JOIN NOW LOG IN
iVillage GardenWeb iVillage GardenWeb THE INTERNET'S GARDEN & HOME COMMUNITY ADVERTISEMENT
Blogs Forums Photo Galleries Ask The Experts Tools & Directories        
Return to the Alpines & Rock Gardens Forum | Post a Follow-Up

 o
Need help on Dianthus Desmond

Posted by
Roseperson z5 S/E MI
(My Page) on
Wed, Apr 11, 01 at 16:44

I have a row of Dianthus Desmond by my sidewalk. They produced beautiful fragrant red double flowers throughout the season last year. This spring their tops are looking brown. Should I prune them or leave them as they are? I have no prior maintenance experince with Dianthus. Please suggest.


Follow-Up Postings:

 o
RE: Need help on Dianthus Desmond

Most things I've read say NOT to trim/prune, that cutting too far back may actually kill the plant. If they look REALLY bad, maybe just take off the brown tips (if you've got the time), otherwise try letting some of the plants just cover over their own brown spots. Good Luck
P.S. I'm thinking of getting some of these myself, so I'm glad to hear they really DID bloom all summer!


 o
RE: Need help on Dianthus Desmond

they do benefit from a sweet soil ,a top dressing of horticultural lime, and some bonemeal, should pick them up.Be sure to scratch it in lightly and water well.If their soil is depleted,use a top dressing of a good sandy loam.Light and friable,sharp drainage is essential.Marvelous plants that require little fertilizer or fuss.I have sheared off spent bloom ,but never ,live leaf.They will send out fresh new growth and the old leaves will wither away and can then be plucked out.-D


 o
RE: Need help on Dianthus Desmond

  • Posted by takate z8 sw oregon (My Page) on
    Fri, Sep 19, 03 at 12:47

How do you like the fragrance, Roseperson? Is it very fragrant? Is it clovelike?

I have a single really red dianthus that does not bloom all summer, but is wonderfully fragrant. Would like to have another really red that blooms continuously and is very fragrant also.

Thanks....Takate


 o
RE: Need help on Dianthus Desmond

I've seen this plant in catalogs and looks good, but I thought Dianthus was a biennial. Does it reseed or itself or does this variety not die off after a couple years?


 
 

 

 


Click here to learn more about in-text links on this page.



iVillage GardenWeb: The Internet's Garden & Home Community  
  iVillage Home & Garden Network