Garden Tip 151:

Some garden chores are more time critical than others. Edging the lawn or weeding flower beds, for example, are good jobs to get done; but the timing of these do not really affect the growth or performance of garden plants.

Deadheading of flowering bulbs such as tulips and daffodils just after they flower, however, is a chore where timing plays an important role. As the flowers of these plants wilt and die, the plant goes into seed production mode, developing a seed pod at the tip of the flower stem. Removing this seed pod redirects the energy of the plant back to the in-ground bulb, strengthening it and building it up with more flower power for another year.

Removing the pod is a simple task. One need not remove the entire flower stem, for the stem is green with chlorophyl and can actually help in providing the bulb with food. Seed pods can simply be pulled, pinched or cut off at the base. This will both help strengthen the bulb and improve the appearance of the plant in the garden.