Verbenas are beautiful flowering plants which can be treated as bedding plants or grown as perennials to bloom over a number of years.
How much effort it takes to maintain and care for your verbena plants will depend on which variety you have chosen to grow and where you have chosen to grow them.
Generally speaking, perennial verbena is a lower maintenance option that requires very little care and you will not usually even wish to deadhead them.
Verbena is a popular flowering plant that graces many gardens and containers with its colorful clusters of blooms all summer long, But does this carefree plant actually require deadheading to sustain its floral display? Let’s examine when and why deadheading benefits verbena,
What is Deadheading?
Deadheading refers to removing spent flowers that have faded dried up, or died. It redirects the plant’s energy from seed production into forming new buds and blooms instead. For many flowering plants diligent deadheading prolongs the floral display.
On verbena, blooms arise on tall inflorescence stems As each flower fades, the entire cluster becomes unattractive Deadheading the spent inflorescences tidies up plants and makes way for fresh blooms. It also prevents self-seeding, which some gardeners want to avoid.
To deadhead verbena, use pruners or scissors to snip off the faded flower clusters just above leaf nodes or new side shoots. Make cuts at an angle to prevent moisture buildup.
Annual Varieties: Deadheading is Optional
Popular annual verbenas like ‘Superbena’ and ‘EnduraScape’ technically don’t require deadheading. Bred for prolifically blooming all summer without intervention, many new hybrids will bloom steadily whether deadheaded or not. Shearing back leggy growth is sufficient maintenance.
However, deadheading certainly enhances their appearance. Removing ratty, expired blooms keeps plants looking neat and encourages new blooms that will continue the floral show longer into the season. It also prevents unwanted reseeding.
So for annual verbenas, deadheading is optional but recommended for maximum beauty. At minimum, periodically shear back gangly stems to force bushy, compact growth habit.
Perennial Varieties: Deadhead for Best Performance
Unlike carefree annuals, perennial verbenas like ‘Homestead Purple’ perform best with routine deadheading. Allowing spent blooms to linger drains energy and decreases total flowering.
Perennial verbenas bloom in cycles based on conditions like day length. Deadheading at the end of each bloom cycle triggers a flush of new buds that sustain seasonal interest. Shearing back foliage also rejuvenates plants.
For perennial verbenas, diligent deadheading and occasional shearing is key to prolonging blooms across the growing season. Otherwise plants can become sparse and straggly after the initial spring flush.
The Takeaway: Deadhead for Maximum Impact
Deadheading isn’t strictly necessary for verbenas, especially new hybrid annual varieties bred for continual flowering. But removing spent blooms will keep plants looking fresh and encourage repeat blooming.
Think of deadheading as maximizing verbena’s potential. The small effort pays off in fuller, neater plants blanketing themselves in blossoms. Perennial verbenas especially benefit from regular deadheading coupled with occasional rejuvenating cuts.
So while not mandatory, get into the habit of routinely deadheading verbena. You’ll be rewarded with vivid, endless flowers gracing your garden or containers. See how much more verbena has to give when sustained with simple deadheading.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deadheading Verbena
Below are answers to some common questions about deadheading verbena plants:
How often should I deadhead verbena?
Deadhead verbena as often as spent blooms appear, usually every 1-2 weeks. Annuals may need less deadheading than heavy-blooming perennials.
Should I cut back verbena flowers or the whole stem?
Just snip off the spent flower cluster, leaving healthy leaves and buds lower on the stem. Removing entire stems can reduce blooms.
When’s the best time to deadhead verbenas?
Deadhead verbenas in the morning after dew dries but before the day warms up. Avoid deadheading in wet conditions which can spread disease.
Can I deadhead verbenas in fall?
Yes, continue deadheading until frosts kill foliage. Fall deadheading encourages any last blooms before dormancy.
Do I need special tools to deadhead verbenas?
Small pruning shears or scissors work fine. Clean tools with diluted alcohol to prevent transmitting diseases between plants.
Should I fertilize verbenas after deadheading them?
Applying all-purpose fertilizer after deadheading helps fuel new growth and blooms. Use 1/2 strength liquid feed or per label instructions.
With the basics of deadheading verbena covered, you can help your plants put on a sensational floral display this season. Just grab those pruners and get snipping!
Deadheading Prolongs the Flowering Period
When is the optimal time to deadhead? The first round may be in the spring or early summer, just after the first blooms have started to fade.
The plants will focus energy on making seeds if you don’t remove the dead flowers now. They might not bear any more flowers later on.
So, if you want more blooms later in the summer, now might be a good time to deadhead or cut back. Many gardeners who have planted bedding verbena will take this approach.
Of course, this isn’t necessary. If you planted hardier verbena in a more natural, low-maintenance garden, you might just want to let the plants complete their natural life cycle.
Should You Deadhead Verbena?
There are different verbena species that grow in various conditions, so it depends on your gardening goals and what you think is best for the plants.
Deadheading is typically done to extend the flowering period. It also prevents self-seeding and potential for plants to spread out of control.
Some gardeners may prefer deadheading simply to keep their garden looking neat and tidy.
But deadheading stops plants from going through their natural cycles, which means you miss out on seedlings and it isn’t always ideal for garden wildlife.
If you’re unsure about deadheading verbena, consider the plant’s needs and your overall garden vision. Both letting plants self-sow and actively deadheading have their benefits.
Tips for Deadheading Verbena
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Use clean, sharp pruners or scissors to snip off spent flower clusters. Make cuts at an angle.
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Deadhead verbena in the morning after dew dries to avoid spreading disease.
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Focus on removing faded flower clusters only, not cutting back whole stems.
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Routine deadheading encourages repeat blooming, especially for perennial verbenas.
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Fertilizing after deadheading provides nutrients for fresh growth and blooms.
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Continue deadheading verbena until fall frosts kill the foliage.
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Let some flowers go to seed if you want volunteer seedlings next year.
Deciding if and how to deadhead verbena depends on the plants and your gardening preferences. But proper technique maximizes blooms and keeps plants looking their best.
Should You Deadhead Verbena?
Whether or not you should deadhead verbena very much depends on which varieties you are growing, where you are growing them, the time of year and your own gardening preferences.
Deadheading verbena is typically an approach which aims to prolong the flowering period.
It is also used to prevent plants from self-seeding and growing out of control.
Some gardeners may prefer to deadhead to keep their garden looking neat.
However, deadheading prevents the plants from fulfilling their natural life cycle, which can deprive you of seedlings and can sometimes be a bad decision for wildlife in your garden.
When thinking about whether or not deadheading verbena is a good idea for you and your garden, it can be helpful to look at two different periods when deadheading is sometimes recommended.
Deadheading To Prolong Flowering
The first period when deadheading may be beneficial is in spring or early summer, just after the first flush of blooms has begun to fade.
If you do not deadhead at this time, then the plants will focus their attention on producing seeds and may not bear further flowers.
So, if you would like to get further blooms over the rest of summer, then it can be a good idea to deadhead or cut back at this time.
Many gardeners who have planted bedding verbena will take this approach.
Of course, this is not strictly essential, and if you have planted hardier verbena as part of a wilder and more natural, low-maintenance garden, then you might wish to simply let the plants continue with their natural process of development.