Deadheading Questions

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What is meant by the term deadheading or (dead heading)?

Deadheading is the term given to removing flowers that have faded.

How do you deadhead flowers?

Depending upon the plant you can snap off the flower head.

Why do you deadhead flowers?

Plants produce flowers in order to attract pollination, insects, etc. Once the flower has been fertilised, then the plant no longer needs the flower and diverts its energy into the production of seeds. Since reproduction is the key to a plants survival, the plant releases hormones that will suppress further flower production..

Since in most cases we want our plants to keep flowering, we can achieve this by taking the faded flower heads off and prevent the hormone release. This flower removal is called deadheading.

Bulbous or tuberous plants that only produce one flush of flowers will, if the decaying flower or seed head is removed, transfer its energy into the bulb or tuber for the next season. Narcissus (daffodils) are a good example. Potatoes too can be deadheaded to make the tubers larger.

Why not try an experiment yourself with alternate rows of potatoes. Deadhead each alternate row and compare the results. Email your findings to me at the address at the bottom of the page.
 

Web Resources

Try the RHS website

Book Resources

The RHS Essential Gardening Techniques, Editor - in - Chief .Christopher Brickett. ISBN 075370797, published 2002 pg273 glossary
It appears that a newer version is available from Amazon ISBN1552853853 Essential Gardening Techniques