deadheadinG 95
Deadheading
“D
on’t Be a Deadhead” is the title of one of my more popular
lectures about pruning perennials and preparing planting
beds. When I was preparing this talk for a mixed audience
of both professionals and homeowners I asked my husband
to listen to it and give me his opinion, representing the very
novice gardener. In his usual, patient way he waited until I
was completely finished with the 1-hour discussion, then
said, “You better tell them what a deadhead is.”
Fortunately no one left the room during my first talk
when they found out that I was discussing the removal of old or spent dead
flowers and not old or spent rock ’n’ rollers (although the latter does sound
somewhat more intriguing). I have been called the “deadhead queen” by various
colleagues because of my work with pruning—I’m not sure if there is any deeper
meaning to this....
Deadheading is beneficial to most herbaceous ornamental plants. Usually
there is deadheading to be done from spring to killing frost. You’ll enjoy the
process more and are less likely to feel overwhelmed if you keep up with it. There
are many reasons for deadheading. Primarily, deadheading can prolong the
bloom period for plants on which the flowers open over a period of several weeks,
or it can initiate a second flush of smaller, sometimes shorter and less numerous
blooms on plants that have a single heavy bloom. It can improve the overall
appearance of the plant, giving a fresh new look to an otherwise finished or even
distracting item. It can persuade biennials to behave like perennials. It can
prevent self-seeding. I also like to remove deadheads or seedheads that weigh
down the plant’s foliage. Seed production can drain a plant’s energy, and
consequently, with certain perennials it can cause the foliage to deteriorate.
Deadheading can promote vegetative and root growth rather than seed produc-
tion and help retain the plant’s healthy appearance.
The age of a plant greatly influences its deadheading needs. New plants give
the gardener a grace period by requiring less frequent deadheading in their first
year in the garden. The honeymoon, so to speak, is over after that first year,
however, as deadheading hits full force the second season. Weather also greatly
affects deadheading from season to season, with cool, moist weather extending
the bloom life and sweltering heat and pelting rain decreasing it.‘Alpha’ phlox being deadheaded
to a lateral bud to extend the
bloom period.