Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Woman and Home
Should you deadhead Agapanthus? Gardening experts confirm the best course of action
By Emily Smith,
18 hours ago
With autumn around the corner, gardens are already starting to show the change in season and a few maintenance tasks will be needed. One of these is deadheading spent flowers that need it but is your agapanthus one of these?
So you can sort your garden out with peace of mind, we asked horticulture experts whether deadheading will help or hinder your agapanthus.
Should you deadhead Agapanthus?
Whilst you may have already mastered how to deadhead your plants properly , there is the added condition of which plants you should actually be deadheading. Does agapanthus fall under those species that will benefit from the extra help?
"Whether you choose to deadhead Agapanthus largely depends on your gardening goals and aesthetic preferences," says Hannah Rowson, Assistant Manager at J.Parker's . "Deadheading is generally recommended for those who wish to keep their garden looking tidy and to encourage further blooming."
"By removing the faded flowers, you not only improve the appearance of the plant but also prevent it from putting energy into seed production, allowing it to focus on growing healthier foliage and potentially producing more flowers," she adds.
A blue Agapanthus with spent flowers (Image credit: Getty Images)
Jane Dobbs, lead gardener at Allan's Gardeners, says, "It is beneficial to deadhead Agapanthus for several reasons. By deadheading, you get more flowers on the plant. If you cut off faded flowers, the plant can focus on making new flowers instead of producing seeds."
She explains that agapanthus self-seeds and if you don't deadhead the plant then they may spread seeds around your garden, causing new plants to grow in unwanted places.
Person cutting Agapanthus plant in the garden (Image credit: Getty Images)
"By deadheading, you'll control this spread and keep your garden tidy. When you remove the dead flowers, the plant's energy is redirected from seed production back towards its roots and foliage. Ultimately, this will result in stronger and healthier plants with better growth and more robust blooming," she adds.
It's also important to deadhead to minimise the risk of your plant attracting pests and diseases. Jane recommends removing spent blooms to prevent fungal infection and other problems caused by decaying organic matter. You can put the garden waste to good use by making compost at home .
FAQs
How to deadhead Agapanthus
Although deadheading is one of the easy gardening tips everyone should know , you may have never actually deadheaded a plant. The method can also slightly change depending on which species you're catering for too.
Josh Novell, a plant expert and director of Polhill Garden Centre, says, "Deadheading Agapanthus is a fairly straightforward task for all levels of gardeners. Once the flowers start to fade, you need to use a clean pair of garden shears or secateurs to cut the flower stalks down to the base of the plant."
He also explains that it's important to remove any dead or damaged foliage too as this will improve the overall health and appearance of the plant.
"It's best to do this regularly throughout the flowering season to keep the plant looking its best," says Josh.
Spear & Jackson Kew Gardens Woodland Collection Bypass Secateurs: RRP: £22.99 Now £17.90 at Amazon
These secateurs are made with drop-forged carbon steel for strength and feature FSC-certified ash wood handles to make deadheading with precision easy. View Deal
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Comments / 0