What Does It Mean to Pinch Out Old Blooms?

Pinching vs. Deadheading

• The terms "pinching" and "deadheading" are often used interchangeably. However, pinching can mean two different things in horticultural circles. As an action, pinching refers to removal of plant material by pressing the forefinger and thumb together to break a plant stem. This type of pinching often refers to removal of 1 or 2 inches of nonflowering material from growing plant tips, and it encourages bushier growth. Pinching out old blooms refers to removal of spent flowers only. This removal of spent blossoms is also called deadheading. As the name implies, deadheading means removal of dead flower heads, which can mean single flowers or whole flower stalks.

Annuals

• Annuals, propagated by seed, grow for one season and then die. The short life of annual flowers requires abundant seed production to ensure survival of the species. Seed production begins with the flowers, where sexual reproduction takes place. Removal of declining blossoms prevents seed development, which encourages annuals to produce more flowers in an effort to produce seeds. Pinch out flowers as soon as they begin to wilt or change colors, which indicates the flowers are spent and seed development has begun.

Perennials

• Perennial propagation takes place by different means, depending on the type of plant. Beside seed production, perennials can also multiply by root division, and separation of rhizomes, tubers or bulbs. Although seed production is not the only method of perennial plant self-perpetuation, seed development reduces flowering. Pinch out old blossoms to keep your perennials blooming. Maintaining a tidy appearance is another reason to pinch off old blooms. Some perennials produce multiple flowers on one stem, and have flowers that bloom successively. These include daylilies (Hermerocallis), which grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 10, and irises (Iris spp.), growing in USDA zones 3 through 9. Plants with successive blooms look better when spent flowers are pinched off.

Considerations

• You don't always want to pinch out old blooms. Certain types of flowering plants freely self-sow in the garden, which can be a desirable characteristic. Allow flowers of self-seeding plants to remain on the stem and develop seed. Other flowers produce seeds that are a food source for birds. Coneflowers (Echinacea spp.), hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8, and black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia spp.), hardy in USDA zones 2 through 11 -- are among these perennials. Another group of flowers that should not have blooms pinched out are those that develop attractive seed pods, such as false indigo (Baptisis australis), hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9.