Q: I have planted quite a few phlox plants in my border this year, and they are flowering beautifully. When the blooms fade, is it a good idea to deadhead them? And if so, what's the best approach to take?
A: Phlox is a stunning garden addition with its prolific, sweetly-scented blooms. However, these flowers look unsightly once they've passed their best, turning brown and withered on the plant. Snipping them off, therefore, improves the appearance of your floral display. But, that's not the only benefit of this gardening task.
Deadheading allows the plants to channel their energy into new growth, highlights Autumn Hilliard-Knapp of Perfect Plants Nursery. This means you may get to enjoy a second flush of flowers later on in the season, similarly to deadheading salvias or dahlias. It also prevents them from self-seeding uncontrollably all around your yard.
