To Deadhead or Not To Deadhead - That is the Question

I have been asked by a few people "What is deadheading?"  

After a plant has finished blooming, it will put it's energy into producing seeds (babies) to ensure its survival.  Making seeds takes a lot of energy.  Deadheading removes the flowers after blooming which encourages the plant to make more flowers.  Therefore deadheading can provide your garden with additional blooms throughout the season.

In addition, once plants are deadheaded there will not be seeds to scatter about your garden which reduces weeding the following season.  However, if you want to have more plants to share with friends or to spread in your garden, leave the flowers alone and let them develop seeds.  Next year you should have additional plants courtesy of Mother Nature.  No need to fight the crowds at the garden centre.  

Caution:  Don't continue deadheading too late into the season (past mid-August) as plants need time to get ready for winter.  Deadheading will encourage them to keep blooming instead of becoming dormant.  When winter comes they may not be acclimatized for the cold and they may not make it through the winter.