Tell me again how deadheading is so necesssary...

10 years ago

This pot contains three Clivia plants. (bulbs?). I deliberately left last year's bloom stems in tact and enjoyed seeing the seed pods develop over the winter. Right now as they are blooming again. The old seed pods, being bright red, are quite attractive. Maybe the birds will enjoy them.

3 plants.
3 old seed stems,
and now three more stalks of bloom.
This is just madness!

Granted, some plants need to be deadheaded for cosmetic purposes but is there any forensic evidence that the lack of deadheading somehow adversely affects the plant itself or is this just another "Master" gardener myth causing a lot of extra work?

Apparently roses might stop blooming for the year if seed pods are left attached. This will be my next test. Anyone have any plants that deserve the same experiment?

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

10 years ago

"There... is too much... "documentation" that insists that deadheading is
paramount... as if deadheading... is the... purpose to grow a garden."

Whatever you were reading that gave you that impression was highly misleading! There are certainly valid reasons for deadheading but they tend to be quite plant specific. With many annual flowers, if you don't deadhead to stop seed development (an annual's entire reason for being), then they simply stop blooming. With some perennials, if you deadhead after the primary bloom cycle, they will rebloom - not deadheading eliminates that reblooming potential. And some plants should be deadheaded to reduce self seeding to the point of weediness or even invasiveness. In my area that would be English ivy, Euphorbia myrsinites, English cherry laurel and butterfly bush, among many others.

And some plants are deadheaded for purely aesthetic reasons - rhododendrons for example. They just look cleaner and tidier with the old dried flower trusses removed but that's really a more of a gardening OCD thing - doesn't really serve any benefit to the plant.....it just makes that sort of gardener happy.

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Comments (8)

ianna
10 years ago
it takes a lot of energy for some plants to bloom and to develop seeds. So by pruning off the seedheads you help the plant conserve that energy (bulb plants for example). Also if one wants to avoid multiple seedlings sprouting about, it's wise to remove those seeds (like in the case of purple fennels). to keep the plant growing foliage (as in the case of basil) For me though I deadhead selectively. Some dying blooms start to look diseased so those I remove. I let other plant like alliums keep their seed heads until they start falling over.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
you did an expperiment.. and you are happy with the result ... why do you need anyone elses opinion ... eh???

who knew ... i would answered as above ... go figure ...

ken
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Fori
10 years ago
It very much depends on the plant!

If you don't deadhead agapanthus (or keep up your yard), you'll end up with a meadow of agapanthus. :)
letabez
10 years ago
Fori, I am very apologetic for not pleasing you. I have been stalking you but only because I have one important (to me) question - how do you like your 18" deep upper cabinets over your 30" deep counter?
Fori
10 years ago
Oh hey! I did answer the forum post. I liked them. I moved. My new kitchen now has them too. :)
emerogork
Original Author
10 years ago
"you did an expperiment.. and you are happy with the result ... why do you need anyone elses opinion ... eh??? "

I guess you figure that one experiment... proves the... point. I don't...
There... is too much... "documentation" that insists that deadheading is paramount... as if deadheading... is the... purpose to grow a garden.

I have never... had a situation... that got out of hand... because I did not... deadhead.
ianna
10 years ago
don't be apologetic for having a curious mind. That's what makes gardening interesting.