Blackeyed Susan pruning tip

by Cathy
(Egg Harbor Twp., NJ)

How do I remove flowers that have died to encourage new flowers to bloom? I'm not sure where on the plant I should remove the old flower. The exact type of flower I have is the Goldsturm Rudbeckia.

Doug says that you cut back the stem of the plant (with the dead flower on it) as far down the stem as you can reach with your shears to where it emerges from the plant. That's the "neatest" way - not leave any unsightly stem.

Removing the flowers before they go to seed is the critical thing to prolong bloomtime