Wait until the blooms begin to fade, wilt, or lose petals
Use clean, sharp pruners or scissors
Cut the spent flower stem just above the first set of healthy leaves
Remove only the flower head and stem section below it
Avoid cutting back the leafy stems unless they are damaged or diseased
Deadhead each faded bloom as it declines
Collect and discard the removed flower heads
Keep the plant’s foliage intact to support next year’s blooms