Summer marched forth to the cadence of the cicada, stumbling ever so often, as her rhythm slowly became out of sync. Her easy going nature seemed strained, and her once verdant beauty disheveled and unkempt. A kind word and a bit of support would again renew her spirit and loveliness. The very same could be said for our yards and gardens.
In addition to supplemental watering, 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. Pinching or deadheading can be as simple as pinching off the faded bloom. Pinching may also involve removing the dominant bud, which can help encourage the surrounding buds. Yarrow, Balloon Flower, Veronica and Russian Sage respond well to pinching. For perennials with lots of small blooms, shearing can be done instead of trying to pinch individually. Cutting back is another viable option to help promote new, healthy foliage. 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, feel free to reach out to Sweeney’s. We’ll make sure you become a skilled and prolific deadheader. We proudly serve the communities of Villa Park, Elmhurst, Oakbrook, Oakbrook Terrace, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Wood Dale, Itasca, and more!
Sweeney’s: A Plant Based Company
Plant of the Week
Blonde Ambition Blue Grama
Airy, flag-like, golden summer flowers bloom from mid-Summer into Fall amidst bluish-green foliage. Blonde seed heads provide winter interest. Prefers full sun and dry soil, although will tolerate many soil types. Grows 24-36″ tall and 24-36″ wide.
“Nothing is ever finished and done with in this world. You may think a seed was finished and done with when it falls like a dead thing into the earth; but when it puts forth leaves and flowers next spring you see your mistake.”
-Elizabeth Goudge
Well wishes,
Kim Sweeney
“Deadheading” or “Pinching Back” is not an all or nothing task. It can be very enjoyable to leave some of the expired flowers on plants like coneflower as these will attract birds like gold finches.
I totally agree! We have learned to leave some of our spent flowers, so birds and other wildlife can still benefit from them. Great tip! Thanks for sharing!