Deadheading is an essential gardening technique that keeps your perennial plants healthy and encourages continuous blooming. By understanding how to properly deadhead different types of perennials, you can enhance the beauty of your garden and promote new growth.
Each perennial has its own ideal deadheading method. For example, plants like ‘May Night’ salvia and spike speedwell produce a central bloom with multiple branches. After flowering, you can either cut the entire plant back by a third or remove the central bloom to stimulate lateral buds for quicker flowering. Always aim to make your cuts just above a leaf node, as this is where new growth is most likely to emerge.
Some perennials, such as daylilies and hostas, send up flower stalks from a rosette of foliage. For these plants, you can remove individual faded blooms and then cut the entire stalk back to the base after all flowers have bloomed. This encourages healthier growth and may lead to more flower stalks later.
When dealing with larger plants that have many flowers, shearing can be an effective strategy. After blooming, use hedge clippers to trim the plant down, leaving some foliage to support regrowth. This method works well for mounded plants like ‘Moonbeam’ coreopsis and catmint, allowing for a tidy appearance and promoting a lighter rebloom in a few weeks. Be sure to follow up with a balanced liquid fertilizer to provide the nutrients needed for recovery.
By mastering these deadheading techniques, you can keep your perennials looking their best and ensure your garden flourishes throughout the growing season! 🌿🌼