How to Deadhead a Daisy

The name "daisy" encompasses a broad range of flowering plants that includes both perennials and annuals. There are more than 20,000 daisy varieties, including Shasta, African and chrysanthemums. Most daisies have petals radiating out from a large center eye. Others have multiple petals and no visible center eye. Daisies typically have a long flowering period that last for the entire summer, or at least several weeks. Deadheading, or removing old flowers, helps encourage the plants to produce even more flowers.

Shears

Instructions

- 1
  Check the plants one to two times a week for dead or wilting blossoms. Most daisy varieties flower continuously over several months, so the flowers peak and decline at different times.
- 2
  Follow the stem of the wilted flower down to its base, where it emerges from the basal, or bottom, leaves.
- 3
  Cut through the stem ¼ inch above the basal leaf cluster, using a clean pair of shears. Leaving behind longer stems doesn't improve the health of the daisy, and the dead stems are unattractive if left on the plant.
- 4
  Deadhead the plants through the blooming period. Cut back the entire plant to the ground in fall after frost causes the whole plant to wilt.

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