Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Other perennials will only flower once and
many can be left to hold their old flower
stems through autumn into winter, it depends
on the structure of the dead flower heads;
some plants do look great dead! Others you
may want to remove immediately after the
flowers have faded and the leaves are wilting
as with mints and oregano (see Figure 4.27
and Table 4.8).
There is an advantage in delaying this work.
By early spring the old stems will be crisp and
light to remove, and in cold climates they
would have insulated the soil against frost.
Figure 4.26 This dahlia can be deadheaded through the
season by removing spent flowers from their point of
origin. The main stems will die off in winter. They can be
cut to the ground in autumn or removed when the tubers
can be divided in early spring.
Table 4.8 Plants to be cut down all at once
# Acanthus spp.
# Achillea spp. Yarrow
Anemonexhybrida
Anigozanthos Kangaroo paw
# Aquilegia Granny's bonnets
# Aster
* Coreopsis
# Geranium spp.
# Gypsophila spp.
# Helianthustuberosum Jerusalem artichoke
# Lobeliaspeciosa
Lychnis
# Mentha spp. Mints
** Nepeta spp. Catmint
# Origanum spp. Oregano
# Sedum
# Setariapalmifolia Buddha grass
# Solidago Golden rod
Stachysbyzantina Lamb's ears
When the flowering season is over
* Cut down in the dormant season to a base of sturdy branchlets.
# Cut to the ground completely, new growth will come (or has
arrived) from the base.
** Plants that may be cut back by two-thirds and will rebloom in
the same season given good growing conditions.
Evergreen species should retain their leaves over the dormant
season; only the flower stems are removed.
Figure 4.27 Oreganos and mints can have their flowering
stems removed completely as soon as they are no longer
an aesthetic asset. Depending on climate there may or
may not be new growth at the base of the plant. In some
areas it may not emerge until the next growing season.
 
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