African daisy (Osteospermum species) is a popular annual and tender perennial flower known for its brightly colored daisy-like blooms. Proper pruning encourages African daisy plants to produce more flowers over a longer period This article will explain when and how to prune African daisy for the best results.
When to Prune African Daisy
The ideal time to prune African daisy depends on whether you are growing it as an annual or perennial.
Pruning Annual African Daisy
If grown as an annual, start pruning African daisy after it has become established, when it is 4-6 inches tall. Pinch or cut back the tips of each stem by about 2 inches. This encourages the plant to branch out, resulting in a bushier, fuller plant. Repeat pruning every 2-3 weeks during the active growing season for maximum blooms. Deadhead spent flowers as they fade to promote continuous reblooming. Annual African daisy can be discarded after the first hard frost in fall.
Pruning Perennial African Daisy
In zones 9-11 where it is perennial, African daisy benefits from periodic pruning for rejuvenation. Cut each stem back by one-third to one-half in summer to remove leggy growth and stimulate new blooms. In late fall or early spring, cut the entire plant back to 2-3 inches above the ground. This pruning removes old growth and shapes the plant for the new season. Deadhead spent blooms regularly during summer.
How to Prune African Daisy
Follow these simple steps for pruning African daisy
Pinching
- Use your fingertips to pinch off the top 2 inches of each stem when the plant is 4-6 inches tall.
- Make each pinch just above a set of leaves to avoid leaving bare stems.
- Repeat pinching every 2-3 weeks during active growth to encourage bushy, compact plants.
Deadheading
- Remove spent flowers by pinching or cutting the flower stem down to the next set of leaves.
- Deadhead African daisy plants regularly to promote continuous blooming.
Cutting Back
- Use bypass pruners or garden scissors to cut back leggy growth by one-third to one-half.
- For annual African daisy, cut back in midsummer to rejuvenate the plant.
- For perennial African daisy, cut all the way back to 2-3 inches in late fall or early spring.
Tidying Shape
- Prune African daisy lightly as needed during the growing season to maintain a rounded, mounded shape.
Tips for Pruning African Daisy
Follow these tips to get the most out of pruning African daisy:
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Start pinching new growth when plants are 4-6 inches tall and repeat every 2-3 weeks for full, bushy plants.
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Avoid pruning African daisy after flower buds appear, as this will delay blooming.
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Deadhead plants regularly to encourage continuous flowering through the season.
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Cut back leggy stems by one-third to one-half in midsummer to stimulate new growth.
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Prune perennial African daisy back to 2-3 inches each spring to rejuvenate the plant.
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Use bypass pruners or scissors for clean cuts that won’t damage stems.
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Prune African daisy lightly as needed to maintain a tidy, rounded shape.
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Discard pruned stems and deadheaded flowers to prevent possible spread of disease.
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Monitor for pests and diseases when pruning, and treat any problems promptly.
Proper pruning is easy and improves the performance of African daisy. Follow these tips to maximize blooms and enjoyment from this bright, cheery annual and perennial flower. With the right care, African daisy will provide colorful, long-lasting color in beds, borders, and containers.
Why Prune African Daisy
Pruning, deadheading, and pinching of African Daisy keep the plant compact and blooming throughout the primary growing season. African Daisies grown as perennials in warmer climates can become woody and leggy if they are not regularly deadheaded. This tender perennial is also not very long-lived compared to more hardy perennials.
Taking cuttings from softwood growth can provide replacement plants for when the main plant dies. At the height of summer, cut nonflowering stems to 6 inches. Remove half of the foliage and place the cutting in a pot of seed-starting mix or perlite. Keep the pot watered well until new foliage growth appears. This will let you know the cutting has rooted and can be potted on.
When to Prune African Daisy
The pruning of African Daisies starts early in the growing season while the first leaves and stems are still small. Pinching out the top growth and first flower buds will encourage branching further down the stem. The result will be a much more compact plant with many more blooms and sturdier stems. Pinching is done early in the summer to tidy the plants after the first flush of flowers has faded. Cut African Daisies back by half to rejuvenate the plant and encourage another round of blooms in 4-5 weeks.
Deadheading is a technique that extends the blooming period. Regularly cutting out the spent flowers will keep the plant from setting seed early in the summer. Continue to deadhead African Daisies all summer. Gardeners that are growing African Daisy as a perennial will notice that the plants slow down growth as the weather gets hot in mid-summer.
Continuing to water and fertilize the plants will encourage blooming to resume when the weather cools late in the summer. Continue deadheading spent flowers through the fall. In the early spring, new growth will begin. This is the time to give the African Daisy a hard cut-back to the basal growth to encourage a bushy form.
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FAQ
Should you cut back African daisies?
African Daisies can be cut back to maintain their shape, promote bushier growth, and encourage more blooms. Lightly prune the plants in early spring or late summer by removing any dead, damaged, or excessively long stems. Cutting back the plants can also help rejuvenate them and maintain a tidy appearance.
When should I cut back daisy?
Gardeners commonly prune their daisies during the summer in order to increase the number of blooms that the flowers produce and to keep the plant producing …
How do you get African daisies to rebloom?
To keep African daisies blooming all season, remove any old, spent blossoms from the plants. This will help encourage new growth and keep plants producing flowers longer. If plants become leggy, cut them back.
How do you prune African daisies?
The pruning of African Daisies starts early in the growing season while the first leaves and stems are still small. Pinching out the top growth and first flower buds will encourage branching further down the stem. The result will be a much more compact plant with many more blooms and sturdier stems.
Why do African daisies need to be pruned?
Enhances Flowering: Regular pruning can stimulate the production of more blooms and prolong the flowering period of African daisies. Maintains Plant Health: Removing dead or diseased foliage helps prevent pest infestations and diseases, keeping the plant healthy.
When should you prune African daisy plants?
Cut the plant to the ground in late fall or early spring. Either time is acceptable, but if you are set on a tidy garden going into winter, you may want to prune in autumn. On the other hand, if you appreciate the textural appearance of the African daisy “skeletons,” you may want to wait until early spring.
How do you care for an African daisy?
Cut back to healthy tissue to encourage new growth. Deadhead Spent Blooms: Pinch off or snip spent flowers at their base to promote continuous blooming throughout the season. Shape the Plant: If your African daisy is becoming leggy or overgrown, prune back long stems to maintain a compact and bushy shape.
What happens if African Daisy dies?
After this plant dies back in the fall, it is usually composted or discarded. Pruning for annuals involves pinching back to encourage bushier growth and flowers for a longer blooming season. In USDA hardiness zones 9-11, African Daisy grows as a tender perennial.