A close-up of wildflowers with purple petals in a sunlit meadow, some in focus and others blurred, with trees and a house in the background.

Summer marched forth to the cadence of the cicada, stumbling ever so often, as her rhythm slowly became out of sync.  Her easy going nature seemed strained, and her once verdant beauty disheveled and unkempt.  A kind word and a bit of support would again renew her spirit and loveliness.  The very same could be said for our yards and gardens.

Pink coneflowers with orange centers bloom in a garden surrounded by green leaves, with several unopened buds in the foreground and more flowers and greenery in the background.

In addition to supplemental watering, considering how hot and dry Summer has been thus far, flowers also require deadheading or “pinching”, and it’s not purely for aesthetic reasons.

A close-up of a pink, spiky wildflower with green leaves, taken outdoors. The background shows blurred greenery and another flower, with a soft focus effect.

Removing spent and faded flowers helps encourage reblooming while improving the health of the foliage and preventing nuisance reseeding. Additionally, deadheading helps direct energy toward the root system, so plants are able to build food reserves for the following year. Perennials and flowering shrubs both benefit from the practice, but you need not worry about annuals.

A close-up of a wilted flower with dry, brown petals, set against a blurry background of purple flowers and greenery on a sunny day.

So, how does one go about deadheading? Simple. Really. Pinching or deadheading can be as simple as pinching off the faded bloom. Pinching may also involve removing the dominant bud, which can help encourage the surrounding buds. Yarrow, Balloon Flower, Veronica and Russian Sage respond well to pinching. For perennials with lots of small blooms, shearing can be done instead of trying to pinch individually. Cutting back is another viable option to help promote new, healthy foliage. For perennials with flowers at the tips of the stems, cut just below the faded flower. For plants with leafy flower stems and leaves at the base of the plant, cut back to just above the top most, unopened bud. For perennials with bare stems, cut off close to the ground.

Close-up of purple wildflowers in a sunlit garden, with more flowers and green foliage blurred in the background. A round birdbath or water dish is visible in the lower right corner.

If you’re just not sure, feel free to reach out to Sweeney’s. We’ll make sure your garden is always looking its best!  We proudly serve the communities of Villa Park, Elmhurst, Oakbrook, Oakbrook Terrace, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Wood Dale, Itasca, and more!

Sweeney’s:  A Plant Based Company

Plant of the Week

A garden bed with tall green plants topped with clusters of small white flowers, bordered by other green foliage and colorful flowers in the background.

Lesser Calamint

Small white flowers bloom amongst mint-scented leaves June – October.  Prefers full sun, and moist, well-drained soil.  Grows in a perfect mound, 18-24″ tall and 18-24″ wide.  Attracts pollinators and butterflies.  Drought tolerant.  Deer and rabbit resistant.

“Flowers whisper “Beauty” to the world, even as they fade, wilt, fall”.

-Dr. Sun Wolf

Well wishes,

Kim Sweeney