New Forum Suggestion: Deadheading and Pruning

I would like to humbly suggest a forum for deadheading, pruning, including root pruning, dividing, maybe any kind of cutting done for maintenance and encouraging/prohibiting growth and or blooms.

Any interest or comments?

Thanks,

Maureen

Sounds good to me! Dividing is already sort of covered by the propagation forum I guess, but the rest don't really have a home and I know I see questions all the time about when/how to prune, which plants need to be deadheaded, etc.

I think that's an excellent idea! When and how to prune, pros and cons of deadheading, etc. are always topics of interest to me.

w

I really like that idea too. I am always unsure if what I am doing is right. It took 2 years for me to learn the proper way to dead head roses. Heck, half the time I just don't. Hey, wing, where in Cincy? I am west side.

Kelly

It would be very helpful having threads concerning pruning and deadheading in one spot. Good idea!

Isn't deadheading a form of pruning?

Hi kaykay,
I sent you a dmail about Cincy.

w

Growin, yes and no. Deadheading is removing spent flowers, keeping a plant from forming seeds. This causes it to put its energy into forming new growth. While pruning can be a form of deadheading, depending on when it's done and the kind of plant being pruned, it's also a method of shaping a plant. There are similarities between deadheading and pruning, but each activity has its own guidelines and results.

Pruning is an art. An extremely underrated art that is frequently abused. Especially for trees. I would agree there is a serious need for education about pruning trees. However, I'm not convinced a new forum would help people with pruning tasks. Can't people just ask a question about pruning?

As to having a whole new forum dedicated to Deadheading, I would say, isn't deadheading self-explanatory?

As I have explained before, I am sometimes grumpy.

I think the request was to have one new forum for pruning, deadheading, etc. Not new individual ones.

But I could be wrong.

w

Hi grumpy :)

I would say that deadheading is not necessarily self explanatory, see gardenwife's comment above for example. Everyday I go to my garden, look at my plants, and have different questions about deadheading and pruning. I have so many questions that I thought a forum would be appropriate.

I would say that the fact you point out that it is an art makes it worthy of a forum IMHO. There are a million ways to prune a million different plants, shrubs and trees for many reasons, and I thought it would be nice to have the info in a central place.

But, I am a novice gardener, and if that's not the consensus, then it won't happen. Then I'll respect that and ask my many questions across the forums when I can.

Thanks for your input,

Maureen

Yes Winging, you are correct. Thanks for pointing that out!


This message was edited Sep 14, 2006 11:50 AM

I think it's a great idea. As a novice NE gardner my head is spinning with what to prune/deadhead/fall feed/plant. I worry about getting things done timely for my plants needs.

kaykay: I'm in west side too- Delhi Twp.

Karen

That sounds like a good forum... I'd participate in that.

Donna

I think it's a great idea. I believe good pruning and deadheading can be the key to having healthy plants and trees!
Count me in!

Got my vote on that one.

But since we all live in different climates, perhaps it would be better to have a Deadhead and Pruning Thread in each of our regions? I'm sure it will stay active most of the time in our respective areas. Don't you think?

I mean, if we just had one Forum for that, pruning in NJ would be different for people needing to prune in TX or AZ.

Just a thought.

This message was edited Sep 23, 2006 3:34 PM

I can think of 100 different things to discuss about deadheading and pruning... like with rose bushes. Most folks don't know the proper way to prune a rose bush and WHEN to actually cut it back. Impatiens... those things get really leggy down here in the south if you don't keep them pruned and cut back properly. Could even include pinching back to encourage fullness of certain plants. The list goes on and on.

Donna

I'd participate. I'm a new gardener, and I haven't a clue how to prune. I'm constantly afraid I'll do it wrong and ruin the plant.

White - I always gardened in pots until 2003 when I bought my house. I suggest getting some books about it. It will teach you proper methods, give you ideas and I guarantee you'll read some of those books more than once.

Good Luck!

That's true, azrobin! I myself am a "pot gardener" ;-) and I bought a book or two on the subject, and you bet I've read them more than once! And I think it would be great to have a forum on this specific subject, to discuss things and talk abou the doubts you have (I have them all the time!)

Yes! That is the one thing I can't find in DG.

got my vote too. Would be nice to have it all in one spot. For those questions I usually havae to go to several forums.

I would love one, too. I know I should be pruning this stuff, but I just am not sure how, for most of them. Being able to have a before and after shot and ask "did I do this right", would be a comfort!

I would love it! Great idea.

I think threads on deadheading and pruning should be in the forums already created. Coneflower deadheading questions should be in the Coneflowers Forum, pruning roses info should be in the Roses Forum, etc. If I was looking for info on certain types of plants, I would go to the specific forum to read the threads there or post a question there. I don't think there is a need for a separate forum.

And for plants that don't have their own specific forum, there are forums for annuals, perennials, and trees & shrubs, so those should cover anything you'd want to prune or deadhead. Pruning perennials is not the same as pruning shrubs, so I agree that the current forums may be a better place to get advice.

I would absolutely love to have that forum. A lot of my questions have to do with deadheading, pruning, etc.
How do we know if one is started, or is it already

I agree with KOOGER and owl. I think this could be more fully addressed by the experienced people in the separate forums. There are so many different plants and their needs vary. If I need rose help, I go to the rose forum. Same holds for fruit trees and perennials.