How to prune sunflowers

1. Remove the side buds

In order to make the buds at the top of its main branches stronger and better developed, its side buds can be removed. If the flower has a taller stem, you can support it with poles or nets when the wind is strong to prevent it from being blown down.

If it is planted in the field and there are a large number of them, you should remove some of the leaves at the bottom in time to facilitate ventilation and avoid disease infestation during hot seasons.

2. Remove the flower buds

If it is used as cut flowers, the flower buds at the top should be removed to facilitate the growth of its side branches and allow the flowers on the side branches to grow more evenly. If this method is adopted, each flower can produce ten cut flowers, the stem can grow to 70-80cm, and the whole flower can grow to 120-170cm.

Some varieties will grow side buds at the nodes, which must be removed in time, otherwise the nutrients will be dispersed and the growth of the main flowers will be affected.

3. Pinching

If it is planted in a flower bed for viewing, you can pinch its tips so that its branches can grow four or five flowers. If it is a potted plant, it is best to plant only one flower in it.

If you want to control its height, you can spray its leaves with a smaller dose of Bijiu solution 20 days after its buds grow out to control its height. Pinching means cutting off some of the top of the plant according to its variety.

4. Pruning

This way, you can extend the flowering period. If you want to extend the flowering period by one month, you can leave two or three leaves at the end of May, remove the top and sucker buds to help the growth of its side branches, water it with enough fertilizer and water, and loosen the soil. It will then bloom in July or August.

If you want to extend the flowering period to 2 months, you can do a second pinching in mid-June. On the basis of the first pinching, remove three to five centimeters of the newly grown buds, sprinkle liquid fertilizer on it once a week, and it will bloom in August and September.