Deadheading flowers
Question
Is it permissible to deadhead flowers for aesthetic purposes only? not to promote new growth, just because the dead flowers look ugly.
Answer
Rabbi Moshe Bloom
We've been getting lots of questions on deadheading; that is, removing dead flowers in the garden. Deadheading is a delicate issue because it directly promotes growth. If is perfectly fine to pick flowers when they are alive and put them in a vase on your table. If you want to remove the dead flowers only because they are ugly, and you don't care if new flowers will grow, it will be permissible - with a shinuy: different manner, change instrument, etc.. However, if you ALSO want new flowers to grow, it is forbidden to deadhead any type of flower.