Deadheading Flowers
Some plants will bloom more profusely
if the old, spent flowers are removed,
a process called deadheading.
Annuals especially, focus their energy
on seed production to insure that the
species survives. If you remove old
flowers, the energy normally used to
produce seed is now available to produce
more flowers.
Perennials can also benefit by lengthening
the blooming season. However, some
gardeners enjoy the look of
spent flowers of perennials such as sedum
or purple coneflower. Also, the seed produced can be a good food source for birds.
Not all plants need to be deadheaded, including sedum 'Autumn Joy', melampodium, impatiens, most flowering vines, Lythrum, periwinkle (Catharanthus), and wishbone flower (Torenia). Those that do increase bloom in response to deadheading include hardy geraniums, coreopsis, petunias, marigolds, snapdragons, begonias, roses, campanulas, blanket flowers, delphiniums, zinnias, sweet peas, salvia, scabiosa, annual heliotrope, geraniums (Pelargonium), and yarrow.
Deadheading is easily accomplished by removing spent flowers. With some plants, pinching
between a thumb and finger can do this, but tough, wiry stems will require a scissors or pruning shears.
After-Effects of Too Much Rain
Some areas of Kansas have had saturated or near- saturated soils for several weeks now. Gardeners are likely to assume that watering won’t be needed for quite some time now as soil moisture levels are very high.
Actually, watering may be needed much sooner than you expect. Excessive rain can drive oxygen out of the soil and literally drown roots. Therefore, as we enter hotter, drier weather, the plants with damaged root systems may be very susceptible to a lack of water. Don’t forget to check your plants for signs of wilting or leaf scorching and water as needed. If irrigation is called for, water deeply and infrequently. Usually once per week is sufficient depending on the weather. Soil should be moist but not waterlogged.