The rise in temperatures and the arrival of the summer season is urging gardeners to complete this simple task to ensure healthy and vibrant blooms in their garden spaces.
The most awaited season is finally here – the beloved summertime. The temperatures are getting hotter, and the sunlight is out for longer, but this also leaves with gardeners having to complete this important task to guarantee summer blooms.
Roses are a favourite amongst gardeners, and for anyone to receive as a gift. These flowers typically bloom from late spring to early autumn months. Therefore, it’s important take good care of them during the summer to guarantee their longevity and a beautiful, vibrant flowering.
As explained by the RHS, deadheading is the process of “removal of fading or dead flowers from plants”, which is done to encourage more blooms and keep the plants looking appealing.
One of the main reasons for deadheading is to help keep plants and flower displays looking their best for a longer time. Plants with petals, such as roses and peonies tend to lose petals. Therefore, it’s a great way to ensure they create more blooms in the future.
When it comes to deadheading roses, Mike Gogerty, head gardener at Birtsmorton Court, suggested thinking of it more like it’s a summer pruning. He explained: “So if on a stem of three roses, two have gone and you know the final rose won’t have long, you should prune it right back at the end of the stem as it will then regrow in a few weeks time.”
“Don’t be afraid to cut back as it’s not just dead heading, you have to be ruthless,” the gardening expert added. By doing so, gardeners will be encouraging more blooms and healthy growth.
Therefore, it’s important to identify when to deadhead roses by looking at flowers that are losing colour or have petals falling. Then, using a sharp tool, cut the steam just above the leaf with five leaflets to encourage new growth and blooms. It’s just as easy as it sounds.
By deadheading roses, gardeners will ensure that their outdoor spaces are free from pests and diseases, as well as by keeping the area tidy and appealing. It’s just an easy but crucial task, especially during the summer months, as the high temperatures are known to be the reason why many plants and flowers die.
It will only take an extra couple of minutes, but the results will be worth the task! Plus, you don’t have to be an expert in gardening to keep your outdoor space look as glamourous as possible – just have some passion for it.
