Deadheading Brings Out a Gardener's Inner Stylist

Deadheading. As the lilies and early summer blooms begin to pass their prime, it is a perfect time to talk about the art. ‘Art’ here is not accidental. If deadheading is done well, both plant and garden are the better for it. Many perennials will flower again if deadheaded properly. If done poorly—especially with leafy-stemmed plants like hardy geraniums, astilbe or daisies—the result will be a forest of ugly stubble sticking out of the bed.

Deading has become my favorite job when I work with my local community garden crew. Deadheaders are the salon gurus of the garden. Their challenge is to trim and clip quickly yet artistically, without making a clump of foliage look scalped. Even if the plant is not  going to bloom again as a result, it usually will look happier to be rid of dried-out stalks so the foliage can ride out the rest of the season in an attractive fashion. The only time it is tough to make a deadheaded plant look good is when we cut back mature plants in the process of transplanting them. Short-term the loss of foliage and blooms may look awful, but a radical cut-back is important to minimize transplant shock and ensure that the energy goes to sustaining the roots.

Sometimes a two-prong attack is needed. Bulbs like daffs and lilies should have their bloomed-out flowers deadheaded, but the leaves then should be left to wither on their own. The flowers will not drain energy and the leaves can help the bulbs absorb all the nutrients and sun they need to do well next season. A couple of years back, some gardeners suggested braiding the long, thin leaves so they didn't sprawl all over the bed. The theory now is that the bulbs will do better if the spear-like leaves are just left free to draw in as much sun as possible. If the yellowing daff or tulips foliage bothers you, surround the plants with a later growing one that will “take over” and hide that unsightly foliage until it disappears.

Deadheading. What a great name. Sounds a bit like a shootout at the OK Corral. I see it more as a surgical strike---a fun skill and one worth cultivating.