Tickseed, also known as Coreopsis, is a popular perennial plant that produces beautiful bright yellow flowers. It can grow up to 3 feet tall and spread up to 2 feet wide. Pruning tickseed is an essential maintenance task that helps promote growth and overall health of the plant. In this blog post, we will discuss how to prune tickseed.
When To Prune Tickseed
Pruning tickseed should be done at specific times of the year depending on your location and climate conditions. In general, pruning should be done in early spring or late fall before the first frost sets in.
If you live in a colder climate with freezing temperatures during winter, it’s best to prune your tickseeds after they’ve gone dormant for the season. This means waiting until late fall when all flowering has ceased for the year.
On the other hand, if you live in a milder climate where winters are not too harsh or non-existent altogether (like Florida), then early spring pruning may be more appropriate before new growth begins.
How To Prune Tickseed
1) Cut Back Dead Or Damaged Stems: The first step in pruning tickseeds is removing any dead or damaged stems. These can hinder healthy growth by harboring pests and diseases while also detracting from its appearance.
Using sharp pruners or scissors cut back these stems right above ground level carefully so as not to damage any healthy tissue around them.
2) Shear It Carefully: Once you have removed all dead/damaged branches now it’s time to give it a haircut! Using either shears or electric clippers shear off about one-third of each stem lengthwise down its height.
Be careful when doing this – don’t go too deep into thick parts as this could damage growing points hidden inside stems leading to slower growing plants next season!
3) Pinch Off Spent Flowers: As tickseeds bloom over the summer months, their flowers will naturally fade and die. It’s best to pinch these off as soon as possible to keep the plant looking neat and tidy.
Simply use your fingers or pruning shears to remove any spent flowers down to where they meet the stem. This will encourage new growth and potentially more blooms later in the season.
4) Divide Tickseed Clumps: If you have large clumps of tickseed plants, it may be necessary to divide them every few years for better overall health. This can be done by digging up one side of the clump with a fork or shovel and separating out individual root sections carefully.
Once separated replant these into separate holes (with improved soil where possible), water well afterwards which should lead towards stronger healthy future growth!
Conclusion
In conclusion, pruning tickseeds is an essential task that helps maintain vigor, health, and appearance while also encouraging new growth. By following these simple steps outlined above, you’ll be able to ensure that your tickseeds remain beautiful year after year!
