Garden Tip 188

July arrives, and it is time for garden editing, removing anything that doesn’t add to the picture. Deadheading perennials and shrubs (removing spent flowers) not only improves the appearance of plants and gardens, but it can also encourage the reblooming of certain groups.

Yarrow, agastache, salvia, coreopsis, larkspur, and rose bushes all respond to deadheading. Many annuals also need cleaning, and those that are encouraged to rebloom include marigolds, zinnias, geraniums, cosmos, and snapdragons.

For season-long color without the need for deadheading, consider self-cleaning annuals such as superpetunias, calibrachoa, begonias, portulacas, impatiens, and vinca.