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| Is it a good idea to deadhead (remove spent flower clusters) from Crape Myrtles? I just planted a couple this spring--seems like removing flowers would redirect energy into root/stem growth rather than into seed formation--not really worried about appearance at this point.
Thanks! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Deadheading will encourage more blooms. I just planted some this spring, too, and decided not to deadhead, because I didn't want them to rebloom; it would be better for that energy to go to the roots, I thought. However, mine have ALL grown new stems around the old bloomed out ones and are budding again, so yesterday I deadheaded them. If they're that determined to rebloom, it's okay with me, I guess. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Thu, Oct 4, 12 at 21:17
| it was suggested to me.. in regard to hosta.. that by the time the flower is there.. the energy for the seed has already been spent ... the hormones triggering it all ... that said.. i used to cut flowers off various plants the first year completely.. under your logic ... not even waiting for the seeds .... in hindsight.. i doubt it really got me anywhere.. lol ... ken |
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| I never recommend deadheading crapemyrtles. The seed pods add an ornamental feature to the winter garden and fall off as soon as the new growth emerges is the spring. Yes, deadheading just as the flowers fade will probably trigger a second flush of growth, but at sacrifice to the plant's carbohydrate reserves. I'd advise that you not deadhead, which does go against conventional wisdom for annuals and herbacous perennials. That rule just doesn't transfer to woody plants. |
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- Posted by formandfoliage 9b (Sunset zone 15) (My Page) on Fri, Oct 5, 12 at 9:46
| I'm with rhizo! Also, if you let them grow, you'd need a ladder to do it...I never deadhead mine. |
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| Thanks! I really don't need a 2nd round of bloom. They don't reseed like crazy, do they? This is the hybrid 'Dynamite', not a species. I got rid of the Cercis occidentalis in part because they reseeded like mad and I was pulling dozens of seedlings just about daily. |
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- Posted by formandfoliage 9b (Sunset zone 15) (My Page) on Fri, Oct 5, 12 at 21:07
| Nope they do not. A few every now and then. I use drip irrigation which obviously cuts down on easy of seed germination, but even in overhead-irrigated spots I don't think that you need to worry much. Odd - my C. occidentalis have never reseeded. The C. chinensis, however.... |
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| I'm not sure how much rebloom deadheading would cause in crapes (I'm sure probably some, but just don't know the degree). The technique of removing blooms at an early stage before seed-set absolutely can be highly beneficial in rechanneling energy in many woody plants, just ask an orchardist. This is pretty common practice with newly planted fruit trees. I can't really imagine the need for this, though, with crapes, as they are fast growers anyway. You probably wouldn't want them to grow any faster that they already do, because it would likely just result in more floppiness. |
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