If the blooms were healthy, if the plant blooms well every year, and if you don't mind the look of the plant with the wilted blooms, then there is no reason to remove them.

However, if the blooms were infected with petal blight, if the plant only has a good bud set every other year, or you don't like the look of the plant with the spent flowers on it, then remove them.

Removing old blossoms before they form seed pods is called deadheading. On some varieties it makes a difference, on some it doesn't matter at all. On most varieties, it will only make a small difference if any. Most gardeners would like to deadhead but few actually do.

If you are getting petal blight, then deadheading is very important. All spent flowers should be destroyed. The best way is to toss them in the trash.

Petal blight is a disease that hits some rhododendrons and azaleas that bloom later in the spring. It causes the flower to turn mushy before it naturally wilts. If you look closely it forms unsightly brown spots on the flowers.

Excellent info Rhodyman! That will come in handy for me!