Be a Deadhead Fan


In San Diego's mild climate, many annuals and perennials will bloom again with just a little help from gardeners. A key step is deadheading or removing spent flowers. When left on the plant, they send a signal for the plant to set seed and either rest or end its lifecycle. When they are removed, the plant is tricked into overdrive to produce more flowers. On some plants, use your fingers to snap off stems with dead flowers. On plants with many small flowers, like daisies, dead flowers can be removed by giving the plant a "haircut" with sheers or loppers. If the foliage is ratty, cutting back by a third or a half will renew it too. On plants that may be woody at the base, like lavender, avoid cutting back into the wood. After deadheading, a light feeding helps spark new growth.