Re: deadheading





Valerie Lowery@ZEON
06/29/98 08:56 AM

Ginny,

 I agree with you on the deadheading.  When you cut a flowering stem back
to where it joins with the main stem, a new flowering stem will come from
the cut (depending on the variety).  It is not enough just to cut off the
flower.  Without going into details about the chemicals that are released
in the plant to stimulate dormancy, the purpose of deadheading is to
prevent this chemical from being released and keeping the plant from
setting seed.  The method of deadheading/pruning varies from plant to
plant.  What may work for coreopsis will not work for other varieties.  And
yet some others do not respond to deadheading at all.  For example, you can
deadhead an iris, but once it blooms that's it for the season.

I'm trying to remember all that I read in the book, "The Well-Tended
Perennial Garden", which goes into great detail about this process.  While
I'm not doing such a great job explaining it, just remember that a little
goes a long way to keeping your garden blooming and looking neat.

Val in KY
zone 6a


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