How to Get Your Perennials to Bloom Again and Again This Summer

Your beautiful blooms have finally arrived, transforming a winter-weary garden into a vibrant display of color. As beautiful as they are, this Technicolor show can be fleeting. However, some perennials don't have to be enjoyed for a few short weeks. With the right pruning techniques and a little strategic care, many varieties can produce a second flush of flowers, while others can continue blooming throughout the season.

The exact approach depends on the plant, but a few simple maintenance tasks can make a remarkable difference in both the quantity and longevity of summer blooms. We spoke with a few gardening experts to learn how to keep your perennials flowering for as long as possible this season.

Identify Repeat-Blooming Perennials

Before you reach for your pruning shears, make sure the perennials you're tending are genetically designed to rebloom. Not every flower is capable of producing multiple flushes. “Stella de Oro daylilies, for example, rebloom because they are bred to be everblooming, or recurrent,” says David Trinklein, a floriculture specialist and associate professor with the University of Missouri Extension. “Their genetic makeup allows them to produce new flower stalks (scapes) throughout the summer, especially if they are encouraged with proper care.”

Other varieties that are good repeat bloomers include coneflowers, salvia, coreopsis, and catmint.

Deadhead the Flowers

Deadheading, or removing spent blooms, is one of the most reliable ways to encourage repeat cycles. “The key to encouraging perennials capable of reblooming to form a second (or third) flush of blooms is to keep them actively growing,” says Trinklein. In other words, deadheading them.

Here's how it works. After a plant blooms the first time, it naturally begins directing its energy toward seed production, which signals the end of its flowering period. By removing faded flowers before seeds can form, you encourage the plant to put its energy into producing new blooms instead.

To properly deadhead, look for flowers that have lost their petals, begun to droop, or appear dried out. Follow the stem of the spent bloom downward until you reach the first set of healthy leaves or spot a developing bud. Using a clean, sharp pair of pruners, make a cut just above that point. On plants with soft stems, you can remove spent flowers with a simple pinch between your thumb and forefinger.

With the old bloom removed, the plant can produce another flush of color within a few weeks. “Keep in mind rebloomers will not necessarily give you as big a show as the first bloom,” says Peter Brian Morris, horticulturist at Plant Specialists.

Divide the Plant Every Three Years

To keep the plant growing vigorously, Trinklein recommends dividing it every three years to encourage strong growth and reblooming. It's an excellent way to avoid overcrowding and get new blooms for free. To do this, simply dig up the entire plant clump, separate or cut the roots into smaller sections, and replant them immediately.

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Optimize Water and Light Conditions

While deadheading does much of the heavy lifting, consistent plant care is equally important, says Cynthia Domenghini, an instructor and horticulture specialist at Kansas State University. “Keeping up with the water the plant needs also supports blooming,” she says. “If a plant is stressed, it will try to set seed.” 

To avoid this, water at the base of the plant one to two times a week to ensure the soil stays evenly moist. If it's hotter, you can add a few extra waterings. Ensure that your plant is getting several hours of direct sunlight as well.

Fertilize Occasionally

A light application of fertilizer can give an extra boost before a perennial's second round of blooms, Brian Morris says. But less is more. “Too much fertilizer, particularly one high in nitrogen, can encourage lush foliage at the expense of flowers," he adds.

Instead, opt for a balanced, slow-release formula formulated for flowering plants. Products with slightly higher phosphorus levels, indicated by the middle number in the fertilizer ratio, such as 5-10-5 or 10-30-20, are ideal. Apply fertilizer after the first flowering cycle has finished to provide energy reserves for the second flowering period.

Remove Nearby Stressors

If your perennial still isn't reblooming despite your best efforts, an overlooked culprit may be lurking nearby. Weeds can act as stealth competitors, quietly stealing your plant's water, nutrients, and space, and reducing the resources available for a second round of flowers. Keep them in check by regularly hand-pulling unwanted growth and applying a layer of mulch to suppress new growth before it takes hold.

But weeds may not be the only factor. Overcrowded perennials can also limit airflow, reduce light exposure, and suppress bloom production. Perform an assessment in early summer or fall. If the plants are too congested, replant the healthiest sections. With more space to grow and breathe, your repeat bloomers are far more likely to thrive.