by Connie Oswald Stofko
Here’s an easy way to deadhead some annuals in hanging baskets. I got this great tip from Kristin Pochopin, interim director of horticulture at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens during the recent Great Plant Sale.
Instead of picking off the dead flowers one by one, hold the basket by the hook, as she is doing in the photo. Hold it close to the ground and shake the basket. The dead flowers will fall off and your plant won’t be damaged.
This works for annuals such as petunias and calibrachoas, and works very well for New Guinea impatiens, Pochopin said.
I had a table at the Great Plant Sale, and it was nice saying hello to so many readers. I also want to welcome all the new folks who signed up for Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com, the online gardening magazine for Western New York.
There is a lot happening at the Botanical Gardens, including the Bonsai Show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 4 and 5, and the Hosta Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 12.
The Celebration of Coleus and Color, sponsored by Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com, will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from Saturday, June 18 through Sunday, July 24.
Find more events on our Events page.
Thank you for your way. I did it with my petunias garden. 🙂
That’s what I have Learned. The only way is to cut off the part that will seed. Thanks Linda
I have to agree with Linda. That is only a temporary fix. I have also found that even million bells thrive when given a trim with sissors now then because eventually as the flowers die of the remaining green part will try and seed out.
Yes, pinch off the dead and dying petunia blooms unless you have wave type petunias which don’t need “deadheading” only an occasional grooming for appearance. Million bells (AKA calibrochoa or mini bells)don’t need any grooming or deadheading either and always look nice so don’t need this treatment.
Linda, thanks for that note. So you suggest that people go in and remove the part that makes the seeds in order to keep the plant flowering.
Kristin’s method will only make the hanging basket LOOK better for a while, BUT not remove the part that makes seeds. Remember that an annual’s job is to reproduce itself by making seeds and most annuals will either stop making flowers or decline significantly.