How to deadhead?

Hi all, I don't know if I'm doing it right.

Do I just pull the dead petals off or just cut the whole bud off with scissors?

for example I have some dwarf sunflowers, one of the buds has finished flowering, do I cut the whole head off?

I also have some sweet williams, do I cut the whole stalk with the clump of flowers off or again pull the petals off?

Many thanks and hope your all enjoying the gorgeous weather!

 

Pull or cut the whole head off. The purpose of dead-heading is to stop seed forming. If the plant can't set seed, it tries again and produces more flowers.

 

As Hornbeam says - preferably cutting back to the first leaves below. This just makes it look neater. Any new growth will come from the leaf axil, ie buds appear between a leaf and the stem. Some things with thousands of small flowers, such as catmint (Nepeta Fasenii) you can just cut with a pair of shears.

Incidently some plants such as Geranium Patricia are sterile hybrids and cannot set viable seed. These sorts of plants quite often have a very long flowering season (they are effectively self deadheading), and are well worth having. You can multiply them by division - if that isn't a contradiction. :D

 

Thanks guys, now I shall go back and properly dead head my plants!!!

 

Hello,Ive been wondering for a while whether I've been deadheading my petunias properly. I've been pulling out the dead petals (they slide out in a "oner") and they seem to be doing really well with lots of new flowers - should I be removing the heads too? Any help appreciated, thanks

 

Removing the petal has cosmetic value but to stop seeds developing the whole flower head should be removed. They will as you've found continue flowering but with less vigour as seeds develop. If your petunias are double then seedheads will be smaller or non-existent- have a look and see if any seeds are developing.
Time enough in another month or 2 to leave some flower heads for seed.

 

Thanks Liz, I'm glad I asked, will do what you suggest (once it stops raining!)