Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Winter Carnations
How to Winter Carnations. Carnations fill out many floral arrangements, adding their beautiful color to the other fresh flowers. While you are likely familiar with cut carnations, they also add beauty to flower gardens. Carnations (or dianthus as some gardeners know them) grow well in USDA zones 5 through 9, as long as you provide proper growing...
Carnations fill out many floral arrangements, adding their beautiful color to the other fresh flowers. While you are likely familiar with cut carnations, they also add beauty to flower gardens. Carnations (or dianthus as some gardeners know them) grow well in USDA zones 5 through 9, as long as you provide proper growing conditions. Winterize carnations in the autumn to prepare them for the cold winter months and they will return with vigor the following spring.
Things You'll Need
Carnations
Pruning shears
Shredded mulch (leaves or wood chips)
Cut back the stems of the carnations to approximately 3 inches above the soil level in the middle of autumn. Waiting to cut back the blossoms will give the carnations time to seed.
Apply 2 to 3 inches of shredded mulch over the carnation planting area after waiting for the ground to freeze completely (this may not be until late autumn or early winter, depending upon your growing region).
Remove the mulch in the spring to prevent the stems from decaying over the growing season.
Tips & Warnings
Mulch can help prevent rabbits from eating the carnations over the winter.
Do not apply the shredded mulch any earlier because you invite rodent infestation with early mulching. Mulching too early also contributes to crown decay in some instances.
