How can we get rid of old flowers to encourage the growth of new ones?
This Lesson Plan is part the Gardening Module of SustainEd Farms' virtual programming.
Background: Deadheading Flowers
Deadheading flowers is a very simple task that achieves two main purposes: it rids the garden of dead flowers, thereby increasing the overall beauty of the space, and it allows the plant to devote more resources to existing and new flowers. In very little time, deadheading your flowers will make your garden look well-kept, and will encourage pollinators of all sorts to flock your way!
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to...
Deadhead flowers to encourage new flower growth
Academic Vocabulary
Deadhead /ˈdedhed/ verb. - to remove old/dead flowers in order to encourage further blooming of others
Directions
1. Gather your materials. You will need the following supplies:
flowers · pruners (or scissors)
2. Watch the following Youtube video to see a demonstration of how to deadhead flowers. Then, follow along with the remainder of the lesson by reading the steps below.
3. Identify flowers that are beginning to wilt, droop, turn color, or otherwise change in a way that suggests they are dying -- it should be pretty clear which flowers are still thriving, and which are “spent.”
4. Remove the old flowers from the plant using pruners, scissors, or even your hands depending on the relative strength of the attachment of the flower. For flowers that are well-attached, scissors or pruners should be used to snip off the dead flower so as to not harm the plant through excessive tugging. For softer, more delicate flowers with smaller or weaker stems, you can pluck the flower from the plant. If desired, trace the stem of the dead flower head back to where it meets a stem with a living flower, and clip it here -- this will ensure that the plant sends as much energy as possible to the living flower(s).
5. Collect and compost the dead flower heads, and enjoy the new look of your garden!
Additional Resources:
Download the PDF version of this lesson plan: