How to Prune Dianthus for Regrowth

Dianthus resembles its cousin, the carnation.

A member of the carnation family, dianthus looks and often smells like a miniature carnation plant. Also known as Sweet William or Pinks, dianthus blooms in a variety of colors, including white, pink, red, rose, lavender and yellow. Varieties range from 6 inches to 3 feet tall, growing in clumps and producing slender, finger-like leaves of bright to gray-green on numerous stems. Blooming from early summer through fall, dianthus make lovely cut flower arrangements. Some dianthus are annual, some biennial and others perennial. Keep plants blooming by pruning and removing spent flowers.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp pruning shears or scissors

Instructions

Deadheading and Pruning

1. 

   Sharp pruning shears make clean cuts on plants.

   Use sharp pruning shears or scissors to cut off, or deadhead, wilting and dead blooms. This prevents the plant from diverting energy into creating a seedpod at the flower base instead of spending energy to create new flowers. Since dianthus blooms cap long stems, remove spent blooms by cutting off the entire stem close to the plant base. This encourages new flowering stem growth.

2. Trim stems at the center of the plant to encourage bushier growth. Dianthus tends to produce numerous leaf-filled stems, not all of which produce flowers. Remove only about one-third of the center growth of this type. Also, snip off the growing tips of tall leafy stems to promote branching. As new growths emerge, new blooms will appear.

3. Shape straggly dianthus plants by removing outside stems at the plant base or by cutting half the stem to encourage branching in an oval or round shape. Especially on taller varieties of dianthus, this form of trimming keeps the plant neater and less wild-looking. It also promotes branching, along with new bloom production.

Tips & Warnings

• Stay ahead of deadheading by cutting dianthus flowers in full bloom to fill indoor vases with lovely arrangements. To further encourage new blooms, fertilize after deadheading and pruning, using a water-soluble plant food and following package directions for solution strength.

• Avoid cutting too much of the plant while pruning, especially at the crown or center. Too-heavy pruning can shock plants and cause decline or death.

References

• Extension InfoNet; Removing Spent Flowers/Deadheading; Dennis Patton
• University of Illinois Extension; To Prune or Not To Prune - Perennials; Marsha Overton; Aug. 31, 2009
• University of Vermont Extension; Year of the Dianthus; Dr. Leonard Perry

Resources

• University of Arizona Extension; Flower Bed Annuals; 1998