Sugar magnolia, a magic musical song, does not exist in the plant world. Someone should create it.
But it’s time to deadhead in the garden to make more flowers and keep your garden looking fresh.
Deadheading means cutting back after flowers have gone by. It encourages plants to flower again. Cut back the stem below the deceased flower just above a leaf axil on the stem. That is, on the stem in the place just above where a leaf or stem for a leaf grows from the main stem. Of course there’s an exception – perennial Geraniums – cut back an inch or two above the ground because they regrow from the roots.
Deadheading causes some plants to flower anew. It doesn’t work for every plant and it doesn’t work for every species or subspecies in each genus– sorry. But you have nothing to loose by trying because it will make your garden tidier in any event.
Here are some perennials that will flower again after you deadhead: Achillea Yarrow, Agastache Hyssop, Aster, Astilbe, Buddleja Butterfly bush, Campanula Bellflower, Coreopsis Tickseed, Digitalis Foxglove, Eryngium Sea holly, Geranium, Kalimeris False aster, Monarda Beebalm, Nepeta Catmint, Phlox, Platycodon Balloon flower, Rudbeckia Brown or Black eyed susan, Salvia Sage, Tradescantia Spiderwort, and Veronica Speedwell.
Get out those pruners and turn up “We can discover the wonders of nature,
Rolling in the rushes down by the riverside.” Cut away for repeat blooms.
