Deadheading done right

Annuals and perennials that repeat bloom will often do so only if the old, dying flowers are removed. If they remain on the plant, they will go to seed and stop producing flowers. Several flowers that bloom only once per season benefit from deadheading, because the plant puts its energy into strengthening itself instead of producing seed. Some exceptions to this rule are plants like Astilbe or ornamental grasses, that bloom only once, but continue to look attractive with their drying seed heads. Most annuals and many perennials will continue to bloom throughout the growing season if deadheaded. Black eyed susan, Butterfly bush, Dianthus and Purple coneflower are good examples of perennials that benefit from deadheading.

The pictures above show some that were left on a plant. The one the left has already dried, broke open and started to spread the seed. On the right it is in the process of going to seed. These are from petunias.

This petunia needs to be deadheaded. Below shows the correct way to do it.

Make sure to pinch behind the bloom...do not just pull the bloom off or it will go to seed.

This is an example of what happens when they are left to go to seed. The plant starts to get leggy and you just have a bunch of pods and very few blooms. Be sure to pinch the entire bloom off do not just pull the dead blooms off because it will not have any benefits. If you take the time to do this often it does not take that long and actually is my therapeutic time. Do not waste the money you spent on your flowers, deadhead today to enjoy them the whole growing season.