While you don’t *strictly* have to prune your African Daisies (Osteospermum), a little strategic trimming goes a long way in boosting their growth and flower power. If you want to keep these beauties looking their best, here’s the lowdown on when to grab your shears and how to keep the blooms coming all season long.
Deadheading: The Secret to More Blooms
African Daisies really hit their stride in the heat of the summer. Their vibrant colors are a total showstopper, and you might notice them perking up right before a summer thunderstorm. The best part? They’re pretty low-maintenance, whether you’ve got them in your garden beds or growing in balcony containers. However, there’s one simple trick that makes a huge difference: deadheading.
By snipping off faded flowers, you’re telling the plant to stop wasting energy on producing seeds. Instead, the plant redirects that power back into itself, often rewarding you with a second flush of flowers. It usually takes a few weeks for the new buds to appear, but it’s well worth the wait for that late-summer color. Essentially, a quick trim is the best way to extend the blooming season of your African Daisies.
Your Pruning Toolkit:
- Use garden shears, bypass pruners, or even a sharp pair of household scissors.
- Make sure your tools are clean and disinfected before you start to keep the plants healthy.
Fall and Spring Pruning Tips
As autumn rolls around, it’s time for another haircut. Remove any lingering spent blooms and cut the entire plant back by about two-thirds. This prepares them for their winter nap. Keep in mind that African Daisies aren’t frost-hardy, so you’ll need to move them to a protected winter spot indoors or in a greenhouse.
Once the weather warms up in the spring, you can start reintroducing your plants to the fresh air and sunshine—just be sure to do it gradually so they don’t get “sunburned.” Since African Daisies can actually grow a bit leggy over the winter, you’ll want to prune them again in the spring. Cut them back to about hand-height; this encourages fresh, bushy new growth.
Pro tip: If you want to grow even more flowers, spring and summer are the perfect times to take cuttings for propagation. Just make sure your cuttings are at least four inches (ten centimeters) long for the best results!
