Prolific spikes of blooming snapdragons are a sight to behold, whether in your garden or fresh-cut in vases. If you want to keep these beautiful flowers blooming all summer long, learning how to deadhead snapdragons is essential. In this article, we will guide you through five simple steps to ensure your snapdragons continue to thrive.
Do You Deadhead Snapdragons?
Yes, deadheading snapdragons is a worthwhile practice that can help prolong their blooming season. Most gardeners agree that the effort is minimal compared to the extended flowering it promises.
How Often Should You Deadhead Snapdragons?
It’s recommended to deadhead snapdragons approximately once a week. Keep an eye out for spent flowers and remove them as you find them. You don’t have to set aside a specific time for deadheading, but you can if it helps you stay on top of it.
What You Should Know Before Deadheading Snapdragons
Before we begin, there’s one thing you need to consider. Snapdragons produce skull-shaped seed pods when left to go to seed. If you deadhead all your snapdragons, you might miss out on experiencing these unique and fascinating seed pods.
How to Deadhead Snapdragons
Deadheading snapdragons is an easy process. Follow these simple instructions to remove spent blooms and encourage prolonged flowering:
- Identify faded or spent snapdragon flowers.
- Hold the plant gently with your nondominant hand.
- Use scissors to snip the stem below the blossom.
- Dispose of the snapdragon deadheads (but check for seeds first, just in case!).
- Over the next few days and weeks, keep an eye on the leaf nodes for new signs of growth.
Tips for Deadheading Snapdragons
To make the most of your garden this year, consider these tips for removing spent blooms from your snapdragon plants:
- Deadhead: Remove dead snapdragon flowers to encourage new growth and more blooms. This also helps tidy up your plants.
- Pinch Snapdragons: Pinch the stems of your snapdragons during the early stages to encourage branching and more flowers.
- Leave Some for Seeds: If you want seeds for next year, allow some of your favorite snapdragon flowers to fully mature and turn brown.
- Cut Flowers: Cut some snapdragons for indoor vases. Not only does this brighten up your home, but it also stimulates new growth in your plants.
Do you have any questions about deadheading snapdragons or any tips and stories to share? Feel free to leave a comment below. We love hearing from fellow gardeners!
Happy Gardening!
Pink and orange snapdragons at Airlie Gardens in NC
