Deadheading - the method that makes the flowers bloom again

When a flower has done its job and begins to wilt, it focuses on setting seeds. The blooming decreases before eventually fading completely. Fortunately, it is possible to "trick" many flowers into blooming again, even late in the season.,Seed-setting flowers, such as pansies, geraniums, daisies, marigolds, geraniums, sweet peas, petunias, snapdragons, and zinnias are examples of flowers that can easily be rejuvenated through deadheading.,Some perennials, such as catmint, Russian sage, lavender, mint, masterwort, velvet sage, and roses also benefit from such care.,Roses, however, should be treated slightly differently depending on the variety, but the most common practice is to remove the dead rose including the short stem down to the first branch or new bud. When a whole branch has finished blooming, it can sometimes be cut off even further down. Just remember that roses should not be treated this way late in the fall, when the plant is preparing for dormancy.

The most common way is to pinch off the flower and stem above a new pair of leaves or a new bud - about 5 to 10 cm down, depending on the type of flower. You should not prune too close to the ground or remove too much, as this could risk the stem drying out. But you should also not just remove the flower head.Some shrubby plants with lots of small flowers can be pruned differently. Simply grasp the entire plant and cut everything off about 5 to 10 cm down - but of course, take into account any new buds. If there are many small flowers on the same stem, it is usually appropriate to do this when about 70 percent of the flowers have started to wither.

It is fully possible to pinch off the dead flowers with your fingers, but a pruning scissors provides a cleaner cut and is better for roses and other flowers with thicker stems.

In late autumn, it can be wise to let some of the flowers remain so they can produce seeds. These seeds can be harvested and then sown for the following year. It can also be beautiful to leave the seed heads standing through winter, covered in glistening snowflakes. In spring, the seed pods can also serve as a food reserve for insects and small birds.

No, some flowers only bloom once per season. This applies, for example, to most bulb plants, such as tulips and daffodils. Peonies, columbines, and other flowers that bloom only once per season also gain nothing from deadheading. There are also flowers with such a long development time that new flowers cannot possibly bloom before winter arrives. You should also not remove dead flowers from plants that bear fruit or berries - by removing the flowers, you also lose the harvest.

remove wilted flowers every day or every other day throughout the summer, the flowers will always look fresh and nice. Feel free to add nutrients to the water now and then, to give new flowers a good start.

Unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer pollinators, such as butterflies, bumblebees, and bees, in the world, also here with us. By extending the flowering season through deadheading, you help beneficial insects to access vital nectar and pollen throughout the season.