Snapdragons originally hail from the sunny Mediterranean, and because they’ve been a garden favorite for centuries, we’ve learned a lot about how to keep them happy. When it comes to pruning, there are a few simple tricks to keep these beauties blooming all season long.
Deadheading for More Blooms
During the blooming season, your best friend is “deadheading.” You’ll want to pinch off faded flowers as soon as they start to wither. If you leave them on, the plant shifts its energy away from making new flowers and starts focusing on producing seeds instead. By keeping things tidy, you’re basically telling the plant to keep the flower show going!
Skip the Fall Cleanup
In the gardening world, we usually reach for our shears in the spring and fall. However, when it comes to snapdragons, put the scissors away once autumn hits. If you leave them alone, they might surprise you with fresh blooms as late as December! Even after the first frost, leave the stalks standing. Snapdragons are actually hardy enough to survive winter in many areas. Just give the roots a cozy “blanket” of mulch to protect them. You can use:
- Fallen leaves
- Evergreen branches
- Straw
- Bark mulch
The Big Spring Cut
By the time spring rolls around, the roots have finished pulling all the stored energy from last year’s stalks. This is the perfect time to give your snapdragons a fresh start. Around March or April, cut the old growth back to about one or two hand-widths above the ground. This clears the way for a lush, healthy new plant to emerge.
Cutting Flowers for the Vase
Of course, the best reason to cut snapdragons is to bring them inside! For the longest-lasting bouquet, look for stems where the bottom three or four flowers are already open. This ensures the top buds have plenty of energy to bloom once they’re in the vase. Pro tip: Snip your flowers in the early morning before they’ve fully opened for the day—they’ll stay fresh much longer!
