Geraniums and other summer favorites often benefit when old, spent flowers are removed -- a process called deadheading.
Deadheading gives plants new life
K-State horticulture expert lists plants that benefit from a little pinching
At a glance: Pinching off spent flowers -- a process called deadheading -- helps some plants bloom more profusely, says K-State horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini.
More information: Cynthia Domenghini, Cdom@ksu.edu
Related: K-State Horticulture Newsletter
June 11, 2024
K-State Research and Extension news service
MANHATTAN, Kan. -- It may feel a bit gloomy to pick off fading flowers from the yard’s plants.
But Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini said you’re actually setting plants up for success by pinching off spent flowers, a process called deadheading.
“Some plants will bloom more profusely if the old, spent flowers are removed,” Domenghini said.
“Annuals, especially, focus their energy on seed production to ensure that the species survives. If you remove the old flowers, the energy normally used to produce seed is now available to produce more flowers.”
Normally, gardeners can deadhead flowers by simply pinching them off with a thumb and finger, but some tougher stems may require scissors or pruning shears.
Domenghini said some perennials also benefit from deadheading, which essentially extends the blooming season by encouraging an additional burst of flowers. But in the case of perennials, she said: “Some gardeners actually enjoy the look of spent flowers, such as sedum or purple coneflower. And the seed produced can be a good food source for birds.”
Some of the plants that increase blooms in response to deadheading include:
- Hard geraniums.
- Coreopsis.
- Petunias.
- Marigolds.
- Snapdragons.
- Begonias.
- Roses.
- Campanulas.
- Blanket flowers.
- Delphiniums.
- Zinnias.
- Sweet peas.
- Salvia.
- Scabiosa.
- Annual heliotrope.
- Geraniums (Pelargonium).
- Yarrow.
Other plants that do not need to be deadheaded include sedum (Autumn Joy), melampodium, impatiens, most flowering vines, Lythrum, periwinkle (Catharanthus) and wishbone flower (Torenia).
Domenghini and her colleagues in K-State's Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes and gardens. The newsletter is available to view online or can be delivered by email each week.
Interested persons can subscribe to the newsletter, as well as submit their garden and yard-related questions, by sending email to Domenghini at Cdom@ksu.edu, or contact your local K-State Research and Extension office.
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K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices, experiment fields, area extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.