Being a complete novice to gardening Ive just planted some winter
pansies. Trouble is a neighbour has told me I need to dead head them.
Now I seem to remember my late wife doing this but how?. Do yo simply
pull off the dead petals leaving the bud underneath,or do you cut the
stem beneath the dead flower?. Thanks in advance for any replies.
Dave

"Dave" wrote in message
...
Being a complete novice to gardening Ive just planted some winter
pansies. Trouble is a neighbour has told me I need to dead head
them.
Now I seem to remember my late wife doing this but how?. Do yo
simply
pull off the dead petals leaving the bud underneath,or do you cut
the
stem beneath the dead flower?. Thanks in advance for any replies.
Dave

Easiest is to nip the complete flower off with thumb and forefinger.
You want to remove the whole flower head including the seed pod or the
plant will start making seed instead of new flowers.

See also:
http://www.windowbox.com/cgi-bin/exp...asp?TopicID=&A
rticleID=233
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/htbg/..._deadheading1.
shtml

Jenny

"Dave" wrote in message
...
Being a complete novice to gardening Ive just planted some winter
pansies. Trouble is a neighbour has told me I need to dead head
them.
Now I seem to remember my late wife doing this but how?. Do yo
simply
pull off the dead petals leaving the bud underneath,or do you cut
the
stem beneath the dead flower?. Thanks in advance for any replies.
Dave

Easiest is to nip the complete flower off with thumb and forefinger.
You want to remove the whole flower head including the seed pod or the
plant will start making seed instead of new flowers.

See also:
http://www.windowbox.com/cgi-bin/exp...asp?TopicID=&A
rticleID=233
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/htbg/..._deadheading1.
shtml

Jenny

Cut off the stem as well Dave

"Dave" wrote in message
...
Being a complete novice to gardening Ive just planted some winter
pansies. Trouble is a neighbour has told me I need to dead head them.
Now I seem to remember my late wife doing this but how?. Do yo simply
pull off the dead petals leaving the bud underneath,or do you cut the
stem beneath the dead flower?. Thanks in advance for any replies.
Dave

On Sat, 4 Oct 2003 07:14:48 +0100, "Lyndon Thomas"
wrote:

Cut off the stem as well Dave

But leave a few of the thicker ones on - these provide excellent
habitats for overwintering insects, such as ladybirds etc.

Regards,



--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
www.shwoodwind.co.uk
Emails to: showard{whoisat}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk

On Sat, 4 Oct 2003 07:14:48 +0100, "Lyndon Thomas"
wrote:

Cut off the stem as well Dave

But leave a few of the thicker ones on - these provide excellent
habitats for overwintering insects, such as ladybirds etc.

Regards,



--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
www.shwoodwind.co.uk
Emails to: showard{whoisat}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk