Deadheading - Off with the whole head, or just part of it?

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jofka Charlottesville, VA(Zone 7a) Jun 14, 2009

I was wondering if anyone can help me. I love lots of color and fragrance, and have planted many repeat blooming perennials that have multiple flower clusters on one stem. Homestead Verbena, Phlox Paniculata, Penstemon, Buddleia, etc. I know that they all grow a little differently. Some on panicles, some alternating, some not. But regardless, I am left with hundreds of little flower blooms that seem to fade at different times. This is where I get confused. I am a big fan of deadheading to promote healthy re-bloom, but lopping off entire bloom clusters, when they are only partially faded seems excessive to me. Conversely, pulling out only the spent blooms would be next to impossible, since there are hundreds, if not thousands, and can be extremely small and hard to handle. It would be like trying to maintain our lawn with scissors! I have been using shears to clip off spent sections, but don't know if this is correct, and I worry that I might be cutting off parts of the flowers that are used to re-bloom. Any ideas?

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flowAjen central, NJ(Zone 6b) Jun 15, 2009

I use this guide all the time....
http://www.gardengatemagazine.com/extras/58deadheadingGuide.php

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dp72 Woodway, TX(Zone 8a) Jun 15, 2009

This is mostly a cosmetic matter and you should do whatever makes the plants look most tidy to you.

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jofka Charlottesville, VA(Zone 7a) Jun 17, 2009

Flowerjen,

Very helpful. Love it. Thanks!!!

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flowAjen central, NJ(Zone 6b) Jun 17, 2009

You're very welcome.

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dipsydoodle Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom Jun 25, 2009

My mam is a major plant pruner and she take the whole dead flower head off, and the plant always comes back better the following year. We even have one fuscia which she dead heads, it has a weeks rest and puts out another load of flowers; it's a huge but lovely plant.

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