Neil, Yes, they respond well. They'll bloom more and longer if they're deadheaded. If they're not deadheaded, I think they look pretty ratty.

Karen

This is my first year growing them so thanks for asking Neil and for answering Karen. I wasn't sold on them when I saw them growing a few years ago and am hoping WS grown plants will show me what I didn't see back then.

Thanks Karen! :) What about the Monardas?

yes, do dead-head, and they will bloom all summer.

Monarda-
hmm I never thot of dead-heading, I have too much of them.

I don't think dead-heading would make a difference, but let's see if anyone has done that.

Thanks Ellen. I deadheaded it yesterday. I left the flowers that are still good.

So Monarda flowers until frost too?

Gaillardia 'Burgundy' is a favorite of mine. I deadhead them to encourage new blooms and to keep them from setting seed and self seeding everywhere. If they get ratty looking cut them back and they will grow and bloom again.

I also deadhead monarda as think it encourages more bloom and helps keep the plant looking neater. The second blooms are usually smaller. Some blossoms will get a second bloom that grows out the center of the first blossom. Because many monarda get powdery mildew I cut them back to the base after second bloom for new growth though they do not bloom again.