How to Deadhead Flowers for More Blooms and Healthier Plants
Learn when, why, and how to deadhead flowers to extend the blooming season and grow larger, healthier plants (annuals and perennials). Deadheading is easy to do the reward is huge!
Equipment
- small garden pruners or snips
- rubbing alcohol or other sanitizer
Instructions
- Start deadheading flowers when plants are still young, and continue to remove spent flowers routinely (e.g. weekly) as needed throughout the growing season.
- It’s best to deadhead flowers using small garden pruners or snips, though you may be able to carefully pinch off flower heads or stems by hand.
- Starting at the spent flower head that you want to remove, work down the stem to until you locate the next healthy set of leaves, side branches, or leaf nodes (where future side shoots will grow from).
- Trim off the faded blooms about 1/4 inch above the next set of leaves or side shoots down the stem.
- To promote lower branches and prevent the plant from getting too top-heaving, I often cut stems at varying heights – some just below the flower head and others a few leaf nodes down the stem.
- Sanitize pruning snips with rubbing alcohol between plants to prevent the spread of disease.
Notes
The following flowers benefit from regular deadheading:
Bee Balm, Calendula, Coneflower, Cosmos, Dahlias, Daises, Delphinium, Geraniums, Hydrangea, Larkspur, Lavender, Marigold, Mums, Peonies, Petunias, Roses, Rudbeckia, Snapdragons, Strawflower, Yarrow, Zinnia
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