While recently leafing through “The Curious Gardener”, a gardening newsletter, I came across an article on “deadheading” flowering plants by gardener/writer Gay Wilhelm. Considering that most summer flower gardens are now in full bloom, the article seemed very appropriate to quote.

According to Wilhelm, a plant’s goal in life is to reproduce itself. The process of seed production takes a lot of energy, energy that could be channeled into making more flowers.

Wilhelm writes that removing faded flowers, or deadheading, before the flowers go to seed will help perennials, bulbs and annuals remain vigorous. With perennials, deadheading extends the blooming season or even causes another flush of bloom in late summer. Bulbs can use the energy to produce food for storage for next year’s blooms.

Small spring bulbs such as scilla, grape hyacinth and snowdrops will self-seed if the flowers mature, so Wilhelm recommends deadheading bulbs as well as annual flowers to keep the garden neat. Remove the flowers as they begin to fade. Only let a plant set seed if you want to save the seed.

Soft-stemmed annuals and perennials can be deadheaded by hand with a quick twisting motion. However, Wilhelm says you will need scissors or pruning shears to deadhead plants with tough, wiry stems. Do not tear the stem or loosen the roots by attempting to break stubborn stems by hand. Badly torn stems will die back or possibly kill the entire plant. Some low growing plants, such as perennial alyssum, can be sheared or mowed with a lawn mower on a high setting for a second show of flowers later in the season. If you toss the old flower heads in your compost pile, remember that they may contain mature, viable seed. If not completely composted, you spread some flowers when you spread your compost.

As a final hint on the topic, Wilhelm writes that you should not deadhead plants being grown for decorative fruit or seed pods. Certain plants can look attractive in fall or winter with fading blooms left intact. The heads of hydrangeas, for example, take on bronze and purple hues as the petals dry out. Also, they provide some frost protection for dormant buds. So leave them on the plant until the following spring.