To try and keep a good display in our front garden bed I am conscientiously dead heading plants when the flowers are over. The front bed is only small and so each plant has to work hard to maintain some sort of display. In July the campanula - Pritchard's variety was stunning. Once the flowers had faded I trimmed all the flower spikes back. The plant continued to throw up the occasional flower but now is covered in flower again.
The flower spikes are shorter but no less beautiful for that.
The Aster × frikartii ‘Mönch’ is another good doer and is now in full flower.
The penstemon have had their first flush of flowers and have also been dead headed and are sending up new spikes.
I think the rudbeckia may be struggling from lack of water and so I'd better get the watering can out.
The hardy geraniums were cut back after flowering and have produced new leaves but as yet haven't reflowered.
Dotted about are self sown antirrhinum which I suppose pleads the case for not dead heading.
The verbena too will self seed if left to it's own devices.
There is one plant that is intriguing me. Last year Aster novi-belgii 'Purple Dome' didn't flower at all. There are signs of flower buds again this year but that is as far as it got last year - so will it won't it?
Any ideas what I'm doing wrong?
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It's really filled out now, such a difference from when it was first planted up. The heucheras are a lovely colour.
ReplyDeleteThey're Plum Pudding, Jo and were not really planned it - I started with one plant in the back garden and then ended up with lots after splitting then. The ones I used were growing on on the plot waiting for a home and I thought they would soften the edge of the bed.
DeleteI wish the white and blue bed had performed as well!
Looking really good! I love the heucheras too, I'm a big fan and you're so right about deadheading!
ReplyDeleteI love heucheras too, Anna although I do prefer the maroon/bronze leaved varieties. The bees love them too.
DeleteAbsolutely agree. I put my back out 6 weeks ago and deadheading had to stop. Now, my plants are run to seed and spent instead of bringing lots of colour as we head into Autumn. So sad about this.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the advice on pruning raspberries. Must pluck up courage and go for it!
Go for it Deborah!
DeleteIm in San Francisco and have had a hard time with my vegetable garden as well as some of my flowers growing right.. I don't know whats going on.. but I was so disappointed this year.. I never have had a problem with anything growing my whole life.. It's like some of my plants vegs included are stuck in time... but my veg garden got struck with bugs like a mass of black bugs.. they sucked the life out the leaves..so sad.. Janice
ReplyDeleteHi Janice and welcome. Isn't it odd how plants on other sides of the world are behaving strangely this year
DeleteSorry i have no experience with Aster Sue so I have no idea what is going on with yours, you're spot on with the dead heading though.
ReplyDeleteThis year I made a real effort to deadhead and all my hardy geraniums are on a 2nd flush of flowers as is the Solomons seal and the Heucheras.
I hope that Aster flowers for you soon :)
So do I Linda - it had better get a move on!
DeleteI love that campanula - I always admire it in my friends garden - it looks like it's a good 'doer'
ReplyDeleteIt is a good doer, Elaine - a fantastic plant
DeleteI agree that Pritchards variety is a very fine campanula and that it does respond very well to dead heading. Perhaps I might mention to your readers that many seedsmen offer seed. IT DOES NOT COME TRUE and to propagate it you need to divide it. I had a glych trying to post this, if it appears twice Sue, please delete me!
ReplyDeleteI'd never delete you Roger and you only arrived once anyway. Thanks for the additional info.
DeleteThat campanula is gorgeous. I feel guilty about my lack of deadheading now....
ReplyDeleteNo idea re the Aster though, it looks healthy enough though.xxxx
It looked healthy last year too, Snowbird - just didn't flower!
DeleteLovely post Sue
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda
DeleteLovely, you have a great display there Sue. It is very dry at the moment isn't it. I forget to water when we get to this time of year.
ReplyDeleteSo do I, CJ but I have given the rudbeckias a rest of the front a good soak,
DeleteBeautiful! Very Lush. Dead heading does work doesnt it. Late summer for us often is a time for drought, so I envy you for the beautiful display.
ReplyDeleteWe are very short of rain here too, Sharon
DeleteDoes picking Runner Beans count as dead-heading, do you think? If so, I'm good at it! :)
ReplyDeleteI think that counts as trying to limit the damage after you have forgotten to dead head, Mark. It's a bit like I sometimes have to do with sweet peas. I think real dead heading would equal no beans! :)
DeleteDefinitely worth the effort judging by your lovely photos. I enjoy deadheading my Dahlias; the only flowers I actively don't deadhead are the French Marigolds in the greenhouse as it improves their pungency which keeps the whitefly away!
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