tom&barbara wrote:
Hi folks,

Just me with yet another gardening question. I am learning loads by
posting and reading all the threads on this site and I swear that
being on here is a far quicker way of learning than it is reading any
books!

Anyway onto my next query...

I have always dead headed my roses and not really sure if there is a
point to doing this or even if I am supposed to do it. My partner
told me a few years ago that you were supposed to do it, so I have
continued religiously ever since. Yesterday he denied ever telling
me to do it and now I am left wondering if I imagined it, or if he is
going prematurely senile!

Anyhow the point to this thread is that I was wondering if I should
continue doing it and if it has any benefits etc? Can anybody please
share any info?

Many thanks
Gail

It's all to do with hormones!

If you leave the dead head hormone flow from the flowered shoot continues,
the plant thinks it has done its job and stops flowering.

Cut off the dead head (preferably with a good length of shoot) and the plant
thinks, "bugger, I've not flowered yet!" so sends out another flowering
shoot.