Homemaking Tip: Dead-Heading

To me, there is almost nothing more beautiful of God's creations than plant life. As I have learned to flower garden over the past few years, one of the most useful tips I have learned is this: DEAD-HEADING. I know, it sounds scary, but it simply means to remove dead flowers and leaves from your flowering plants. I notice a significant increase in new blossoms after I deadhead and my plants look much more lush and healthy. Try it with your plants if you haven't started and I guarantee you will notice a difference!

The following is a common annual, the petunia, a plant many beginning gardeners start out with. These annuals are easy to dead-head. All you have to do is to pick the flower off with your fingers, like so...




Next, we have a common perinial, the geranium, one of my personal favorites. The stem of this blossom is thicker and a little difficult to pop off with your fingers, so it is best to use a pair of small garden sheers for the job. Just make sure to cut the stem off below the leaf line as shown, or you will have unslightly cut-off stems sticking up out of your plant.




I'll conclude this post with some eye candy. These photos were taken in the garden of a dear friend, (who also happens to have nine kids!). This is what a container gardens can look like with proper care. Enjoy! What gardening tips can you share?