YET ANOTHER—INCONVENIENT—GARDEN TRUTH

Posted on August 16, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz

August 16, 2023

How many of these “truths’ ‘ are there?? Sadly quite a lot but let’s not get discouraged and think about one at present.

That “one” is DEADHEADING and it will give us plenty to think about.

First, what is deadheading? Maybe it would sound more acceptable to just call it removal of spent flowers. Flowers that are obviously going over or past their prime.

*Zinnias must be deadheaded to prolong bloom, bu take time to enjoy the beauty of this common but special flower.*

Why do that? It is essential to think like a plant here. For annual flowers there is one goal in life. Literally one and that is to ensure that next year there will be plenty of plants/flowers just like them. They do not care about anything else so setting seeds is their one and only goal. Even perennials want to set seed to ensure more plants for the future.

When the plant succeeds in its goal –well job over—go knowing success was achieved.

The plant may stop or slow down blooming or even die altogether after all it succeeded in what it set out to do.

For the gardener this is not ok. The whole point of the plant from the gardeners point of view is to keep flowers for as long as possible.

For pollinators its also not ok. Sure they assured that the flowers were pollinated but they need to eat they need nectar and pollen for as long as possible.

So how to reconcile these goals? Obviously the answer is deadheading. When the flowers that have already been pollinated they are ready to move on to the seed setting phase. Here is where the gardener must step in and interrupt the process by removing those spent flowers.

Sometimes the plant tags and seed packets ignore this when they promise “season long blooms” and “easy care”.

But it can’t be ignored. So as soon as blooming starts the gardener must be observant and as soon as faded flowers are seen they must be removed.

This isn’t hard but it does need to be done with care. Use sharp clippers and cut the stem back to the next bud or set of leaves. Do not ever just cut the flower and leave its stem this stem will brown and die and make a mess. Ideally the deadheading should be not at all obvious—just takes care and observation—IT IS NOT HARD OR COMPLICATED.

*This is Tithonia, butterflies love them but they absolutely must be deadheaded to keep them blooming and in fact, keep them from dying before their time.*

What it is-is constant and it happens in the summer. No one likes that. But think of the reward. Flowers will bloom far longer. Your garden will look so much better. A huge consideration is the absolute need for bees and butterflies and hummingbirds to eat. Without flowers, they cannot live their lives and are dependent on gardeners. This is serious and as gardeners we must accept our role in their very lives.

But it’s hot and some of those pollinators bite—what to do??

Getting out to the garden as early as possible first light is ideal but as soon as possible will do. Be careful bees are rarely an issue even wasps are more intent on their work than they are on you but look before you grab a branch or cut a flower. Remember they might not realize how beneficial your actions are!!

Think of the things you will see when you are right in the garden. Tiny creatures can easily be overlooked but not by you—not now. The beauty of individual flowers can be missed just walking by but again when you are close –you see it.

*Deadheading is work but it’s a opportunity to look closer. Do you see the tiny lizard?*

What about saving seeds? Yes you can still save seeds just wait until the end of the season to do it.

Since you have been so observant and careful, you will know which plants are the healthiest and most beautiful. So you can gather seeds from them and have a much better chance of great plants next year.