If you want to grow bushier flower plants with more flowers, then remove the first flower bud or couple of buds and spent blooms. This works well for flowers that tend to grow long and lanky such as zinnias and chrysanthemums.
Removing the first flower bud before the plant blooms will encourage side branches to develop at the leaf intersections; therefore, increasing the bushiness of the plant. In addition, each new side branch will produce more flowers.

Deadheading
Also deadhead or remove spent flowers to encourage more flowers and a bushier plant. Deadheading will prolong the amount of time that your flower plants bloom. Deadheading chrysanthemums will provide you with another round or two of blooms. Deadheading roses will ensure that you have continual rose blossoms from late March to the frost.
47 Responses
I pinch instead of using scissors to deadhead. which is best?
Thank you for the useful information. I knew about dead heading but didn’t know to remove the first flower bud to encourage more growth!
You can use either one. If the bud is very close to the leaf I pinch, if there is more of a stem I use scissors because I find them easier and I don’t risk pulling the plant.
Are there any flower varieties that shouldn’t be pinched off?
I did not know this, thank you! Zinnias are so pretty.
I live in a apartment do not have plants
Thanks for this reminder. I sometimes forget to do this.
great info I didn;tknow about pinching off the first blossom
I have used the deheading method.It works well.
Thank you for sharing this, I will keep in mind this year!
Gardening is almost like an art. You can’t just leave your plants be, you have to give them proper care and dedication!
We love plants here. Thanks.
I knew about deadheading, but did not know about removing the first bud. Good to know.
Thank you for these tips
Thank you for another great article. We do snip the flowers too. Didn’t know it was called that.
Do these techniques help with propagation?
I love flowers but I am not very good at growing them. Maybe the fact that I didn’t know about this and haven’t been doing it have something to do with it! Now I know!
I knew about deadheading, but did not know about removing the first bud. Good stuff, thank you.
you have to separate roots before planting
i am an official member of the deadhead society
Do you pinch off the first bud more than twice?
All excellent info. I was aware of the dead heading but not the flower removal
deadhead
Deadheading I think these r beautiful flowers n picture above wish i could grow them
I will have to give this a try.
So awesome! I’m really looking forward to growing my first herbs/flowers this year!
Thanks for the good advice!
Thank you so much for the amazing advice
This is great info, thanks. Going to try this. I deadhead dead buds bloms.
Wow I didn’t know this! We have a miniature rose bush on each side of our garage in front and I would love for them to bloom longer with more blooms I’m going to deadhead them to get more this year!
I’m new to this. Very helpful information/tips
thanks for the info very helpful
No to old to learn something new. Thanks for the great info it’s wonderful
I remember doing this with my pap when I was a little girl. Thanks for sharing!
I did not know about removing the first bud. Thanks for that tip!
Really great information. Perfect timing to try this tip!
I do regularly deadhead my flowers, your information is precise and helpful to growing more beautiful flowers
Some great tips I will certainly be putting to use!
good info
I wish I had seen this when my hydrangeas were not blooming.
These tips will be so helpful!
thank you for the helpful tips
Thanks for this.
I CAN USE THIS INFORMATION SINCE MY PLANTS ARE STARTING TO BLOOM
I am going to try this with my flowers.
Great advice! I do the same on my tomato plants by cutting of the suckers, and I get a lot more fruit!
Thanks for the great information. I will be trying this very soon!