I suppose a lot of people think it only necessary to cut off the dead heads of flowers like those on perennials or annuals, but keep an eye on flowering shrubs too. I planted a couple of buddleias in my garden last year and have noticed that they produce a large flower at the end of a branch but, below that on side-shoots, two more are coming along. So, as the first flowers are dying off, I have cut them off (dead-headed them) to encourage the flowers on the side shoots to develop and prolong flowering.
 |
Buddleia flower ready to be dead-headed - you can see
flowers developing on side shoots. |
 |
| Buddleia with first flower removed allowing side shoot flowers to develop |
