Re: [SG] deadheading
- To: s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
- Subject: Re: [SG] deadheading
- From: M* T*
- Date: Fri, 9 Jul 1999 23:50:26 -0400
Bobbi, am not Claire, but unless you're growing show narcissus or don't
want them to seed around, I see no reason to deadhead. Lordy, it would be
an impossibility with all the daffs I've got around the place. I mainly
grow the old tried and trues, plus several of the miniature ones and have
not noticed that not deadheading makes one iota of difference in their
blooming well in subsequent years. Overcrowding is what lessens bloom -
they all need digging and dividing every few years...not that mine get it.
Daylilies are a royal pain as they do insist on keeping those dead heads
which look like rotting damp flags. They don't mind if you don't remove
them, but they are so unsightly. If you don't feel like doing this, they
will fall off eventually and not all flowers set seed. You can tell if
they are going to by the swelling pod and just go nip that off to save some
effort.
Deadheading is just fine for a few plants, but when there are hundreds of
the same it becomes a real effort that does not happen all the time in my
garden. Plants don't seem to mind and if it really gets on my nerves, I
will do the necessary.
You could leave those daylilies and just keep mentioning to your husband
how ratty they look NOT deadheaded...sort of the Chinese water torture
method...who knows, he may give up and start doing it himself just to shut
you up:-) Worth a try...
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
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----------
> From: Roberta Diehl <diehlr@INDIANA.EDU>
> Date: Friday, July 09, 1999 9:29 PM
>
> Claire, did you start this deadheading thread by asking specifically
about
> narcissus? Please refresh my memory. If so, I can probably find out "from
> the horse's mouth"--Libby Frey, who is one of the world's great daffodil
> experts. It would sure be a help to me if I didn't have to deadhead
> narcissus. Although the daylilies are what are giving me fits right now.
> My husband insists on planting more daylilies every year, but feels no
> need to deadhead. I am POSITIVE they need to be deadheaded, to ward off
> seed production if nothing else. Plus they look so dreadful with those
> dead flowers hanging off them. I keep telling Jim, you're going to have
to
> deadhead these if you buy them--and he always promises, but rarely makes
> much of an effort. I see I have raised another issue--spouses who cause
> extra work by buying particular sorts of plants. Since they help out in
> other ways, I suppose one can't complain too much--or can one???
>
> Bobbi Diehl
> Bloomington, IN
> zone 5/6
