Deadheading 101: How to Do It, Why It Works, and Where NOT to Do It

Welcome to the Garden Talk podcast. Today Susan and Sarah are talking about deadheading flowers—what it is, why it helps your plants keep blooming, and the big “don’t do this” that a lot of people don’t realize. Deadheading sounds fancy, but it’s really just a simple kind of pruning: you remove faded blooms and seed heads so the plant doesn’t put all its energy into making seeds. A good rule of thumb is to pinch or cut the stem below the spent flower and just above the first set of full, healthy leaves. Done throughout the season, deadheading can encourage more flowers, longer blooming, and healthier-looking plants. But deadheading isn’t only about getting more blooms—it can also help you enjoy your flowers inside. Susan shares how deadheading lets you cut blooms with a stem for fresh arrangements, and then once they dry, you can save the seeds for next year (just be sure to let the seed heads dry out with airflow so they don’t mold). They also talk about when not to deadhead—like when you want plants to self-seed, or when you want to leave seed heads for wildlife and birds (especially with sunflowers). And here’s the big caution: don’t deadhead or collect seed heads from places you don’t own. In some areas—like public land, national parks, and protected spaces—removing any plant material can lead to penalties or fines. When in doubt: ask permission, or take a photo and leave it in nature. In this episode: What deadheading is (and what it isn’t) Where to cut for best results Why deadheading can lead to more blooms Using deadheaded flowers for indoor arrangements How to dry seed heads and save seeds for next year When NOT to deadhead (self-seeding + wildlife) The big “don’t”: deadheading on public/protected land without permission Let us know in the comments: What flowers are you deadheading right now—and are you saving any seeds for next year? Don’t forget to like, subscribe, share, and comment below.