Adam Kirtland, the gardening expert better known as View from the Potting Bench on TikTok, has revealed a simple job that can significantly increase the number of blooms on garden plants. In a recent video, he claimed the task could give "double the flowers" on a favourite plant.
A quick task for more flowers
"The other one will give you double the flowers on your favourite plant," Kirtland said. He explained that the job takes only a couple of minutes but yields more and more flowers.
"This job only takes a couple of minutes but it's gonna give you more and more flowers," he added.
Why deadheading works
The key step is to remove seed heads that have developed on plants. A seed head is the dried or mature part of a flower that remains after the petals fade and fall off, containing and protecting the plant's developing seeds. When a plant produces seeds, less energy is spent on producing blooms.
Kirtland advised snipping off the faded seed head at the base where it meets the stem. "Whether it's your beloved roses or your favourite dahlias, snipping off behind the faded seed head is the best way to get more flowers on plants," he said.
This process can be applied to individual spent blooms while leaving any remaining flowers intact. Gardening Know How explained that deadheading prevents energy from being wasted and diverts it from new seeds toward new blooms.
Removing flower clusters
In addition to removing spent flower heads, gardeners can encourage even more blooms by taking off excess flowers that form clusters. For a cluster of blooms, locate where it ends, trace the stem downwards to the next set of five leaves, and cut just above that cluster. This redirects energy away from flowers and buds that are past their best.
Regular deadheading also lowers the risk of fungal infections developing and killing off blooms prematurely.
RHS advice for roses
The Royal Horticultural Society says deadheading on a regular basis is best practice regardless of the time of year. For hybrid tea roses, the RHS explained: "Gently snap the faded flowers off hybrid tea roses, breaking the stalk just below the head. This method encourages more blooms more quickly compared to cutting with secateurs."
For other roses, the RHS said: "For other roses, snip off individual flowers or clusters of flowers down to just above the next leaf."
