What happens if you don't deadhead plants?
Written by
Kiana Okafor
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.Skipping deadheading alters the trajectory of the garden. A plant such as marigolds or zinnias will move energy away from blooms and into seedlings, resulting in sparse flowers. I logged onto my dahlias, and in a few weeks, the brilliant displays faded into lanky stems with seed pods.
Energy Diversion
- Plants prioritize seed production over new blooms
- Annuals like petunias stop flowering early
- Perennials like roses produce smaller subsequent blooms
Pest Attraction
- Decaying petals attract aphids and spider mites
- Fungal diseases spread through rotting blooms
- Mold risks increase in humid climates
Trade-offs in ecology are present. Although leaving sunflowers un-deadheaded does benefit birds, they could self-seed and take over the garden bed. My neighbor started with three sunflowers in a patch and now has a 10-foot sunflower thicket. We can even have it support wildlife while maintaining balanced space considerations for a manageable biodiverse footprint.
An understanding of the seasons can help mitigate the consequences of your plant choices. For spring-blooming bulbs, like daffodils, it is beneficial to deadhead them for their energy to go into the bulbs after the flowers fade. Fall perennials, like sedum, can be left intact for winter interest, if desired. Pay attention to what each plant can offer, and it may be scraggly stems that feed more life than pristine flowers ever could.
Read the full article: How to Deadhead Flowers for Continuous Blooms
