Pruning flowering plants

When a flower withers, a little cleaning has a lot of effect. This encourages blossom and keeps the plant looking pretty. It hardly takes any time and it is really worthwhile!

Pruning flowering plants
Pruning flowering plants

Useful cleaning
Most of the flowers lose their splendour when they wilt. Furthermore, some leave on the floor a real carpet of dirty petals: this is the case of Camellias, Peonies and some Roses. It is pretty to start with (for a few days) but afterwards it is looking rather sad. It is best to remove them directly on the plants. Aesthetic is not the only reason that comes into play. Take away wilted flowers is a simple action that redirects the vigour of the plant towards new shoots or new flowering buds. Finally, in nature, the ultimate aim of plants is to produce seeds. As long as a plant has not done so, nature drives the plant in carrying flowering. Incidentally, this is why sterile plants (stemmed from horticultural selections) flower continually right until the first frost.

How to proceed ?
Remove the faded corollas as soon as the first petals show signs of darkening or start falling. The best way of doing so depends largely on the plant itself: clean the Roses and shrubs with secateurs, as well as large stemmed perennials (Peonies). For annuals and finer stemmed perennials, pinch the stems with your nails, just under the capsules in forming. Make sure that you do not leave out bare stems, without any leaves or buds.

Pruning flowering plants

Roses
cut just under the flower and not under the first leaf as it has been often seen written. This allows a quicker production of new flowers.

Lilac
The best is to anticipate and cut generous bouquets. Otherwise, cut 20cm below the withered flowering stems.

Pruning flowering plants

Flowering plants in pots
cut at the base of the small stems (the pedicels) which link the withered flower to the main stem.

Pruning flowering plants

Bulbs and Hemerocallis
Remove the wilted flowers before they have started producing capsules. Let the green stem, has it is capable of photosynthesis and helps to renew the energy in the main bulb and the cornlets (therefore next year flowers).

Pruning flowering plants

Dahlias, Iris and other plants which have thick, floral stems
cut with secateurs the entire stem which supports the withered flower, taking care of not cutting out the buds.

Some perennials such as Geraniums, Delphiniums and Lupins produce a second blossom if they are cut right back at ground level after their first blossom. The same apply to Alchemilla, but only to promote new, fresher foliage. In all cases, proceed with garden shears.

Pruning flowering plants

Auto-cleaning plants
Luckily, some plants wither so inconspicuously that there is no need to intervene. This is the case amongst others for Fuchsias, Lobelias and small-leafed sages. Other flowers stay looking beautiful a good part of winter with their dry heads and birds do appreciate their seeds. This is the case for Echinacea, Coneflower, Sun-flowers, Nigellas and Sea Hollies, (Eryngium), but also the Roses which give pretty berries (the Rosehips) and all other berries-producing plants.

M. Jean-Michel GROULT
Pépinières PLANFOR
1950 Route de Cère
40090 UCHACQ - FRANCE
Tel : (020).7660.0178