These border plants benefit from a trim – heres how and when to do it successfully
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Q: I have planted quite a few phlox plants in my border this year, and they are flowering beautifully. When the blooms fade, is it a good idea to deadhead them? And if so, whats the best approach to take?
A: Phlox is a stunning garden addition with its prolific, sweetly-scented blooms. However, these flowers look unsightly once theyve passed their best, turning brown and withered on the plant. Snipping them off, therefore, improves the appearance of your floral display. But, thats not the only benefit of this gardening task. Deadheading allows the plants to channel their energy into new growth, highlights Autumn Hilliard-Knapp of Perfect Plants Nursery. This means you may get to enjoy a second flush of flowers later on in the season, similarly to deadheading salvias or dahlias. It also prevents them from self-seeding uncontrollably all around your yard.
Whats more, deadheading gives pollinators easier access to the remaining blooms, Autumn adds. And the process is simple, once you know how.
Autumn is a horticulture specialist and marketing professional at Perfect Plants Nursery. With four years of experience in the horticulture industry, she has developed a passion for helping people create beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces to enjoy. Her expertise in horticulture encompasses a broad range of activities, including plant care and selection, landscape design, and maintenance.
White phlox is an elegant addition to the garden( credit: Maksims Grigorjevs / iStock / Getty s Plus / Getty s)
As a dedicated gardener, I’m always looking for ways to maximize the beauty of my flower beds One simple technique that really works is deadheading spent blooms on garden phlox. In this article, I’ll explain what deadheading is, why it’s beneficial for phlox, and give a step-by-step guide to doing it properly
What is Deadheading?
Deadheading refers to the practice of removing spent flower blooms that are fading, dying or already dead. It’s done for both aesthetic reasons, to keep plants looking neat and vibrant, and horticultural reasons, to encourage more blooms
When blooms start to fade, the plant puts energy into producing seeds. By deadheading, you stop this seed production so the plant channels its energy into forming new flower buds instead. The result is more prolific flowering over a longer period.
Why Deadhead Garden Phlox?
Phlox paniculata, also known as garden phlox, is a popular summer-blooming perennial known for its clusters of fragrant flowers. Deadheading offers several benefits for this plant:
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Encourages more blooms – Removing spent blooms prevents seed production so phlox reblooms readily. With regular deadheading, plants will flower for up to 6 weeks.
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Extends blooming season – By keeping plants actively blooming, deadheading elongates the flowering period from mid-summer into early fall.
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Improves appearance – Getting rid of faded flowers keeps plants looking fresh and tidy.
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Controls self-seeding – Garden phlox readily self-seeds. Deadheading reduces unwanted volunteers sprouting up where you don’t want them.
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Promotes plant health – With energy focused on new blooms instead of seeds, the entire plant remains robust.
When to Deadhead Phlox
Timing is important when deadheading phlox. It’s best to remove spent blooms before seed pods have a chance to form. This sends the signal to the plant to produce more flowers instead of diverting energy to seeds.
Start checking for faded blooms when plants first begin flowering, usually around mid-summer. Expect to deadhead every 7-10 days to keep plants blooming prolifically into the fall.
Stop deadheading about 6-8 weeks before your first expected fall frost so plants can focus energy on developing hardy roots for winter.
How to Deadhead Garden Phlox
Deadheading phlox is a quick and easy process. Follow these simple steps:
What You’ll Need
- Sharp scissors, snips or pruning shears
- Small container (optional) to collect cuttings
Step 1
Examine plants closely and look for flower heads that are wilted, discolored or dropping petals. These need to be removed.
Step 2
Use scissors/shears to snip off each spent bloom 1/4 inch above a healthy leaf node. Don’t leave behind any stem stubs.
Step 3
If any seed pods have already formed, remove the entire flower stalk back to its base. This prevents viable seeds from scattering.
Step 4
Optionally, collect cuttings in a container to discard in the trash or compost (not the garden where seeds could sprout).
Step 5
Continue monitoring plants every 7-10 days, deadheading spent blooms so plants keep producing new flowers.
That’s all there is to it! In just a few minutes time, you can tidy up your phlox bed and ensure weeks of additional blooms.
Here are some additional tips to maximize success:
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Deadhead in morning or evening when plants are free of moisture to avoid disease transmission.
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Use clean, sharp tools to prevent damage to plants.
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Apply a general purpose fertilizer after deadheading to nourish new growth.
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Consider supplemental irrigation if weather is hot and dry so plants aren’t stressed.
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Inspect for pests or diseases when deadheading and treat any issues found.
Problems to Watch For When Deadheading Phlox
While deadheading is beneficial for most phlox, there are a couple potential problems to be aware of:
Powdery mildew – Some phlox varieties are prone to this fungal disease. When deadheading, avoid spreading spores by cleaning tools between plants. Improve air circulation and water at soil-level to prevent mildew.
Leggy growth – Excessive deadheading can sometimes cause leggy, weak growth. If you notice this, reduce deadheading frequency.
When to deadhead phlox
Just like when deadheading dianthus, coneflowers, or any other garden plant, deadheading phlox should be done as and when needed during the flowering season. So, ideally, check your plants weekly for dead blooms, and remove them as soon as possible.
Ensure you use clean pruners to deadhead plants( credit: Oleksandr Rado / Alamy Stock Photo)
How to deadhead phlox
You can use a pair of snips or hand pruners to deadhead phlox, ensuring they are sharp and clean. Using dirty or blunt tools is a common deadheading mistake thats best avoided, as it could damage your plant.
Identify the clusters of faded flowers, then snip them off. Make your cuts at an angle, above a healthy leaf joint or bud, just below the spent bloom. If your plants have grown tall and wispy and are bending over, you can cut them back further – by about half of their size – adds gardening expert John Negus.
Side shoots will be encouraged to form, says John, and these can flower later on in the season.
After deadheading, ensure proper watering and fertilization to encourage new blooms, recommends David Cohen, the CEO of Badais International – a wholesale supplier of flowers and plants.
John advises using a high-potash tomato feed every fortnight during the growing season. Try Miracle-Gros tomato food from Amazon, which is well-rated amongst gardeners.
Fiskars Micro-Tip Pruning Snips | $13.10 from Amazon These ergonomically-designed snips are ideal for making precise cuts when deadheading phlox, and are useful for maintaining other plants in your borders and pots, too.
John has been a garden journalist for over 50 years and regularly answers readers questions in Amateur Gardening magazine. He has also written four books and has delivered many talks over the years on horticulture.
Deadhead Your Phlox For MORE FLOWERS!
FAQ
How to prolong phlox flowering?
Phlox doesn’t normally require pruning, but if you want to delay blooming and get bushier plants with more flower heads, pinch or cut back the stems by one-third to one-half in early summer. Deadheading the spent flowers may also extend the bloom period and prevent phlox spreading from unwanted reseeding.
How to deadhead properly?
Deadheading involves removing spent or faded flowers to encourage more blooms and maintain plant health. To deadhead properly, locate the spent flower and cut the stem just below the flower, above a set of healthy leaves or a bud.
How to keep creeping phlox blooming all summer?
Caring for Creeping Phlox is very simple and easy. They are very low-maintenance plants. In The Garden: To encourage new growth and heavier flowering, Creeping Phlox plants growing in the ground will benefit from a feeding in late winter or early spring with a slow release flower fertilizer or organic plant food.