How to Remove Dead Flowers From Tardiva Hydrangeas

It's a spectacular sight when a flower, particularly a hydrangea, is at the height of bloom. All of the time spent nurturing the shrub has finally paid off and the gardener luxuriates in the beauty. Once the flower fades, it's generally snipped off the plant and forgotten. This snipping is commonly known as “deadheading.” After the flowers fade, deadheading the Tardiva hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata “Tardiva”) isn't a necessity, but it does help keep the shrub looking tidy.

Pruning shears
Bucket or tub
Measuring cup
Lysol disinfectant
Rake
Bag

Instructions

- 1
  Wait until the end of the blooming period -- generally during September -- to remove the dead flowers from the Tardiva hydrangea. The white panicles turn pink as they mature and, finally, brown.
- 2
  Sterilize the pruning shears by soaking them for three minutes in a solution of 1/2 cup of Lysol disinfectant and 2 1/2 cups of water. Researchers at Washington State University found that of the common household products they tested -- alcohol, household bleach and Lysol -- the latter is the least corrosive material to use when sterilizing pruning equipment.
- 3
  Cut the stems all the way back into the foliage if you deadhead in early summer. Once August rolls around, take shorter stems to avoid cutting off next season's buds. Cut the stem to just above the next set of leaves.
- 4
  Rake the soil of fallen petals and other deadheading debris. Bag it up and remove it from the garden.

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