Old flower heads make room for new blooms

Spring is the season when nature awakens to life again. The first early bloomers stretch their heads out of the earth, and by now, it's time for the old flowers to make room for new ones.

In order for many new flowers to form, the old flower heads must be removed. This is especially important for flowering shrubs like hydrangeas. To allow the plants to really thrive in the spring, the old flower heads are cut off.

The right time to remove old flower heads depends on the individual plant. If it is an early bloomer, such as forsythia, the old flower heads can be removed immediately after blooming. However, if the plant is a late bloomer, like a hydrangea, it's best to wait until spring to remove the old flower heads. The advantage of pruning in spring is that the plant can recover more quickly and effectively. Any cut on a plant is a wound, and late pruning can sometimes cause frost damage to the plant. In the worst case, this could lead to parts or the entire plant dying. However, removing the old flower heads in spring is healthy and beneficial for the plant.

By removing the old flower heads in spring, the plant can direct all its energy into the growth of new shoots. Therefore, pruning should be done just above a healthy and green bud pair. Removing the old flower heads can also serve as an opportunity to remove dead or frozen shoots. If you're unsure whether a shoot is still alive or has already died, you can simply scratch the bark lightly. If the shoot is green under the bark, the branch is alive. However, if the tissue under the bark is dry and fibrous, then it's too late to save this branch. It should be cut off. This not only has health benefits, but it also helps the plant grow in a more aesthetically pleasing and bushier manner.

Wilted flowers don’t just have to be removed in spring. If you want to extend the blooming period of your beloved summer bloomers, you can remove the faded flowers directly from the plant. After blooming, many plants produce seeds to maintain the natural cycle and ensure the survival of the species. However, the production of seeds drains a lot of the plant's energy. By removing the old flowers, the plant can redirect its energy into producing new blooms, from which seeds will form after flowering. For sterile flowers, they can be cut off right after blooming to extend the flowering period. Seed heads on perennials, for example, also serve as food for birds and should be left for the sake of the garden's wildlife. Additionally, seed heads often look just as beautiful as the flowers themselves.