Wave petunias don't seem to need deadheading. However, as a group, annuals do benefit from deadheading, since most of them depend on creating seeds for their existence, and setting seeds tends to end their flowering cycle.

ZM

I agree with ZM. The waves could benefit from some trimming once in awhile though. They will branch out more so they aren't too leggy. This is my 1st year trying bacopa. But I plan on treating them like the waves...not deadheading, maybe a trim. I'll see how it goes. Another annual I don't deadhead and does just great is Melampodium (medallion flower). I tried it for the 1st time last summer and just love it. The other annuals I do deadhead.
Good luck with yours!

Kat

annuals live and die in one season ...

they have only ONE GOAL IN LIFE ...

to reproduce .. via seed ...

when to many flowers go to seed .. they tend to die ... mission accomplished [regardless of whether the seed is viable]

deadheading removes the seeds.. and the plant continues to thrive.. trying to accomplish its goal ...

ergo .. ANNUALS NEED TO BE DEADHEADED ....

very over-simplistic.. but i presume you wont forget the notion...

good luck

ken

All of the plants you've mentioned come in perennial varieties, so be sure to do a bit of research on which you have. Regardless, you won't have to deadhead Felicia or Bacopa. Heck, you'd go mad if you tried, lol! Perennial Salvia blooms longer if the spent stalks are removed, but I still get about 3 months out of mine when I don't. Annual salvia needs tending to, though.

Do a quickie search on the plants in your garden. You'll soon find information about the deadheading of each one. It'll be worth your while, because not all annuals need that kind of grooming.

Thank you for your halp. These are definitely annuals, not perennial varieties.

I also have dahlias and angelonia. I probably should deadhead them, too.

As with most of the other annuals you mentioned, angelonia does not have to be deadheaded. Dahlia (a perennial) DOES!

in my zone 5.. dahlia is a tender perennial.. meaning if i dont dig them up and put them in the basement.. they die... i presume they are the same in z6 .... but you can do the research ...

when a plant has so many flowers that individual spent flowers can not be taken off.. trace down the plant lower to the ground.. and look for tiny leaves where branches go off from the main trunk.. and if you see tiny leaves there.. you can take the whole branch.. and a new branch will start ...

to become a GREEN THUMB.. you have to turn off the computer.. and go pinch your plants ... do a little research.. but you really have to JUST GO DO IT ...

if you have a couple of a plant.. do different things.. to different plants.. and see which works best for you ...

that is how a GARDENER does it.. trial and error.. and killing a bunch of things.. lol ...

have no fear... JUST DO IT ...

the whole point of gardening.. is to be in the garden.. and mess around with things... it is not meant to be scary.. or stressful.... or anything to worry about...

some peeps actually say... that you arent a gardener.. until you have killed every plant 3 times ....

ken