How to Keep Snapdragons Blooming All Summer
Snapdragons are Mediterranean natives best known for their masses of bright, showy blooms. They are truly a gardener`s delight, available in a wide range of colors and heights. They flourish in the sun and are easy to care for, making them the perfect flower for a cheerful summer garden. By occasionally pruning these lovely plants you can keep snapdragons blooming all summer long.
Things You`ll Need
- Pruning shears
- Fertilizer
- Compost
Deadhead snapdragons by cutting the faded blooms off down to the green part of the stem. This will cause the plant to produce a new round of flowers instead of going to seed.
Prune snapdragons back dramatically if blooming does not increase after deadheading. This will encourage new growth and late summer or early fall blooms in your garden.
Add fertilizer and compost to the soil after cutting the plants back. This will add extra nutrients to the soil and keep your snapdragons healthy enough to produce a significant show of blooms later in the season.
Tips & Warnings
- If you would like your snapdragons to self-sow, stop deadheading in late summer so that seeds will be produced before frost kills the plant.
- In warmer climates, adding a heavy layer of mulch will help the plant to survive the winter and bloom again in spring.
- Snapdragons make excellent cut flowers.
- These flowers require at least 1 inch of water every week, so if the weather is dry be sure to water them well.