Deadheading soft growth

Once a flower is pollinated the plant pours its energy into ripening seed. Removing the spent flower stops seed set, so that energy goes back into the bulb, roots or crown to build next season's flowers instead of being spent on seed. It also keeps plants looking fresh, encourages some to produce more blooms, and prevents unwanted self-seeding.

When

Deadhead as soon as flowers fade and start to look scruffy, right through the flowering season from spring into summer. On flowering bulbs such as daffodil, allium, bluebell and camassia, take off the faded flower once it goes over but leave the green stalk and all the leaves in place for at least six weeks, until they yellow and die down on their own. Tender indoor flowers like anthurium can be deadheaded at any time of year, whenever a bloom browns.

How

Work along the plant and remove each spent flower as it fades. On soft, sappy stems just pinch or snap the dead flower off between finger and thumb, taking the small swelling behind it (the forming seed pod) as well. On bulbs, cut or pinch through the flower stalk just behind that seed pod, and leave the rest of the green stalk and every leaf standing so they can carry on feeding the bulb. Do not cut back, knot or tie up bulb foliage; let it die down naturally. Use clean scissors or snips for anything too tough to pinch. Put the spent heads on the compost heap.

Notes

Leave the heads on if you want to collect the seed, let the plant self-sow, or enjoy the dried seed heads, as many gardeners do with allium and camassia. Never strip bulb leaves off early; they must stay green for around six weeks after flowering to recharge the bulb for next year. This is for soft, sappy growth: woody plants such as roses are deadheaded and pruned differently.