Q: I am growing some penstemon plants (also known as beardtongue) in my backyard and they are blooming beautifully. However, some of the flowers have now passed their prime and are brown and wilted. Should I cut them back?
A: Penstemons bring color and height to borders with their vibrant flower spikes, which inevitably fade over time, as you've seen. Rather than leaving these spent blooms, which can spoil the look of your garden display, you can snip them off – a process known as deadheading. This isn't just beneficial in terms of aesthetics; there are other plus points to this simple task, too.
