Do you deadhead geraniums, is a discussion that gardening enthusiasts would have. These beautiful flowers of the Geraniaceae family are easily encouraged to bloom but can leave quite a mess as their blossoms start to wilt.
Let’s explore the steps involved in deadheading geraniums and how you can do it properly to keep them beautifully blooming.
How to Deadhead Geraniums With the Correct Approach?
To deadhead geraniums with the correct approach, you should begin by preparing the tools and wait until after the first frost to do it. Then, identify the spent flowers, and locate the node. Cut the stem, remove the yellow leaves, dispose of the cut flower, and store the plant.
While the geranium plant is a low-maintenance garden resident that is perfect for every cottage garden, homeowners may find that the spent blooms can become unattractive quickly. If you’re facing this dilemma, then you might want to learn how to deadhead the flowers to keep your gorgeously healthy.
1. Prepare the Tools
Getting started means preparing for everything you’ll need when it comes to deadheading your geranium flowers. When you are prepared, you can make things faster and even more fun. Some of the tools that you’ll need are clean and sterilized pruning shears, gardening gloves, and a container.
Remember that your pruning shears will be used to cut the spent flowers, which is why make sure that it is well sharpened. While gardening gloves can be optional, we recommend using these to protect your hands from dirt and accident. When you deadhead your geranium flowers, you’ll need a container for them, so bring one that is light and portable yet sturdy.
2. Wait Until After the First Frost to Deadhead
Waiting for the first frost to pass will allow the geranium plant to go through a natural period of dormancy as it prepares for winter sleep, and this is when it will start to look brown and weak. You’ll notice that after the first frost, the leaves of the plant will start to turn yellow and fall off. This is a sign that it’s time to deadhead and snip off your geranium plant.
3. Identify the Spent Flowers
This is the most important step since you’ll need to remove the blooms that have wilted or faded. Usually, these look quite floppy with colors that are no longer vibrant and have a dried-up appearance. Some may have already fallen off, but most will still be on the stems.
4. Locate the Node
The node is a small swelling or bump found on the geranium plant’s stem. The node is where the stem meets the flower, and it is very significant to look for them because this is where new growths can occur. Once you have identified the node, you’ll need to note its location to make your cut, so make sure to find and locate the node exactly.
5. Cut the Stem
By this time, you will have been wearing gloves and holding clean and sterilized pruning shears. Cut the stem that you have located just above the node. Make sure that you cut the stem cleanly and at a slight angle to avoid damaging the other parts of the plant.
It is important to cut correctly since cutting the stem at the wrong angle or too close to the node can prevent new growth and damage the rest of the plant, so remember that you should make the cut in a precise way. When you deadhead geranium flowers, it is better to take your time to make the proper cut instead of rushing the activity.
Now, you need to cut back the geranium plant by about a third to half its height. This will help the plant conserve energy and focus on producing healthy growth when springtime comes and they would look fresh again. Make cuts above leaf nodes, which are the points where leaves meet the stems. Cutting at this point will encourage the plant to produce new growth in the spring.
6. Remove the Yellow Leaves and Stems
Start by taking off any yellowing or yellowed leaves and stems from the plant. These are the signs that the plant is dying and may not be able to survive the winter, and you wouldn’t want them to look weak when they are in dormancy.
Use your clean and sterilized pruning shears to cut the stems at a slight angle just above the base of the plant. Remember that you must make sure that your cut is clean to avoid damaging the rest of the plant.
7. Dispose of the Cut Flower
At this point, your container will come in handy so that disposing of the spent flowers is easier and done in one single move. Disposing of the dead and removed flowers is important for two reasons. One, it keeps your garden looking clean and pleasing, and after doing so, it is also essential to know that this will prevent pests and diseases from spreading.
Moreover, once you have finished the process and even pruned your geraniums yellow leavese, you can begin to clean up and dispose of the debris properly. Place all discarded flowers, leaves, and stems in your container and dispose of them in your trash. If you plan to place these in your compost pile, make sure that they are all free of pests and diseases.
8. Repeat
Do the same for the other flowers for your geranium plants, especially if you have more than one that you would like to see cleared out. The same goes whether you’re growing the hardy geranium plant or the wild geranium. You might be surprised the geranium plant is also called the bloody crane’s-bill, so deadhead the flowers if you have one growing in your garden.
9. Store the Plants
If you live in an area with cold winters, consider storing your geranium plant indoors for the winter. Dig up the plant and shake off any excess soil to do this, and then you must cut back the roots and stems, and place the plant in a pot with fresh soil. Water the plant well and place it in a sunny window or under grow lights.
Water the plant sparingly during the winter months to prevent overwatering. At this point, you’ll also need to avoid fertilizing the plant. You can gradually increase the watering frequency and introduce fertilizers only when springtime arrives.
FAQ
– Do Geraniums Come Back Every Year?
Yes, geranium plants can return every year if planted in an appropriate climate and cared for properly. They are perennials that can survive winter temperatures and return in the spring but may require protection in colder climates. Geraniums can live for several years with proper care and maintenance.
– Can I Deadhead Geraniums While They’re Still Blooming?
Yes, you can deadhead geraniums while they’re still blooming. This matter is recommended because of two reasons. One, it will encourage the plant to produce more flowers and keep it looking healthy and vibrant. Second, it will keep your garden clean and tidy.
Conclusion
It’s incredibly easy to deadhead your geranium plants now that you know how, so let’s go over what we’ve learned so far:
- You need to prepare your tools and identify the flowers that have wilted, faded, or dried.
- Next, you’ll need to make clean angled cuts above the node of each flower.
- Finally, you must dispose of any cut plant parts properly to avoid spreading pests and diseases.
- If you plan to deadhead geraniums during the colder months, it is important to deadhead geranium plants in the fall so that they can survive the winter and produce healthy growth in the spring.
Whether you grow the sweet scented geranium plant or the ordinary variety, you now have more knowledge and skills in deadheading and pruning it.
