Hi Verdun, I was puzzled because whilst the heads bloomed beautifully the stalks and branches remained bone dry and brittle and snapped like kindling, even though they supported these wonderful lush blooms. I couldn't understand why the heads bloomed from such dead branches. I expect the bare bush to be dry in winter and then to regenerate itself and then bloom, but I didn't expect the branches to remain dry and brittle even as it bloomed. The branches of the bushes wilt and bend trying to support the heavy heads and I often have to tie them back to a support post or trim the heads off to keep the bushes upright.
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Hi Verdun, I was puzzled because whilst the heads bloomed beautifully the stalks and branches remained bone dry and brittle and snapped like kindling, even though they supported these wonderful lush blooms. I couldn't understand why the heads bloomed from such dead branches. I expect the bare bush to be dry in winter and then to regenerate itself and then bloom, but I didn't expect the branches to remain dry and brittle even as it bloomed. The branches of the bushes wilt and bend trying to support the heavy heads and I often have to tie them back to a support post or trim the heads off to keep the bushes upright.
Can I remove last years old flower heads now
I did mine yesterday Orchid5, and cut back to the first pair of new buds. Its on the "What to do now" page here on the website.
I wont be doing mine until mid May at least, if there is a frost it will nip the top buds.
Up to you of course, we all do it differently.