Off with their heads!

摘要

Removing spent blossoms keeps perennials tidy and triggers more flowers. As a garden designer and speaker, I ofter talk about how foliage texture and form can provide the backbone to a perennial garden. But, as a gardener, I have to admit that I wanta lot of flowers in addition to interesting foliage. Planting long-blooming perennials is one way to keep the floral display going. Deadheading--the practice of removing spent blossoms--is another way to keep your garden in flowers. Deadheading refreshes a plant's appearance, controls seed dispersal, and redirects a plant's energy from seed production to root and vegetative growth. However, I do it primarily to prolong the bloom period or encourage a second flush of blooms on some perennials. I also doit to keep other perennials tidy.