Many people assume that flowering plants can be neatly divided into two categories: those that bloom and rebloom throughout the season and those that bloom only once. The truth is a bit more complicated. Careful mortuary of the first wave of fading flowers can cause a resurgence in some so-called one-and-done flowers.
An ornamental flower doesn’t just bloom to make your yard look pretty – it blooms to reproduce by setting seeds. Once pollination occurs and seed heads are formed, the plant receives a signal that its seasonal work is essentially complete, so it transfers energy to seed maturation. By stepping in with some spot-on snaps, you break this cycle.
These cuts essentially trick the plant into thinking its mission isn’t over, prompting it to develop a vibrant, bonus round of fresh flowers. So don’t be sad that the charms of summer are fading very soon. You can cheat the system and ensure a stunning second flush of bloom with this simple, to-the-point finish.
Just Snips for Reblooming
First, it helps to know which flowers won’t rebloom, no matter what cuts you make. These include peoniesoriental poppies, irisesand real lilies. Timing is key: you should also avoid pruning plants while they are still actively blooming. Instead, don’t want too much. Don’t wait until spent flowers have dead seeds, as then it’s too late.
A good pair of sharpies pruning shears it can be your best friend when it comes to extending summer blooms. Cutting the tender stems with dull, rusty blades creates ragged, bruised wounds that cause bacterial rots and fungal infections. For soft-stemmed bloomers, use precision shears, shears, or clippers. Our team rates it Fiskars Micro-Tip Pruning Shears from Amazon for clean, surgical clippings. Cut just above the emerging nodes to avoid tearing the surrounding foliage.
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USDA hardiness zone it also affects the schedule. In USDA zones 3-5, cut back in early July to give the second flush several warm days to bloom before late fall and the first frosts. Meanwhile, in the south, summer soil conditions can dry out. Mowing in a drought can be stressful for plants. Always give your boundaries a deep watering 12-24 hours before you die. Water again after mowing, especially on hot days. Avoid excessive foods nitrogenwhich encourage the leaves and not the flowers.
1. Dolphin
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Delphinium (aka larkspur) is beloved for its dramatic, tall spikes of early summer flowers. But royal perennial giants (hardy in zones 3-7) fade very quickly and if left alone, will not rebloom. Therefore, it is tempting to think that they are real flowers one and done. But you can get a secondary flush if you cut off the first flower spikes at the base or where you can see a side shoot forming. Do this after the flowers have faded and before they develop seeds, and you will have secondary spikes.
While the secondary flush will not be the same towering columns as the first wave, these enchanting blue the spiers will look impressive alongside the final season ornamental grasses. If you neglect to kill them, the plant will produce unsightly brown seed pods, which quickly reduce to a ragged mound. To nourish this second wave, mix in a few spoonfuls of phosphorus-rich Down to Earth Fish Bone Meal from Lowe’s in the surrounding surface soil immediately after killing.
2. Roses
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There are a few different ones categories of rosesincluding modern types that have been bred to rebloom all summer. Older varieties of roses generally only bloom once, however, unless you do some careful destruction. If you have an older variety that only gives you a flush of flowers, cut off the spent blooms as soon as you see the flowers fading. You should get a little extra bloom late in the season.
When dealing with classic bushold garden, or hybrid tea rosesthe way you are dead matters. Instead of simply removing the faded flower head, follow the stem down the axil of the first 5-leaflet. Make a clean 45-degree cut a quarter of an inch (0.6 cm) above this outward-facing bud. If left untrimmed, roses become decorative but consume energy rose bushesending future flower production. To help rose bushes recover from the stress of summer heat, give them a twice-weekly application Neptune’s Harvest Fish & Seaweed Fertilizer from Amazon.
3. Catmint
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Catmint (nepeta) is a perennial that gives a spectacular wash of purple flowers at the beginning of summer. Hardy to zone 3, it’s fine for low-stress gardening. But once the flowers are spent, you’re left with a mess of floppy disks. When you see the flowers fade in mid-summer, cut the entire mound back to about half its height. Grab the floppy outer stems and cut the entire mound into a tight, neat canopy using sharp hedge shears. It is very forgiving and responds well to this simple cut.
Unless you’re dead, you’ll end up with a sprawling, messy center that looks messy for the rest of the time. Water well after cutting for a vibrant second round. Nepeta prefers lean, poor soils, so avoid heavy ones fertilizers. Instead, enrich the bed with Worm Bliss Premium Earthworm Castings from Amazon. This slow-release treatment boosts moisture retention while encouraging a rich second wave of lavender blue.
4. Coreopsis
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Also known as a tick, coreopsis is a cheerful perennial that blooms profusely in early summer. But when spent blooms go to seed, they look messy. Coreopsis can continue to bloom well into the fall and responds well to deadheading. Do this regularly whenever you see spent blooms. Treat nematode varieties like mint and cut back the top third of the plant when the first huge wave is over.
For large-flowered varieties, use short-end pruning shears to cut spent stems back to the nearest healthy lateral bud. It might help to add some Hoffman Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix from Walmart around the root zone for drainage. Follow with a sprinkle Dr Earth Premium Gold All Purpose Fertilizer from Amazon as the optimal foundation for unstoppable color in autumn as well.
5. Salvia
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Salvia is a popular perennial that produces a dramatic profusion of early season flowers shades of blue and purple Perennial salvias (such as ‘May Night’ or ‘Caradonna’) thrive in zones 4-9 and are loved for their rich texture and high drought tolerance. Once they fade, the plant may look messy, but the show doesn’t have to be over. Immediately after the first flush fades, cut the plants back by one-third. When deadheading, locate the main stem and cut it at the base, where you will see new shoots.
If you’re not dead, those live spikes dry to brittle black sticks that ruin the neat look of your contours. After quenching, water deeply and add a light feed. New flower spikes should appear in weeks. Because dense clumps of salvia are very sensitive powdery mildewkeep the foliage healthy with a little Arber Organic Bio-Mungicide Concentrate from Walmart. This protects the new, emerging leaves from fungal pathogens without harming local pollinators that will fall.
6. Garden Phlox
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Once the large flower clusters stop blooming on this hardy perennial (Phlox paniculata), it is easy to assume that this is. But just you garden phlox looks spent, cut back the flower clusters, cutting just above the upper leaves. The second flush caused by deadheading will consist of smaller, more delicate terminal clusters of flowers, extending your color window up to four weeks.
If you leave the old heads intact, they drop inferior, non-true seedlings that can crowd out the original. Keep your dead plants well watered and add some compost to encourage side shoots to grow where you’ve made cuts. To stop your phlox drying out during secondary bud formation, top the soil surface with a good organic mulchsuch as Back to Roots Organic Premium Mulch from Amazon. This locks in vital root moisture and protects the soil from intense summer sun stress.
7. Shasta Daisies
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These beautiful daisies bloom in spring and summer. Shasta daisies are hardy in zones 5-9, but turn a muddy brown as they fade. And once they fade, they look unsightly and turn to seed if you leave them in place. Instead of letting it happen, cut spending Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum × superbum) flower stalks at the base or a lateral bud. Do this regularly as each individual flower fades. Keep plants watered to encourage fresh growth and remove any yellowing foliage.
Run your scissors down the stem of the flower to where it joins the clump of foliage, making your piece hidden. The plants push out dense growth to support secondary blooms, so they are very vulnerable to drying out. Give your Shastas a deep drink and add a handful Espoma organic chicken manure from Walmart. This provides slow release nitrogen punching is required to feed the fresh white blooms until the first frost.
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