WHERE TO CLEAN FADING FLOWERS?
The structure of the plant will determine where to remove spent flowers.
Single stems 🌱
For plants that produce flowers on single stems, such as dahlias, scabious and zinnias, remove the flower by cutting the stem at the base, as close as possible to where it joins the leaves.
Multiple stems 🌿
For multi-stemmed flowers, such as ageratum, cosmos, daisies and sunflowers, cut off spent flowers individually. Be careful not to cut or damage adjacent flower buds. You can also wait until all the flowers on a stem have finished blooming to cut them off at once.
Little flowers 🌸
For plants with clusters of small flowers, such as fragrant alyssum and iberis, lightly prune the entire plant to encourage new blooms.
TYPES OF PLANTS TO CLEAN
Annuals 🌼
Annuals benefit from regular cleaning of spent flowers to prolong blooms, which can extend the blooming season into fall. Pinch or cut off spent flowers, taking care not to remove adjacent buds.
For small-flowered annuals, such as fragrant alyssum, wait until most of the flowers have faded before pruning. Fertilize regularly to encourage new blooms.
Annuals like Calibrachoa and some types of petunias are self-cleaning and therefore do not need cleaning.
Perennials 🌿
Perennials that will rebloom after spent flowers are cleaned include astrance, rudbeckia (or "black-eyed Susan"), coneflower, lupine, penstemon, phlox, sage, Shasta daisy and speedwell.
Shrubs 🌳
Shrubs that will produce more flowers after cleaning include buddleia (or "butterfly bush"), hydrangea, rose bush and spirea.
Single flowering plants 🌷
Plants that bloom only once per season, such as iris, lilac, lily, peony and tulip, will not produce new flowers after spent flowers are cleaned.
However, removing spent flowers will allow the plant or bulb to focus more energy, resulting in more vigorous growth and better flowering the following year.
Faded flowers of single-blooming plants, such as astilbe and ornamental grasses, can be left in place to take advantage of the decorative seed heads.
HOW TO CLEAN THESE COMMON PLANTS?
Here are tips for cleaning up spent flowers from these commonly grown plants:
Echinacea 🌸
Regular cleaning of echinacea (Echinacea) prolongs the flowering period. When you clean, cut just above the first set of leaves. In late summer or early fall, stop cleaning up spent flowers and leave the seed heads to feed songbirds and other wildlife.
Dahlia 🌺
Dahlias can bloom until the first frost with regular cleaning. Remove spent flower heads just above the first intersecting branch, being careful not to remove side buds. New flower buds are rounded, while faded flowers have a triangular or conical shape.
Marguerite Shasta 🌼
Shasta daisies will continue to produce more flowers if they are cleaned regularly. Cut spent flowers back to the second set of leaves, or for a cleaner look, cut the flower stem down to the ground.
Œillet (Dianthus) 🌹
Remove spent flowers as soon as they begin to wilt, pruning back to the first set of leaves.
Geranium 🌿
Annual geraniums (Pelargonium) are among the most popular flowerbed plants. To improve flowering, break the flower stem at the base with your thumb and index finger. Any part of the stem left on the plant will continue to grow, taking energy from the plant and producing new buds.
Hydrangea 🌸
Cut the stem of each faded flower just above the first set of leaves. Flowers produced late in the growing season can be left for winter interest.
For tree and panicle hydrangeas that flower on new year's wood, the best time to remove old flowers is in early spring, before new growth appears. Bigleaf, mountain and oakleaf hydrangeas, which bloom on last year's wood, can be cleaned as the flowers fade. Be careful not to remove the buds that begin to form from late summer onwards for the following year's flowers. Everbearing varieties can be pruned in early spring before new growth emerges and again in summer, but no later than mid-August when new buds are forming for the next year's flowers.
Lavender 🌿
The flowers and leaves of this popular herb are harvested for a wide variety of uses. Most lavender varieties produce two or more blooms per season. Cut off fresh or wilted flowers at the base of the stems.
Peony 🌸
Cutting off spent flowers won't cause the peony to bloom again this season, but it helps redirect energy back into the plant for more vigorous growth. Prune back old flowers just above the first set of leaves.
Petunia 🌺
Pinch the spent flowers between your thumb and index finger. If plants become etiolated, cut them back to half their size by mid-summer to stimulate new growth and flowers. Some varieties are self-cleaning and do not need cleaning.
Rosier 🌹
Rose bushes can be single, repeat or continuous flowering. Know what type you have before pruning or cleaning. To remove spent flowers, cut the stem down to the first set of 5 leaves at a 45-degree angle from the bud eye. Leave the flowers faded if you want the plants to develop rose hips for winter interest or culinary use.
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