Deadheading Dos and Don’ts

This time of summer is a terrific time to clip off the heads of your early-blooming annuals, perennials, and flowering shrubs. The practice of deadheading will make your yard look neater and help the young plants send much-needed energy to the newer buds growing further down on the stems. Snipping off spent blossoms also keeps the plants strong, makes future blooms more spectacular, and prevents the plants from making any unwanted seedlings.

And if you’re worried that summer’s heat and humidity have gotten the best of your annual flowers, don’t give up on them yet. You can still enjoy several more weeks of blooms if you treat ‘em right—right now! Cut them back by about half, water them thoroughly, and then douse them with a shot of this Annual Pick-Me-Up Tonic. They’ll be back in bloom before you know it!

Here’s how to whip up a batch: 

• Mix ¼ cup of beer, 1 tablespoon of clear corn syrup, 1 tablespoon of baby shampoo, 1 tablespoon of 15-30-15 plant food, and 1 gallon of water in a watering can.
• Slowly dribble the solution onto the soil around all of your annuals.
• Within two weeks, they’ll be real comeback kids—and you’ll get to enjoy their lush leaves and beautiful blooms right up until old Jack Frost makes a return appearance in mid-fall.

Looking for more ways to grow the most gorgeous garden in town? Just check out our bestselling book, Terrific Garden Tonics. It’s got all the motions, potions, and lotions you’ll need for the beautiful blooms you’ve been dreaming of. And, you can try it out FREE for 21 days!