How to Deadhead Annual Flowers

Make deadheading your annuals part of your gardening routine for more blooms.

Deadheading helps to keep plants looking neat as well as promote plant growth. Deadheading or cutting off the spent flower heads should be done throughout the blooming season for the best results. Some annual plants will bloom second time if deadheaded before they start producing seeds. When a plant blooms, its energy is spent on blooming; when the flowers start to fade, the plant spends its energy on seed production. If you remove the spent flowers before the flower starts producing seeds, you can trick the plant to produce more flowers. Plants like coleus, geranium, marigolds, nasturtium, petunias and zinnia will bloom a second time if deadheaded.

Things You'll Need

• Gardening scissors or sharp knife

Instructions

1. Deadhead annuals that have flowers that are faded or browning. Waiting too long to deadhead could mean your plant is about to produce seeds, and reblooming will not occur.

2. Pinch off spent flower heads of coleus, marigolds, nasturtiums and petunias. Place your pointer finger and thumb between the base of the flower and the next set of leaves. Press your finger and thumb together and pull off the flower head.

3. Snap off the spent flowers of plants with thick stems like geraniums and zinnias. Run your hand along the stalk of the spent flower to the base. Bend the stalk downward to break it away from the plant. Cut stubborn stalks with gardening scissors or a sharp knife to remove them if needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Some plants will not bloom a second time, even if deadheaded at the right time.

• Deadheading annuals may prevent them from producing seeds. If you want seeds, leave some spent flowers on the plant to go to seed.

References

• "Gardening Essentials"; Barbara Pleasant; 1999
• Midwest Gardening: Deadheading
• Garden Plans Ireland: How To Keep Your Plants in Bloom With Deadheading