What's the difference between deadheading and pruning?

Deadheading and pruning are two very different plant care practices, although many gardeners often confuse deadheading flowers with pruning. Deadheading is the act of removing just the spent blooms from a plant, which allows more energy to be put into new blooms. Pruning is a general term that encompasses several actions that shape plants, remove diseased or dead wood, or modify the size of a plant or shrub. Understanding when to perform each of these actions can change the health and appearance of your garden.

To maintain continuous color in annuals ranging from geraniums to petunias, simply apply a technique called deadheading. To prune from woody perennials such as roses, do this in early spring. I once pruned a hydrangea excessively, and while that year's blooms were few, it educated me on seasonal timing and plant viability.

Tools reveal the divide. Deadheading requires a nimble, lightweight pair of snips to get to the stems with precision. Pruning necessitates robust tools - I use my Felco pruners to cut back rose canes and a folding saw to remove overgrown, woody shrubs. Use heft when choosing your tool that suits the job to avoid damaging your plants or straining your hands.

Ecological consequences are also varied. By deadheading marigolds, blooms persist but remove bird food sources. By pruning butterfly bushes in the spring, the plants regrow with nectar-rich flowers to the benefit of pollinators. We must balance our interest in the aesthetics of goods that are also habitat. Occasionally, leaving things in an unmaintained state is advantageous for wildlife in the area.

Read the full article: How to Deadhead Flowers for Continuous Blooms