What The Heck Is Deadheading?

Being a landscape designer in the Santa Clarita Valley, and a gardener from childhood I have never had to think twice about the term deadheading. Yes, I know it has other connotations beyond the gardening world, but I’ve always been more of a Rolling Stones fan than a Dead Head so gardening was always the first thing that crossed my mind.

Usually after a job is installed I spend a little time talking with or emailing back and forth with my client to discuss maintenance (we talk about it at the start of the job too). This past week, two different people have responded to my maintenance notes with, “What does deadheading mean?” so … here we go. Deadheading is the systematic removal of spent flower blossoms from your plant that encourages it to bloom more.

Deadheading can be done on a young pliable plant with your fingers/fingernails or on stiffer more brittle plants with a pair of garden scissors or pruners.

Most perennial and annual plants will benefit from deadheading, so have at it! Here is a list and links of some perennials that I’ve written care information on that will benefit from deadheading.

How To Care For Cuphea 
How To Care For Gaillardia 
How To Care For Gaura 
How To Care For Lavender 
How To Care for Star Jasmine 

I hope this helps a little, let me know if you have any other questions! If you are interested in creating a beautiful garden with me you can email me at julie@thegrassisalwaysgreener.net, call me at 661-917-3521 or click through to my website.