How to Dead Head

Removing old flower heads or dead-heading your plants can extend their flowering period and improve their looks. It stops the plant from setting seed, which means that energy is used to produce more growth or flowers rather than diverted into seed head production. But there are some plants that you will grow which have attractive seed heads and fruit, which are also produced when flowers have died. Seed heads and fruit, as well as flowers, are major ornamental features. And, if you plan to grow more of the same plants from seed the following season you need the plants to set seed.

Here's a short list of some things that you will not want to dead-head: Clematis orientalis - late flowering clematis; Lunaria - honesty, Nigella - Love-in-a-mist; Pyracantha - firethorn; ornamental grasses. Some annuals and biennials will not produce any more flowers even after dead-heading. Poppies (Papaver) are the classic example here. In contrast, the flowered stems of lupins (Lupinus) can be cut back to the base when the first flower flush has faded. You may be rewarded by a second later flush of flowers.

Annuals for deadheading include: petunias, fleshy begonias, busy Lizzies (Impatiens), geraniums (Pelargoniums) and most of the other classic annuals grown for summer colour will keep on flowering if old flowerheads are removed. Flowering season can be extended by removing dead flower heads.

Dead-heading also improves the vigour of bulbs, as they will put energy back into the bulb for next year's flowers. Nip off the dead flowerhead of bulbs growing in longer grass.

For climbers, dead-heading is not always a practical option with many climbers. But where you can reach, take off the dead flower heads as they fade. If you want decorative seed heads or fruit, dead-head about a third of the plant stems, to keep up a flowering display.

Many perennials will flower for much longer if dead headed. So as not to denude borders completely, remove faded flower heads regularly, to promote longer flowering.

Don't dead-head roses which only flower once a season, or varieties grown for their decorative hips. Bush roses and repeat flowering climbers and ramblers respond well to you removing their dead blooms. Take out individual faded heads from each truss. When the whole truss has finished flowering, cut stems just above the second or third leaf down.

There are shrubs which benefit if their spent flower heads are removed so that energy is put into producing new growth for next season. It's not essential for the health of the shrub, but you may want to deadhead in very tiny gardens, or the shrubs which are closest to your house and patio. Use your fingers and thumbs to pick off faded heads where they join the stem of the plant. If you tear or snag stems, use secateurs to trim.