've tried tomatoes and various peppers with little success in the past, but I'm going to try again, and I'm adding SOY BEANS this year... guess I should start getting all of that together, huh?
We've planted some tomatoes, carrots, and onions. Our lettuce is ready to harvest. I still want to do some corn and peas. Our flower bed is on the schedule for this weekend too!
Carla
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