Carefully remove the plant from its tray or pot and place in position. Shearing, which removes all the fading blooms as well as one-third to one-half the foliage during the growing season is a practice that keeps dianthus species blooming and producing healthy foliage. This sterilizes the tool to avoid transferring any fungus or disease from other plants. Cutting into the woody stems this variety develops can kill the plant, though blooms can be deadheaded to the nearest side bud to extend bloom. 1. Of the handful spice-scented beauties commonly seen in gardens, most are perennial -- or at least overwinter to bloom one more time -- in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3, 4 or 5 -- depending on the cultivar -- to zone 9. Growth height: depending on the kind between 20 centimetres and 70 centimetres 6. Keep young plants watered well during dry periods. Pinks, or Dianthus plumarius, are more subtle in form than their close relation, the carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus), with finely divided foliage and smaller, highly-fragrant flowers in shades of pink and white.. Rake away cuttings with a gentle leaf rake and dispose of them in the compost pile. These come in one glorious June flush. Sepals o… Drive the stake into the ground at planting time or when the plant is small, as waiting until the plant is large may damage the roots. Straggly plants should be pinched back after flowering. Cutting back, cutting a plant close to the ground, rejuvenates several dianthus species. The Dianthus genus includes annuals, biennials and perennials that are commonly known as Carnations, Pinks or Sweet Williams. Sweet William, which grows in clusters 10 to 18 inches tall, and maiden pinks (D. deltoides), a matt-forming species that grows 6 to 10 inches tall, should each be cut down by one-half after bloom, but before seed sets to keep them coming back. Only do this every three years. Dianthus Plants produce richly fragrant flowers in the spring or summer, sometimes extending right up until the first frost! We use cookies to make your experience better. If the plants start to look scruffy, shear off the top one-third of leafy growth and spent flower stems to rejuvenate. Plant family: carnation family (Caryophyllaceae) 2. OUR GUARANTEE 30 Day Replacement or Refund. Black Friday: 15% Off Sitewide with Code BFD15 - Shop Now >>. They are also highly scented and are often chosen to be grown in a rock garden, or as an integral part of the planting in a cottage garden. By Gardening Direct. Pinch off flowers once they are full-blown and have begun to wilt as this encourages the growth of new flowers. Cutting back, cutting a plant close to the ground, rejuvenates several dianthus species. From bright pink, white, red or bi-color cottage pinks (Dianthus plumarius) or sweet William (D. barbatus) to tall carnations (D. caryophyllus) in a range of pastel hues, there are more than 300 species of dianthus to choose from. Dianthus can be relied upon to provide a flash of summer colour. Dianthus are not difficult to grow. Most varieties maintain a carpet of bloom when flowers are removed -- called deadheading -- before they turn brown and go to seed. Dianthus, including pinks and carnations, are certainly not all pink in colour – they can shade from pure white to the deepest of reds. Reed was editor of the "Grand Ledge Independent" weekly newspaper and a Capitol Hill reporter for the national newsletter "Corporate & Foundation Grants Alert." Dianthus typically don't like wet soils, so don't drown them. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Shear away old pink blooms, flower stems and one-third of the blue-green foliage of 12-inch "Bath's Pinks" (D. gratianoplitanus "Bath's Pinks") and the flower stems of bright pink, 2- to 4-inch "Tiny Rubies" (D. gratianoplitanus "Tiny Rubies") down to its basal foliage after the plants bloom. Allow some blooms to go to seed, particularly when growing short-lived perennials or biennials, like maiden pinks or sweet William, to get new, volunteer plants in their places. There are now over three hundred varieties. Use sharp pruning shears or scissors to cut off, or deadhead, wilting and dead blooms. Cut the stems down to 1 to 2 inches above the ground after flowers fade. This prevents the plant from diverting energy into creating a seedpod at the flower base instead of spending energy to create new flowers. This encourages new flowering stem growth. Colour: white, pink, red, magenta, neon yellow, champagne, purple and two-coloured 8. Grow on plants under cover until they reach 8 to 10 cm in height at which point they’re ready to plant out. Clean the blades of your pruning shears with a rag dipped in rubbing alcohol. Dig an individual hole for each plant, the hole should be deep enough to cover the roots but not any of the exposed stem. Gently firm into the ground, and water in. Cut the matted growth away at the base of the brown stems with garden shears. Install a wooden or bamboo stake for tall dianthus varieties. We treat your personal data with care, view our privacy notice here. Using drip irrigation or soaker hoses, instead of overhead watering, also may help prevent some fungal leaf diseases. Originally, they were brought to Britain in the 11th century by Norman monks – with the number of varieties expanding ever since then. Top-dress the plants with organic compost or water-soluble, balanced fertilizer. Examine tall border carnations (D. caryophyllus) in late summer for woody stems at the base when they are not flowering as well as in previous seasons. Type: carnations 3. Fill the container back in with soil and gently firm down. Registered Office: 1st Floor Nelson House, David Place, St Helier, Jersey, JE2 4TD, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Herbaceous, persistent, cushion-forming annual or biennial plant 5. Origin: temperate northern hemisphere 4. Lift up the matted, outer evergreen growth of your old-fashioned cottage pinks (D. plumarius) in early spring before new growth begins. Blossom period: depending on the kind from May to August 7. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. To comply with the new e-Privacy directive, we need to ask for your consent to set the cookies. Patricia Hamilton Reed has written professionally since 1987. Take advantage of our Black Friday sale and enjoy up to 15% Off sitewide - Offer Ends Midnight Monday 30th November. Some types bloom again later in the season. Learn more. They are short-lived, sun-loving perennials and most only stay in the peak of perfection for three years or so before declining. For container planting, fill a container up to three-quarters full with multi purpose compost. The dianthus commonly sold in garden centers as a cool-season annual (D. chinesis) does not require deadheading or cutting back to rebloom. Pinch off flowers once they are full-blown and have begun to wilt as this encourages the growth of new flowers. Aerate soil gently with a garden fork in areas where it is exposed. To keep the flowers in good condition, stake out taller varieties of Dianthus in order to avoid damage to the plants and their flowers. Use a mulch of gritty compost around the plants to give them a boost when the flowers begin to come through, and mix in a small amount of general fertiliser. 1 Clean the blades of your pruning shears with a rag dipped in rubbing alcohol. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Water in generously. Cutting back spurs the plants into action and they need energy to produce a new round of foliage and flowers. To comply with the new e-Privacy directive, we need to ask for your consent to set the cookies. To keep the flowers in good condition, stake out taller varieties of Dianthus in order to avoid damage to the plants and their flowers. If the leaves begin to yellow this may be due to over-watering, so ease off your watering regime and check for improvement. For autumn bedding – ensuring a display in the spring – plant out your plug plants from mid to late September, depending on the size of the plants acquired. Since dianthus blooms cap long stems, remove spent blooms by cutting off the entire stem close to the plant base. Start receiving our latest offers and gardening tips direct to your inbox, Copyright Gardening Direct. To produce more flowers, divide your plants when the growing season ends – lift out the plants, divide out new clumps and replant. Do not cut back the Allwood pink (D. x allwoodii), which grows 18 inches tall with pink or white flowers, especially if it is older. How to Trim My Pink Turtlehead Back in the Fall, National Garden Bureau: Dianthus Fact Sheet, University of Minnesota Extension: Pruning Herbaceous Perennials, The Well-Tended Perennial Garden; Tracy DiSabato-Aust, British Columbia Living: Pruning Carnations and Yellow Alyssum. Keep plants at least 10 cm apart when planting out in a bed. Choose a free draining location with full sun. She has a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Michigan State University, is an avid gardener and volunteers at her local botanical garden. Keep watering throughout the season and feed weekly for best results. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.