how to deadhead

 To deadhead or not to deadhead…that is the question. Some gardeners focus on keeping a super tidy garden. Then there’s me. I prefer a bit of chaos and have a pretty high tolerance for disorder. This is particularly the case when the disorder supports the wildlife that calls The Big Little Garden ‘home’.

Before you set out with pruners, it’s worth understanding your plants. Some plants will not rebloom after deadheading. Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’, a nativar popular in the northeast US is one of those. It’s an uncommonly beautiful plant and in my opinion is not enhanced with deadheading, which only leaves an unattractive stub. I prefer to ‘fleece’ off the spent and dried blooms to reveal the beauty of the maroon seed pod. In my garden, the beautiful maroon stems and seed pods persist throughout the winter, recalling memories of what was and what will be.

Penstemon mexicali ‘Red Rocks’ is a nativar of the southwest US and will rebloom with proper deadheading. So, this is one plant that will receive attention to encourage ongoing bloom. The bumblebees approve!