Deadheading Petunia

Today I learned that I have been deadheading my Petunia incorrectly for, wait for this, four years, yes you read correctly four years.

I could not understand why my once blooming amazing petunias were not blooming anymore and had black bits on them. I had seen these black things on my Petunias every year but did not really think anything about it.

A google search and I had a breakthrough. My petunias were going to seed as I had been deadheading them incorrectly.

I thought all I needed to do was pull out the flower and it would re-flower. Oh, how wrong was I, I needed to be cutting off the whole of the flower head to stop them from going to seed. Going to seed means they slow and stop producing flowers as they believe they have completed their job.

I could never understand why they did not look good all summer but other peoples did and now I know.

Yesterday I spent all day deadheading. Including several trips to wash hands and snips. Petunias are sticky and when you are deadheading two baskets and three planters it gets very sticky.

I gave them a good feed and soak, hoping that they do not die of shock considering what I had just done to them. If they do not die maybe the flowers will come back.

We have some new flower buds forming and day later.

I am not sure this one will be rescued we shall wait and see.

I hope this may help others as I am sure I am not alone with this.

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