I am surprised that there wasn’t a 60s rock band called “The Deadheaders.” What better name from a generation that promoted Flower Power?

 

You didn’t have to see Jurassic Park to know that evolution has instilled procreation as a very high priority in the plant and animal kingdoms. So when your favorite perennial finishes blooming, it moves on to creating seeds. If you deny it that opportunity by removing the spent blossom, you disrupt its normal procreation cycle. Chances are, it will try again and start over with more flowers. On some plants, if you keep repeating this cycle, they will reward you with new flowers all season long. Others just might not have the energy. But you won’t know for sure unless you try.

 

I’ve kind of caught the deadhead bug and have been removing spent blossoms on most of the plants I can reach. I refuse to climb a ladder and spend the time needed to deadhead my ornamental trees. But each year my poppies reseeded, bloomed in June and then faded away. This year they are still blooming because I spend the time deadheading each week. Gardeners have been deadheading plants like roses and geraniums for years. But try it out on some of your more unusual perennials. After my Jackmanii Clematis finished blooming this year I was out there with my scissors. I already see a new wave of buds forming on a vine that I had previously accepted as pretty much a one-time bloomer. My Red Valerian is the same way with loads of dormant flower buds in reserve just in case the first flush of flowers gets removed. Mother Nature has a backup plan!

 

Remember that sometimes you might actually want the seed. I won’t remove the spent flowers from the Bottlebrush Buckeye because I think the Buckeye nut is an interesting feature. And some flowers are just too small to individually remove. So in the case of Threadleaf Coreopsis or Cranesbill Geraniums, I shear them back to accomplish the same thing.

 

I may not be a flower child from the 60s, but I just may start that rock group.