The weathered stone was cool and smooth, flocked here and there with moss, its jagged edges softened by the elements and constant patter of traffic.  Flanked on each side, the perennials began to crowd the path, decked in seasonal splendor and hue.  Their blooms perfumed the air and extended towards our fingertips, longing to be admired and fussed over.

And fussing is a must.

In addition to supplemental watering, considering how hot and dry Summer has been thus far, flowers also require deadheading or “pinching”, and it’s not purely for aesthetic reasons.

Removing spent and faded flowers helps encourage reblooming while improving the health of the foliage and preventing nuisance reseeding.  Additionally, deadheading helps direct energy toward the root system, so plants are able to build food reserves for the following year.  Perennials and flowering shrubs both benefit from the practice, but you need not worry about annuals.

So, how does one go about deadheading?  Simple.  Really.  For perennials with flowers at the tips of the stems, cut just below the faded flower.  For plants with leafy flower stems and leaves at the base of the plant, cut back to just above the top most, unopened bud.  For perennials with bare stems, cut off close to the ground.  If you’re just not sure, reach out to Sweeney’s.  We’ll make sure you become a skilled and prolific deadheader.

Plant of the Week

Sonic Bloom Pink Reblooming Weigela

Deciduous shrub with hot pink flowers blooms May – September without the need for deadheading.  Prefers full sun and moist-well drained soil.  Grows in a mound 4-6′ high and 4-6′ wide.  Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and is deer resistant.

“Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful flowers where I can walk undisturbed.”

-Walt Whitman

Best wishes,

Kim Sweeney