Is It Too Late to Deadhead Spring Blooms?

It’s not too late to deadhead spring blooms in June! In fact, removing spent flowers now can encourage reblooming, tidy up your garden, and help perennials conserve energy for next season.

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Is It Too Late to Deadhead Spring Blooms?

Introduction

Spring flowers like tulips, daffodils, columbine, and bleeding hearts often put on a show early—but by June, they’re usually fading fast. If your garden is looking a little tired, you might be wondering: Is it too late to deadhead those spring flowers?

The good news? It’s not too late—and in many cases, doing so now will still provide aesthetic and botanical benefits. Here’s what you should know.

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1. What Is Deadheading, and Why Does It Matter?

Deadheading is the process of removing spent or faded flowers from a plant. The goal is to:

• Prevent the plant from putting energy into seed production

• Encourage more blooms (for some perennials and annuals)

• Improve the plant’s appearance

• Reduce self-seeding in unwanted areas

For spring perennials, deadheading can help redirect energy into root and foliage development, setting the stage for a stronger return next year.

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2. Which Spring Flowers Benefit from June Deadheading?

Here are a few common spring bloomers where deadheading in early to mid-June can still be useful:

✂️ Tip: Always snip the flower head just above the first set of full, healthy leaves.

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3. When Is It Too Late?

• For reblooming varieties, deadhead while the plant is still actively growing and green.

• For bulb-based spring flowers, it’s not too late to remove the flower stalk, but leave the foliage until it yellows naturally—this helps recharge the bulb.

• If the plant has already set seed or the foliage has gone dormant, it may be too late for any benefit—but cutting back spent parts still helps with appearance.

🌱 Bonus: Removing seed heads from prolific self-seeders like columbine or allium can help control where they spread in your garden.

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4. Deadheading vs. Cutting Back: Know the Difference

In late spring and early summer, many gardeners also cut back perennials—not just deadhead. Here’s the distinction:

• Deadheading = removing spent flowers only

• Cutting back = trimming back the entire stem or plant (often to rejuvenate foliage or prep for rebloom)

Plants like salvia, nepeta, and yarrow can benefit from a harder cutback after first bloom to encourage lush regrowth and another flush of flowers.

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FAQ

Q: Does deadheading spring bulbs help them bloom better next year?
Yes—removing the flower stalk prevents seed formation and lets the plant focus energy on recharging the bulb for next year’s display.

Q: Can deadheading cause more blooms in spring flowers?
It depends. Columbine, bleeding heart, and some early perennials may rebloom lightly. But most spring bulbs like tulips and daffodils bloom just once per year.

Q: What if I didn’t deadhead and the plant already formed seed heads?
That’s okay. Remove them now to tidy up and reduce future self-seeding. The plant has likely redirected energy already, but cleanup still helps.

Q: Should I remove the leaves from spring bulbs too?
No—leave the foliage until it turns yellow and dies back on its own. That’s how bulbs store energy for next year.

Q: Is deadheading worth it this late in the season?
Yes—especially for appearance and plant health. Even if reblooming isn’t possible, removing spent blooms helps clean up the garden and prevent unwanted spreading.

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Conclusion

It’s not too late to deadhead your spring blooms—in fact, it’s a great time to do it. Whether you’re trying to extend the season, control self-seeding, or just tidy up your garden, a little cleanup now goes a long way. Focus on removing faded blooms, but let healthy foliage stick around, especially for bulbs.

Need help with garden maintenance? We offer seasonal tune-ups, weeding, and bed cleanup so you can enjoy your yard without the work.