***This article was written by Angela Mason Foster, Beaufort County Master Gardener***

It’s mid-summer in Eastern North Carolina, and your zinnias are tall, your salvias are buzzing with bees, and marigolds still hold their own along the garden border. But now, you notice spent blooms hanging limp on their stems, or maybe the plants are getting leggy, sprawling out instead of standing tall.

Don’t despair. This is the perfect time to get hands-on with two simple techniques that can rejuvenate your garden and extend the season of color: deadheading and pinching back.

These low-tech methods may sound harsh, but they’re some of the most effective tools a gardener can use to keep plants blooming longer, healthier, and more vibrantly—without any fertilizer or fancy products.

What Is Deadheading?

Deadheading is the practice of removing faded or dead flowers from your plants. It not only tidies up the appearance of your garden but also redirects the plant’s energy from seed production back into blooming.

Many annuals, including zinnias, marigolds, cosmos, petunias, and geraniums, benefit greatly from regular deadheading. If you leave the old flowers in place, the plant thinks its job is done—seeds have formed, so it stops producing new buds.

Removing those spent blooms sends a signal to the plant: “Keep going, there’s more growing to do!”

How to Deadhead Properly

Deadheading is easy to do by hand, but here are a few helpful tips:

• Locate the faded bloom and follow the stem down to the first set of healthy leaves or a new bud.
• Snip or pinch just above that node using garden shears, scissors, or even your fingers.
• For bushier plants, like marigolds or blanket flowers, you may be removing a few inches of stem.
• Make clean cuts to avoid tearing or damaging the plant.

Deadheading is best done early in the day when plants are hydrated, and you can combine it with your regular morning garden stroll.

What Is Pinching Back?

Pinching back is a technique used to encourage branching and bushier growth, particularly in young or fast-growing plants.

Instead of waiting for a flower to fade, you remove the tip of a growing stem, which redirects energy to the side shoots. This results in a fuller plant with more blooming stems later on.

Great candidates for pinching back include:

• Zinnias: Prevents tall, top-heavy growth
• Salvia: Encourages side branching for fuller form
• Coleus and basil: Promotes lush foliage and discourages early flowering
• Snapdragons: Stimulates a second wave of blooms

Pinching should be done when the plant has at least 6 inches of growth and several sets of leaves. Use your fingers or clean snips to remove the top inch of new growth, just above a leaf node.

Timing Matters

In our hot, humid Zone 8a summers, timing is important. Pinching back should be done early in the growing season—typically June for summer bloomers—so plants have time to recover and rebloom. You can also pinch certain annuals again in midsummer if they’re growing too tall or spindly.

Deadheading, on the other hand, can be done throughout the summer and into early fall, especially for plants like cosmos and black-eyed Susans that keep blooming if cared for.

Don’t worry about getting it perfect. Most plants are surprisingly forgiving, and regular light grooming encourages them to produce continuously.

Make It a Habit

Deadheading and pinching back are therapeutic tasks that connect you with your plants. They’re easy to do in short bursts—while you’re watering, inspecting for pests, or just enjoying your garden in the early morning or evening.

Here are a few tips to make it part of your routine:

• Keep snips or scissors in a weatherproof box near the garden.
• Use a small bucket or basket to collect trimmings.
• Pair it with another garden chore, like watering or harvesting herbs.
• Observe how different plants respond—some may surprise you with how quickly they rebound.

A Few Notes of Caution

Not all plants should be deadheaded or pinched. For example:

• Impatiens, vinca, and begonias are “self-cleaning” and don’t need deadheading.
• Plants grown for their seed heads, like coneflowers or sunflowers, may be better left untouched if you’re feeding birds or want self-seeding next year.
• Some perennials, like coreopsis or daylilies, benefit from cutting back larger portions rather than individual blooms.

Do a little research before snipping, especially if you’re growing for wildlife or seed saving.

Suggested Reading List

1. The Flower Gardener’s Bible by Lewis and Nancy Hill
   A comprehensive guide to growing, maintaining, and reviving flowering plants throughout the season.
2. Cut Flower Garden by Erin Benzakein
   Great tips for pruning, deadheading, and extending the bloom season, especially for flower growers.
3. The Well-Tended Perennial Garden by Tracy DiSabato-Aust
   Excellent resource for understanding when and how to cut back both annuals and perennials for repeat blooms.

Final Thoughts

In the world of gardening, sometimes the smallest interventions make the biggest difference. Deadheading and pinching back may seem like simple chores, but they are powerful tools to help you extend the life and beauty of your summer garden.

When you take a moment to remove the spent blooms and guide the growth, you’re not just shaping the plant—you’re shaping the future color and health of your landscape.

So grab your garden scissors, step into the shade, and enjoy the gentle rhythm of giving your plants a little midseason encouragement. Your zinnias—and your local pollinators—will thank you.

If you have questions about your home garden or landscape, reach out to Gene Fox, Consumer Horticulture Agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. Email Gene at gene_fox@ncsu.edu or call (252) 946-0111. Master Gardeners are available on the Greenline Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to assist with your horticultural needs. Don’t forget to check out the Beaufort County Master Gardeners Facebook page for additional resources.