What practice is crucial for bedding plants to prevent seed formation and promote longer flowering periods?

Deadheading is the practice crucial for bedding plants to prevent seed formation and promote longer flowering periods. When you remove spent flowers before they have a chance to set seed, the plant is encouraged to produce new blooms instead of diverting energy toward seed development. This not only extends the flowering season but also helps maintain the plant's visual appeal and vigor.

Pruning can be useful for shaping plants or removing unhealthy parts, mulching helps with moisture retention and weed control, and transplanting is important for plant health but does not directly impact the flowering duration. In contrast, deadheading specifically targets the flowering process, making it the most effective technique for maintaining continuous blooms in bedding plants.