What: Removing spent blooms where they meet the stem.

When: Wait til they are dead or have been dying– Petals dried or drying, wilting. From spring to late fall. The flesh just underneath has yellowed or browned.

Why: If you don’t, the plant will convince itself its days of production are ending. You can have blooms through Thanksgiving. Or you can have a dead plant. Your call.

Where: On your garden’s edge of lullaby. Long before the stem browns toward the earth to slowly ease the plant to sleep.

How: Always remove just the head.

Note: If you’re learning the art, and pull one section of a starter marigold up from the rest, try replanting that piece elsewhere, for a bonus surprise plant.

Results of all above efforts: New buds appear after a couple good rains or a couple nights, whichever comes first.