Pruning and Dividing Flowers

Many flowers can be removed when they die or turn brown to encourage a second bloom late in the season. Removing dead flowers can also help prevent some plants from spreading when you do not want them to.

Most bulbs and roses can be pruned when the flowers begin to die. This helps to keep them from spreading if you have a specific pattern in your landscaping that you want them to adhere to. If you would like them to spread, leave the old blooms. This naturalization can help encourage spreading and a second bloom later in the season.

This is true of most perennials. After they flower, they use up a lot of nutrients producing seeds. By removing old blooms, you not only make the landscape look better, but you also help the plants to use their energy to make more flowers. Many people find that they can help plants produce more and more flowers by removing old ones promptly.

Some can be snapped off, some can be cut, and others need to be gently pinched off to avoid damaging new growth. This is true of marigolds and a few others that hold the growth buds directly under the old bloom.

Annuals will usually drop flowers on their own and then flower again before dying. If they don't, then you can encourage them to bloom again by removing dead or dying flowers. Some hybrids have been introduced that will drop off by themselves.

If you have perennials that do not seem to be doing well, you can divide them into separate clumps giving them a chance to grow healthy again. After many seasons of being cut back, many perennials will have a lot of dead matter and old chutes in the center. Dividing helps new stalks and flowers to break free from the old clump and flourish once again.

Most perennials are best divided in early spring. They will have all summer to grow and establish roots. There are a few that are best divided in fall, usually ones that bloom first in the spring. However, many perennials do not survive early frosts.

The best time to divide is the spring or fall after the plant is as big and healthy as you want it to get. If you wait until it has a lot of small leaves in the center or weak stalks, then it can be harder to divide. Loosen roots as deep as possible to keep as many as you can intact. Then, cut from the top through the center into two halves or four quarters.

Replant and water liberally, taking great care to keep the roots moist and warm, but not hot. In the next few months, take care of your divided plants. Use a garden hose reel to make watering easy so that taking care is not a hassle. By dividing and removing old flowers, you can have a landscape that flowers beautifully year after year.