Can someone please fully describe deadheading to me? I know its purpose and I have an idea of how to do it but I can't find EXACTLY how to do it (i.e., where to pinch the bloom off, is it at the bottom of the bloom stalk where it connects to the plant or the bulb-like thing the bloom comes out of??) As you can tell, my garden terminology is unsurpassed... I'm under the impression that one can only deadhead certain types of plants (perennials, not annuals?)--again, I'm not sure.

By the way, Beth, I've been looking at your site for years and all of the garden pride finally made me get up and really put forth that extra effort on mine (I've kind of been half-assing it for a while now).

So, if anyone can help, that would be super....thanks! erin

-- erin (psytech@shreve.net), April 06, 2000

Answers

You know, no one ever taught me the right way to deadhead, so it's entirely possible that I do it wrong. I try to deadhead repeat bloomers regularly so they'll keep blooming, and that goes for perennials as well as annuals -- columbines, coral bells, etc. They'll keep blooming longer if they're deadheaded. Same for annuals. Bulbs and daylilies and what-not, I just deadhead so they won't look ugly -- it doesn't help with rebloom, but it keeps them from looking ratty.

As for how to do it, I confess that I go with aesthetics. For cluster-flowered plants, I pinch off the blossom itself. For flowers that bloom on long stems, I pinch off the stem at the nearest joint or leaflet. I may be doing it wrong, although I have never had a plant keel over from improper deadheading. You're probably doing fine.

-- Beth (beth@xeney.com), April 10, 2000.