What Do You Do With a Dead Marigold Plant?

Marigolds come in many shapes and colors. All varieties are annual plants that die when winter arrives. A dead plant can live on and benefit a compost pile or spawn more plants from its seeds.

Compost It

• Dead plants from your summer vegetable and flower gardens make good additions to a compost pile. Make certain the marigolds you put in your compost do not have any disease: if they do or if you suspect they might, dispose of them at your landfill instead.

Collect and Save Seeds

• If you gather the seeds from spent marigold flowers, they will become next year's plants. Even hybrid varieties will give you more plants, but the flowers might not look exactly like your original plant. Collect seeds before rains cause them to mold or rot. Dry them thoroughly and store them in sealed zipper bags. Plant them in flats shortly before your final spring frost and transplant to the garden when the weather warms up.

Use as Potpourri

• Marigold flowers and plants are aromatic, even when they die. If you collect your dead plants before they begin to deteriorate, you can dry them further in a warm, dark, dry well-ventilated area and later include them in potpourris with other fragrant plant materials.