Results of a flower experiment

[Silentrunning]

My wife is always buying potted flowers which require a lot of care. These mums are two plants that had bloomed and had lots of spent flowers. I wanted to see if I could hedge prune these things instead of dead heading just the flowers. Both plants were the same size and health. The plant on the left was hedge pruned in about 1 minute. The tree on the right was carefully deadheaded one flower at a time taking 45 minutes. I guess the results speak for themselves.

 

[Sheal]

I think you've proved that all plants can't be treated the same way. Have you kept the hedge pruned plant to see how it recovers Silentrunning?

 

[Silentrunning]

I think you've proved that all plants can't be treated the same way. Have you kept the hedge pruned plant to see how it recovers Silentrunning?

Yes I have. I am seeing some new leaves forming at the base so I will put it away for the winter when it gets cold enough. The other one will be full of flowers in a few weeks.

 

[DirtMechanic]

Since the machine removed more material, do you think it necessarily true that "haircut" will come back even bushier but over a longer period?

 

[Sheal]

A good point DM.

 

[Silentrunning]

Since the machine removed more material, do you think it necessarily true that "haircut" will come back even bushier but over a longer period?

I really don’t know but I will be monitoring them. I have no idea if winter weather will affect one more than the other either.