Examine your plant’s blossoms daily for any signs of fading, discoloration or shriveling. Some flowers, such as petunias and morning glories, close quickly and must be deadheaded daily, while others, such as zinnia, may bloom for a week or more.
Hold the faded bloom between your thumb and forefinger and squeeze gently to remove the flower head from the stem. Large sturdy plants may require the use of garden shears, but most flowers can be deadheaded easily by hand.
Discard spent flowers. If flowers have already set seed, reserve the seed for future planting or sprinkle them on the soil around the base of the plant to encourage the new plants.