By cutting back any dead or fading flowers, or deadheading as it is known, will not only make the plants more attractive but will also encourage them to flower more.
As July hits you will start to notice many of your bedding plants will begin to fade. The flowers will die back leaving the plants looking unattractive. Repeat flowering perennials will also suffer a similar fate.
Deadheading regularly will not only help your plants to flower more, but will also make the plants stronger. That will feed the energy that would have been used to produce seeds right back into plant.
Bedding plants are very important to deadhead to extend their life. Whether they are in containers, hanging baskets or beds, deadheading will help. You can simply remove the flowers by pinching off with your finger and thumb. An effective process but quick and easy to do.
Roses also respond well to deadheading, but these will requiring snipping off just below the flower with some secateurs.
Other shrubs, such as Camellias, Hebes, Rhododendrens, Peonies and Buddleja respond well to having their flowers cut back, allowing them to bloom again. Deadheading will also prevent the petals from falling to the ground leaving you with a rather messy garden.
Bulbs can also be cut back to their flowers, but it is important for you to leave the greenery. This will allow photosynthesis to take place and feed the energy back to the bulb for improved flowering the following year.
