How to Prune Dianthus for Regrowth

Perineal dianthus varieties grow year-after-year and produce stems of delicate red and pink blooms over soft, green foliage. Pruning a dianthus plant for regrowth prepares it for the new growing season and removes dead foliage. Removing dead blooms extends the blooming season and prevents reseeding. Growing dianthus plants requires minimal effort for showy displays of blooms and mounds of foliage.

Items Needed:

• Sharp garden shears or scissors

Instructions

1. Inspect the plant for new, emerging foliage growth in early spring after the chance of frost. Blooms and leaves form close to the base and continue to grow as the weather warms up. Maintain a consistent watering schedule, and feed plants with a balanced fertilizer as needed.


2. Cut off dead growth that did not survive the winter months with clean, sharp garden shears. Avoid cutting blooms that appear close to the base of the plant. Use the shears to tidy unruly foliage growth and to maintain a mound shape.


3. Remove dead or wilted flowers throughout the initial bloom cycle. Either pinch the spent bloom off with your thumb and forefinger, or use garden shears to trim multiple stems with dead blooms. Removing dead blooms promotes regrowth of new flowers.


4. Cutting flowers at their peak for use as cut flowers in a vase has the same effect as deadheading old blooms. Dianthus flowers remain beautiful in a vase for 2 to 3 weeks. New growth replaces the flowers and foliage cut off.


5. Prune the entire plant, after the first flush of flowers. Use sharp garden shears to remove up to one-third of the plant’s overall height. This encourages regrowth of foliage and blooms and makes the plant’s foliage fuller.


6. Water and fertilize as needed after pruning for a healthy dianthus plant. Pruning the plant prevents reseeding and allows the plant to direct its energy to bloom and leaf production. Collect seeds from dead blooms for replanting and dispose of cuttings into the trash or a compost pile.