Company Name

Dianthus in the Garden

Dianthus lends itself to many design uses, depending on height and growth habit. Use dwarf and mat-forming Dianthus as an edging for a border, in containers, in a rock garden, among pavers in a patio, as a groundcover, or along a rock wall. Plant medium to tall varieties with other annuals and perennials in a border, in a cutting garden, and in front of evergreen shrubs. Combine Dianthus with plants that harmonize with its foliage and flower colors: for example, coral bells, feverfew, lamb's-ear, larkspur, lavender, hardy geraniums, petunias, poppies, floribunda and shrub roses, and sage.

• To encourage continuous blooming or reblooming, deadhead (cut off spent blooms) regularly to prevent seed-formation. In a cutting garden, you promote new blooms each time you gather flowers for bouquets — an excellent cut flower, Dianthus lasts up to two weeks in a vase. After the first flush of bloom in late spring/early summer, lightly shear back both spent blooms and foliage of edging and groundcover plants.

• Many Dianthus self-seed readily, making even the annuals seem like perennials.

• Dianthus are shallow-rooted, so to insure the survival of the plants over winter, mulch lightly after the ground freezes in fall or early winter. If rabbits are rampant in your area, a mulch or covering of pine boughs may deter them from nibbling on the plants' leaves, which tend to persist into winter, especially in the South.

• In the Southeast and Southwest, gardeners can grow most species of Dianthus for flower color through winter. Planting times range from September to November, depending on the area and fall temperatures. Start with plants from a garden center or plan ahead and sow seeds indoors or out.

• Although pests and diseases are seldom much of an issue for Dianthus, keep an eye out for signs of red spider mites and aphids. Wash the latter off with a hard spray from the garden hose; prevent the former by providing enough space for good air circulation among the plants and, if necessary, treat with an insecticidal soap. (Pesky rabbits may find the blooms and foliage less tasty.) When it comes to diseases, diligence is the best prevention. Plant in soil with good drainage, give plants sufficient spacing for air circulation, and immediately remove any plant parts or plants with signs of disease, such as watery stems (rot) or powdery coating on leaves (mildew).

Potted Dianthus

Seemingly made for containers, the National Garden Bureau highly recommends gardeners use Dianthus in pots and window boxes. Set the smaller and dwarf varieties along the edge, taller varieties in the center or at the back of a container you view from one side only. Mix and match them with any number of compatible annuals, perennials, and herbs, such as argeranthemum, lavender, lemon thyme, nemesia, petunia and viola.

Planting: Select a container with drainage holes in the bottom or sides so the soil does not become waterlogged. Use a packaged potting mix or a soilless mix; do not use garden soil. Garden soil often contains weed seeds and is quite heavy when wet. If you plan to move the container around or you plant a window box for a sill or deck railing, consider using a soilless mix, which is lightweight. If you want to skip fertilizing the plants during the season, incorporate a controlled-release fertilizer in the mix before planting.

To cut down on watering chores, mix water-absorbing polymer crystals in as well. Before unpotting the plants, set them on top of the mix in the container and rearrange them until you like the design. Then, unpot and place the plants in the mix at the same level they were growing originally. Water the planting well.

Care: Check the soil in the containers frequently in very hot weather and water as needed. Fertilize monthly with a water-soluble plant food, if you did not use a controlled-release fertilizer at planting time. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage reblooming.