LifestyleGardeningA gardener said many people are deadheading their flowers incorrectly - and the simple mistake could be stopping their plants from producing repeat blooms throughout the summer08:55, 13 Jul 2026A gardening expert has issued an urgent message about deadheading their flowers incorrectly - and said this simple error could be preventing their plants from producing repeat blooms throughout the summer months. The expert suggests many amateur gardeners are inadvertently limiting their flowers by deadheading them improperly - which means some plants might only deliver a spectacular display once annually instead of generating repeat blooms.‌He explains the most common mistake people make is merely pulling away the wilted petals rather than removing the complete spent flower head. On TikTok, gardener Michael Griffiths, who posts as @themichaelgriffiths, said: "You've been deadheading wrong - here's the mistake almost everyone makes. Pulling the dead petals off isn't deadheading, and it won't give you more flowers.‌"The bit that matters is behind the flower. That little swelling is where the seed forms. Leave it there and the plant keeps feeding the seed instead of making new blooms.‌"Snip off the whole flower head, back to just above a leaf or bud. That's what keeps the flowers coming."The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) agrees that timing is important, advising gardeners to remove spent flowers as soon as they start to look untidy.‌Content cannot be displayed without consent"Fast-flowering bedding plants may need deadheading every day, while many herbaceous perennials only need attention once a week or every couple of weeks," it states.The RHS also stresses that gardeners shouldn't worry if they can't keep up with deadheading constantly, as a delay of a few days - or even a week - is unlikely to make a significant difference to flowering performance.Article continues belowPlants you can usually leave alonePlants grown for bird-friendly seeds, such as rudbeckias, cornflowers and sunflowersPlants that produce attractive hips or berries, including many roses, viburnums and amelanchiersPlants with ornamental seedheads, such as love-in-a-mist (Nigella), honesty (Lunaria annua) and Chinese lantern (Physalis alkekengi)Plants that flower so heavily that deadheading is impractical, including Deutzia, Spiraea, many asters, alyssum and trailing campanulaTrees and vigorous climbers that are difficult to reach safely, such as Clematis montana and climbing hydrangeaAny plants you want to self-seed naturally or collect seed from for future sowingThere are many benefits to keeping your garden in top condition. Firstly, gardening is a powerful wellness practice that boosts both physical and mental health.Regular time in your outdoor space burns calories, increases vitamin D intake through sunlight, and lowers cortisol to relieve stress. It can even preserve cognitive function and promote longevity.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Royal Horticultural SocietyGardening