It’s summer, my fellow gardeners! And I know your flower beds are filled with the vibrant hues of our favorite blooms.
But I’m also aware that some plants are already finished with flowering, so we can add other chores to our to-do lists. And the first one that probably comes to your mind is deadheading.
Hold it right there! Yes, this is a super important gardening task, but it won’t bring benefits in every case.
Did you know that some plants actually prefer being left alone? They have more to offer throughout the season even if their spent blossoms are still there.
Wondering if you have any in your garden? It’s time to make a list!
1. Camellias Prefer To Be Left On Their Own
The pink, white, and yellow blossoms of camellias make these plants true showstoppers! And the best thing is that they bloom from late fall to mid-spring, when most of the plants are still in deep sleep.
There’s no need to remove spent camellia blooms. The reason is simple: these plants are referred to as self-cleaning, meaning faded blossoms just drop off.
Deadheading them is actually wasting our precious time because it doesn’t really have any benefits. For other common plants, this technique can extend the blooming season, but not for camellias.
If you want to see the bloom display for a bit longer, it’s better to fertilize. You can skip deadheading but do not skip pruning your camellias.
Feeding and pruning is the combo your camellias need to grow healthy and generate abundant blooms!
2. Honesty Looks Even Better With Dried Flower Heads
Honesty is the best policy, so the truth about honesty flowers is that they don’t need deadheading!
For me, these plants look best once the flowers fade and the flat seed pods appear.
I’ve planted numerous honesty plants in my borders and I only take a few dried seed pods for flower arrangements.
You can expect the blossoms to dry in late summer, but until then, there are other things you can do for your honesty plants to thrive.
Make sure the soil for these biennials is free-draining and the spot is sunny enough. A bit of shade is ok but avoid the dark corners of your yard.
3. Deadheading Is Also A No-No For Nigella
If you want your garden to stand out, the unusual nigella plant is perfect for you. It grows pretty fast, so you don’t need to wait too long until blooms appear.
Did you know that nigella seeds are edible? But if you want to get them, you shouldn’t deadhead the spent blooms.
Another reason why it’s not a good idea to remove dry flowers is to expand your nigella collection. These plants self-seed and the birds and wind will scatter the seeds and do the planting part for you.
Of course, you need to be careful if you don’t want the nigella to overtake your yard. Leave only a few flower heads intact.
The third reason why you want to leave the faded blooms on your nigella is because they look absolutely amazing during fall and winter!
4. Leave Coneflowers For Birdies
Many gardeners deadhead their coneflowers because they think it’s obligatory. Well, that’s not really the truth.
Yes, you may get more blossoms, but leaving the spent blooms alone offers a lot of benefits.
For instance, you can get new plants for free by harvesting your coneflowers and saving the seeds. They’re self-seeding, which means they’ll spread without your help.
My coneflowers produce new blossoms even when I leave the spent ones on the plant. Work smarter not harder, remember?
5. Keep Your Clippers Away From Hydrangeas
Surprise, surprise! You didn’t think you’d find hydrangeas on this list, right? I have a few hydrangea species that bloom on old wood and I kept deadheading them at the beginning, hoping they’d reward me with more blooms.
Well, they never did (speaking of crushed dreams…).
Then, I left them alone. I have to admit that I was stunned by the beauty of brown and wilted hydrangea blooms. Definitely didn’t see it coming!
Since then, I simply enjoy the spectacular view!
If you grow panicle or smooth hydrangeas, I highly recommend you do the same. Once the spring arrives, grab your pruners and then remove the blooms.
6. Skip Deadheading Miscanthus Sinensis For Year-Round Interest
The last plant on our list is Miscanthus sinensis, which isn’t a typical flowering species but rather an ornamental grass.
What do you get by skipping deadheading this grass? A beautiful yard all year round!
The texture of Miscanthus sinensis will add an intriguing touch to your garden and the blooms will turn silver once the winter arrives.
Winter landscaping is pretty challenging but with this Miscanthus it won’t be half as hard.
Wait until next early spring and give the plant a hard pruning to promote new growth.
So, what’s it gonna be, to deadhead or not to deadhead? For these plants, it’s definitely the latter. Put your clippers away and enjoy the benefits the spent blossoms offer!