Deadheading Roses Is Well Worth the Effort

Peoplearenoticingmygreenthumb,andithasnothingtodowithgardeningprowess.Deadheadingroseshasleftmewithstained

handsthatevenOxyCleancan’t>ix.Iamforevermisplacingmypruners,butsincemyrightthumbandfore>ingerareprovidentiallyattachedtomyarm,myfavoriterosedeadheadingtoolsarealwaysready.

Byremovingspent>lowersjustbeforetheydroptheirpetals,Icankeepmyrosesbloominglonger.

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Deadheading Roses Is Well Worth the EffortBy removing spent flowers just before they drop their petals, roses will bloom longer.by Carol Barany for Yakima Valley Master Gardeners

Dead heading flowers before seeds are being formed can increase the numbers of flowers on a plant. Using your thumb and forefinger can make quick work with roses.. CAROL BARANY PHOTO

Likeany>lower,aroseisheretoreproduceanditsdestinyispollination.Whenthatmissionisaccomplished,ahipwilldevelopbelowthe>lowerandproduceseeds.Hormoneswillpreventanyfurtherbudformation,andthestemwillwaitanotherseasontobloom.Removingthefadingbloombeforeitgoestoseedinterruptsthatprocess,andtheplanthastotryagainbyproducingmore>lowers.

Ideadheadedmyrosesforyearsinthetraditionalmanner.Ifollowedthe>loweringstemdowntoanoutwardfacing“>iveleaf-set”andcutatananglejustaboveit.Deadheadingwasscratchy,uninspiredgardening,andwhenIdidmanageto>inishIstillhadheapsoflongrosecanestodealwith.

ARoyalHorticulturalSocietystudyIfoundafewyearsagosuitsthewayIgardenandchangedthewayIdeadheadroses.SomebushesintheRHStestgardensweredeadheadedinthetraditionalmanner,whileothershadtheirfadedbloomssimply‘snapped’offatthebaseofthebloomwithathumbandfore>inger.Theyhadmeat“snapped”,sincethistechniquerequiredneitherprunersnorscratchytripstothecompostpile.

TheRHSfoundthatbusheswheredeadheadswere“snapped”wereleftwithmoreleaves.Leavesarewhattheplantusestoturnsunlightintofood.Ifasigni>icantnumberarelostthroughdeadheading,theplantwillworktoreplacethem>irst,and>lowerproductionwillhavetowait.

Busheswithmoreleaveshadhealthiercanes,morebasalbreaks(desirablecanesthatgrowoutofthebaseandcreateavase-shapedstructure),andmore>lowers.

Snappingofftheoldbloomencouragesnewshootstobreakfromtheleavesnearthetopofthestem,quicklyinitiatinganewbloomingcycle.Whileabundant,thesenew>lowersmaybesmaller,soifbigrosesarewhatyouwant,deadheadinthetraditionalmanner.

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GARDENING PROBLEMS? The public is encouraged to contact the Master Gardener

diagnostic clinic by telephone or email, or visit

their booth at the Downtown Yakima Farmer’s

Market each Sunday morning through mid October. For better

identification, try to bring a sample of the damaged

plant in a sealed plastic bag. Contact Yakima County

Master Gardeners at 509-574-1604 or email

gardener@yakima.wa.us. Because of Covid-19

precautions, our office is closed until further notice.

Thesedays,mytearosesarelonggone,replacedmainlybyDavidAustinEnglishroses.Theylendthemselvestobeing“snapped”becausetheyhavemuchshorterstemsthanotherrosetypes.Ifyougrowlong-stemmedtearoses,leavingtheirextra-longstemsontheplantafterdeadheadingtheblossomsmaylookunattractivetoyou.Ifso,goaheadandshortenthembycuttingloweronthestem.

Do your own studyWhynotdoyourownstudy?Comparetheresults

of“snapping”afewbusheswiththewayyouhavebeendeadheading.Forhow-toinformation,check:www.rhs.org.uk/videos/advice/dead-heading-for-more->lowers.

Deadheadingallyour>loweringplants,andnotjustroses,earlyandoften,isagreathabittohave.

Annuals:Tenderplantsgrowinginbeds,containers,andhangingbasketswillbloomtheirheadsoffuntilfrostifdeadheadedandfertilizedregularly.Thiscantaketime,butit’swellspent.

Geraniums:Holdthefaded>lowerstalknearthebaseandpulldownwards.Theoldbloomwillsnapoffcleanly.

Shrubs:Deadheadrhododendrons,azaleas,andlilacsjustbelowthe>lower,carefultoavoiddamagingnextyear’sbuds.

Bulbs:Remove>lowers,alongwiththeseedcapsule.Leavethe>lowerstalktoencouragephotosynthesiswhichwillbuildupthebulbto>lowernextseason

Borderperennials:Choosingtheexactpointtomakeadeadheadingcutcanbeconfusing,sinceperennialshavedifferent>lowerformsanddeadheadingcanbespeciesspeci>ic.Ingeneral,prunespent>lowersandstemsbacktoanewlateral>lowerorbud.Ifyoucan’t>indone,prunethestembacktoalateralleaf.Somehardygeraniums,delphiniums,lupins,andsalviasproduceasecond

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>lushof>lowersifcutbackclosetotheground.Lady’smantleandorientalpoppies,cutbacktotheground,willrespondwithfreshfoliage,butnomore>lowers.Sometimesitmaybeeasiertodeadheadprofusely>loweringperennialsbyshearingawaythetopfewinchesorjustenoughtoremovemostofthefaded>lowers.Theindividual>lowersondayliliesandsomeiriseslastadayandthenhanglikemushy,wetsocks.Removingthemcarefullymaynotbringare-bloom,buttheplantwilllooktidierduringitslongbloomingperiod.

TracyDiSabato’s“TheWell-TendedPerennialGarden”offerscompleteinformationondeadheadingalong-listofperennials.

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