Upload
others
View
4
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Peoplearenoticingmygreenthumb,andithasnothingtodowithgardeningprowess.Deadheadingroseshasleftmewithstained
handsthatevenOxyCleancan’t>ix.Iamforevermisplacingmypruners,butsincemyrightthumbandfore>ingerareprovidentiallyattachedtomyarm,myfavoriterosedeadheadingtoolsarealwaysready.
Byremovingspent>lowersjustbeforetheydroptheirpetals,Icankeepmyrosesbloominglonger.
1
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.
2
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
[email protected]. 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
3
>lushof>lowersifcutbackclosetotheground.Lady’smantleandorientalpoppies,cutbacktotheground,willrespondwithfreshfoliage,butnomore>lowers.Sometimesitmaybeeasiertodeadheadprofusely>loweringperennialsbyshearingawaythetopfewinchesorjustenoughtoremovemostofthefaded>lowers.Theindividual>lowersondayliliesandsomeiriseslastadayandthenhanglikemushy,wetsocks.Removingthemcarefullymaynotbringare-bloom,buttheplantwilllooktidierduringitslongbloomingperiod.
TracyDiSabato’s“TheWell-TendedPerennialGarden”offerscompleteinformationondeadheadingalong-listofperennials.
🌱
4