Carnation perennial planting in autumn and outdoor care

An ornamental plant with bright flowers, sweetish aroma is a popular inhabitant of various types of flower beds. In addition, perennial garden carnation is suitable for container gardening of balconies, terraces, patios. With modern seedlings, you can quickly create beautiful floral carpets in pinks, bright reds, whites and yellows.

Perennial garden carnation: cultivation features

To avoid confusion, it is necessary to understand the botanical names. The garden carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) is a distinct species with a rich history. However, in everyday life, various carnations cultivated as ornamental plants are often called "garden".

The most famous species and subspecies:

• Garden or Dutch carnation is a perennial plant with a height of 20 to 70 cm.
• G. Turkish - grown as a biennial.
• G. lush is a perennial plant.
• G. alpine is a perennial.

Attention! Almost all cultivated carnations are perennials. However, in central Russia, thermophilic species are grown as biennials or annuals.

Simple linear leaves of a garden carnation, depending on the variety, can be green or grayish-blue from a waxy coating. The diameter and color of the corollas vary greatly. Flowers, single or collected in several pieces, bloom from June to August and September.

Subspecies Shabo Clove (Dianthus caryophyllus var.shabaud) is of hybrid origin. The flowers are large, double or semi-double, of various colors: white, red, yellow, pink. Some varieties tolerate temperatures of –10 ° C for a short time. Hibernates in open ground in central Russia in the presence of shelter.

Landing in open ground

Abundant flowering of carnations in flower beds and in containers depends on the right choice of soil and location. This provides the plant with an uninterrupted supply of nutrients, water, and the optimal amount of light.

Soil requirements, site selection

Garden carnation prefers light, humus-rich, neutral and slightly alkaline soils. If the substrate is acidic, then add lime, ash. Heavy clay soils are improved by the introduction of peat and sand. Peat and perlite are added to the soil for the container culture.

For planting carnations, choose a well-lit area with light penumbra after 14 hours. Then flowering will be long enough. A shady place is not suitable: leaf growth is inhibited, flowers most often do not develop. Plants in hanging pots, flowerpots and containers should be protected from direct sunlight that drains the soil.

Garden carnations are not recommended to be planted together with moisture-loving plants. You should also avoid locations near streams or other bodies of water where the soil is often waterlogged.

When and how to plant?

Perennial garden carnations are grown in seedlings. Seeds are sown at the end of February or in March, pre-soaking for a day. Prepare seedling boxes or other suitable containers with loose loamy soil.

Seeds are spread on the surface of moist soil, sprinkled with a small amount of sand on top. The boxes are covered with glass or transparent film and left in a dark place at a temperature of 17–20 ° C. Seedlings appear in 4–7 days. Containers with seedlings are placed on a windowsill, well-lit by the sun. Spray with water from a spray bottle. After 3-4 weeks, young plants dive into the soil of the greenhouse. Then the plucked seedlings are pinched to stimulate branching of the stem and growth of roots.

How to plant a garden carnation in a permanent place:

• Dig holes at a distance of 15–30 cm and a depth greater than the root ball.
• Add compost and sand in a layer of 3 cm to improve soil permeability.
• The seedlings are lowered into the hole, sprinkled with soil and compacted around the roots.
• Water the seedlings.
• Mulch the soil.

Attention! Drainage is necessary to drain excess water during irrigation. Carnation does not tolerate waterlogging at any age. Young plants especially suffer from waterlogging.

Direct sowing in the ground is carried out in mid-May. The seeds are deepened into the soil by 1 cm, covered with a film on top to accelerate germination and protect from the cold. As soon as shoots appear, the shelter is removed.

Perennial garden carnation: care

The seedlings are thinned out so that at least 30 cm remains between the plants. The plantings are watered, weeds are destroyed. When the stems and leaves form a dense turf, weeding is stopped.

Watering the plant

Perennial carnations cope better with a temporary lack of moisture than with excess moisture. Water the plants sparingly, only after the top layer of the soil has dried. Direct a stream of water to the soil around the root, not to the leaves. Each time after watering, it is necessary to loosen the substrate so that a crust does not form.

Top dressing and fertilization

Well-rotted organic matter is added when planting and transplanting adult plants. Full mineral fertilizer is applied as a liquid top dressing in the spring before flowering and after pruning. Plants in containers are fed more often - every 4 weeks.

Post-flowering care

If you pinch withered stems and inflorescences, then more new buds appear. Immediately after flowering, the stems are cut at a height of about 10 cm above the soil surface to maintain compactness.

Transfer

It is recommended to transplant heavily overgrown carnation bushes to a new place. This procedure is best done in August or September.

Reproduction of carnation

Even a novice florist can use any method for propagating perennial carnations: sowing seeds into the soil, dividing a bush and grafting. If the gardener wants to get a multi-colored carpet, then ready-made varietal mixtures are best suited.

A large mother bush in the spring or after flowering is cut into pieces with a sharp knife or shovel. It is necessary that each delenka has kidneys. Parts are planted in a new place, watered. Valuable varieties are propagated by cuttings. Cut shoots are rooted in containers filled with peat and sand. The substrate should be evenly moist, without stagnant water. The roots grow back within 8 weeks.

Plant diseases and pests

Garden carnation is not very susceptible to diseases, but high humidity, fluctuations in air temperature, and excess nitrogen contribute to the development of infection. If weeds are not removed, they become sources of the spread of fungal spores, viral infections, and bacterial rot.Signs of a fungal disease: the appearance on the leaves of first light, later - brown spots with a red border. Plants are treated with fungicides Fundazol or Topaz.

Carnation pests - spider mites - cover the lower part of the leaves with a fine mesh. Invasion of thrips is manifested by silvery-white spots on the leaves and flower buds. Aphids suck sap from the most delicate parts of plants; they turn pale green, often covered with mucus. They treat pests with biological insecticides: Fitoverm, Vertimek. Can be sprayed with solutions of Aktara and Actellik preparations.

Types and varieties of perennial carnations

Florists are trying to choose ornamental plants for the garden that retain their freshness for a long time and do not require complex care. The large-flowered Dutch carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus var. Semperflorens) ideally meets these conditions. It is a perennial, remontant plant (re-flowering). The hybrids that are combined into a group are obtained by crossing several species and forms of carnation. The flowers are large, double, the petals have a fringe along the edge.

The dwarf garden carnation "Lilipot" is gaining great popularity among gardeners. This is a group of hybrids: Yellow F1, Orange F1, Scarlet F1 with red petals, White F1, Light Purple F1. Plants up to 25 cm in height bloom profusely all summer, remain compact without pinching, can be used for planting in open ground, containers and flowerpots.

Old varieties of Shabo carnations are grown mainly for cutting. Garden carnation undersized from the group of hybrids F1 Dwarf mixture and the "Child of Nice" remontant variety are suitable for flower decoration of ridges, mixborders, loggias and balconies, for growing in containers. Compact bushes are abundantly covered with double flowers. You can sow seeds in the ground or grow in seedlings.

Even a novice florist, summer resident will be able to grow a perennial garden carnation on a plot or in a container. It is important to remember the needs and characteristics of the plant, follow the recommendations for growing seedlings and care. The carnation will thank you for your care with abundant flowering and bright greenery.

A garden carnation is a beautiful and fragrant flower that only a baby knows nothing about. Translated from Greek, carnation means "divine flower", which is customary to give not only to women, but also to representatives of the strong half of humanity. About what varieties of perennial garden carnations exist, how to plant and care for it, propagate it and what to combine with in landscape design - you can learn about this and much more from our article.

Description of the plant: varieties and varieties

A perennial garden carnation, planting and caring for which is incredibly simple, is everyone's favorite guest of the personal plot. Culture has many varieties (more than three hundred), delighting us with unusual shades and their combinations. The arrangement of cut flowers will stand for a long time in a vase on the windowsill, exuding a stunning aroma and inspiring unexpected feats.

Any kind of carnation will look wonderful in a flower bed near your home.

Having decided to plant a perennial carnation on the site, it is important to decide on the type of plant, because it is much more pleasant to care for a favorite flower than to contemplate a random plant every day. Among the variety of varieties of garden carnations, you will undoubtedly be able to choose the very plant that will become a real decoration of your front garden.

1. Perennial pinnate carnation excites the imagination with its playful look. Its distinctive feature is dense bushes of emerald-sky color, covered with double flowers, the diameter of which is almost 3 cm. Throughout the summer, your garden will be filled with blossoming flowers of a bright and sunny palette: white and pinkish, red and purple flowers beautifully decorate an alpine hill and a flower bed, will create a divine scent in the air.

   Perennial pinnate carnation

2. Perennial garden carnation (Dutch), obtained by breeders by crossing the most spectacular species of carnation, surpasses its counterparts in the period of continuous flowering. Such a plant will delight you with a juicy palette of colors from the beginning of June until stable frosts.The residents of countries with warm climates are a little more fortunate: they can admire the colorful flowering almost all year round, with the exception of rainy periods.
3. Widely known and popular in the flower market perennial carnation shabo... Compared to other varieties, this carnation has larger flowers of various shades (yellow, scarlet, burgundy, pinkish) with a very persistent and captivating aroma. A wide variety of petals are inherent in terry flowers: they can be corrugated, slightly curved and laid in a bud.

   Carnation Shabo

4. Perennial turkish carnation attracts gardeners with its unpretentiousness, delicate fragrance and colorful flowering. The diameter of the inflorescence can reach 12 cm, and the flower can contain up to three shades at the same time - these are the main differences between the Turkish carnation and other varieties. Drawings and edges on the petals look unusually beautiful and elegant.

Planting a carnation

Perennial garden carnations prefer sunny areas of the soil, but choosing a shade or swampy soil, you will not be able to get a strong culture and rich flowering. The soil should be neutral in acidity. It is optimal if it turns out to be peaty, sandy loam and loamy. You can lower the acidity of the soil with the help of dolomite flour, and make it lighter with sand and ordinary peat.

Plant carnations in a sunny area

The seeds are planted in March, when the air temperature reaches a stable level of + 15 ° C. Then they are lightly sprinkled with earth, moistened and a film is laid on top. At a temperature of + 18 ° C, the first shoots appear. Now you can lower the temperature a little and put the boxes with the seedlings into the light. A carnation dives with the appearance of a second leaf. This is done very carefully, without deepening the root collar. In open ground, seedlings are planted at a distance of at least 30 cm.

Carnation care

Perennial carnation is a rather unpretentious plant, caring for which does not require much time, effort and labor from you. All that is needed is to water and remove weeds in a timely manner, regularly feed with special flower additives and cut off the heads immediately after the plant has bloomed.

Maintain soil moisture balance

Attention! Try to protect the cloves from waterlogging. To do this, water it often, but in moderation, loosen the soil from time to time. Be especially careful when the snow is melting: excessive moisture can provoke root rot.

After the garden plant has bloomed, the heads are cut off and the stems are slightly shortened. For the given warmth and care, a garden carnation will definitely reward you with a second flowering closer to autumn. It is better to cover the plant for the winter, especially if a non-snowy winter is coming. Often, gardeners, to preserve the culture, transplant it into pots and bring it into a room where it successfully winters.

Fertilization and feeding

Perennial carnation, like any ornamental plant, needs additional feeding throughout the vegetative period. You need to feed it first in the spring, then at the time of the appearance of buds and, of course, when the color appears.

Remove weeds so they don't interfere with the plant's development

Attention! Do not use fresh manure and potassium based fertilizers! Be careful with the amount of nitrogenous feeding applied: excessive amounts of it can cause fungal diseases.

Garden carnation also responds well to mineral fertilizing.

Plant propagation

Perennial carnations are usually propagated by cuttings or by dividing the bush. The best time for grafting is early June. A suitable, seemingly healthy, 10 cm long stalk is selected and carefully cut. A small incision is made at the bottom, then the cutting is placed in moistened soil and covered with a film for faster rooting.Carnation cuttings, like young bushes, take root well with proper care.

Diseases and pests of garden carnation

Like any other flower crop, the garden carnation is susceptible to disease and pests. To avoid the appearance of ticks and aphids, to protect the plant as much as possible from gray rot and other misfortunes, breeders are advised not to forget about the simple but very important rules for caring for the plant.

Check your flower bed regularly for pests

Important! Regular waterlogging of the soil and excessive accumulation of nitrogenous fertilizers are the main reasons for the formation of fungus. Therefore, it is extremely important to monitor the condition of the soil, periodically loosen it, fertilize and enrich the soil.

Once every few years, you can change the place of growing carnations or plant calendula nearby.

Garden carnation in combination with other plants

All varieties of perennial carnations can be grown in various flower beds. They look great both in a group planting and a single one. When creating plant beds, it is important to keep in mind that richly colored variegated carnations will look good in a neutral and more discreet environment. Ideal partners for her will be:

• yarrow;
• broom kochia;
• graceful gypsophila;
• bicolor rose flower.

Carnation in landscape design

Carnations with feathery flowers of a heavenly hue are perfectly combined with bright blue bearded irises. But the neighborhood with tulips is still worth avoiding. The fact is that the latter can infect a decorative carnation with diseases, and the means that are usually used to treat carnations are not suitable for delicate tulips.

Garden carnation in landscape design

A perennial ornamental plant is not the last line in landscape design. Garden carnation is a full-fledged mistress of flower beds, all kinds of alpine slides and rockeries. Group plantings with roses allow you to effectively decorate your lawn and outdoor terrace. Bright and lush bushes of carnations fit beautifully into a rocky Japanese-style garden; due to such blooming islands, the garden will retain its decorative effect for a long time.

Perennial carnation: video

Perennial carnation: photo

An ornamental plant with bright flowers, sweetish aroma is a popular inhabitant of various types of flower beds. In addition, perennial garden carnation is suitable for container gardening of balconies, terraces, patios. With modern seedlings, you can quickly create beautiful floral carpets in pinks, bright reds, whites and yellows.

A garden carnation is a beautiful and fragrant flower that only a baby knows nothing about. Translated from Greek, carnation means "divine flower", which is customary to give not only to women, but also to representatives of the strong half of humanity. About what varieties of perennial garden carnations exist, how to plant and care for it, propagate it and what to combine with in landscape design - you can learn about this and much more from our article.

Description

Perennial garden carnation is a plant that is characterized by a short flowering and in our regions is grown mainly for no more than two seasons. It grows in the form of a small shrub, the height of the stems of which reaches 60 cm. The rhizome is poorly developed, lies shallow - about 10-20 cm. The flowers are single or collected in small inflorescences, depending on the variety, they are double, semi-double or simple. Their color is different.

The stem is thin, strong, the leaves, as a rule, are narrow, painted in a dull green or gray-green color. At the end of the flowering period, fruits appear on the stems - seed pods. The color of the seeds is brown or brown.

Common types

If you decide to grow a garden carnation on your site, then, first of all, you need to decide on the type.It is not easy to do this, since the species and, of course, the varietal diversity of this plant is quite wide, but at the same time there is a very high chance of making your flower garden the brightest, most colorful and original.

So, let's consider the most common types of garden carnations with a description and photo.

• Dutch. This species is obtained by selecting the most beautiful carnations. It is characterized by the longest flowering - from the beginning of the summer period to the first frost. It blooms brightly, colorfully, violently.
  

  On a note! In countries with warm climates, the Dutch carnation can bloom almost all year round. Its flowering in such regions stops only during rainy periods!

• Feathery. The plant forms into a neat bush with emerald foliage. A characteristic feature of the varieties of this type of garden carnation is the appearance of the petals - they have longitudinal cuts, which is why the flower seems to be covered with feathers. The diameter of one flower is about 3 cm. It blooms throughout June-July and gives the garden a bright palette. The color of the flowers is from white to dark red.
• Shabo. During the flowering period, it releases large flowers of various colors: pink, yellow, burgundy, scarlet, etc. The aroma is bright and persistent. Flowers, as a rule, are double, while their petals can be corrugated, somewhat curved, simple or folded into a delicate bud.
• Turkish. One of the most unpretentious species, which gives incredibly colorful flowering and gives a delicate fragrance. The flowers are collected in neat inflorescences, the length of which can reach 12 cm. The flower is unusually beautiful and can contain two or three shades at once. A border is often observed on the petals.

We plant in the ground

Perennial carnation favors sunny locations. If the soil for growth is swampy, or the place is shaded, then successful cultivation will not work, flowering will be scarce. The optimal choice of soil is with neutral acidity, it is great if it turns out to be with peat (clay or sand).

Acidic soil can be neutralized on its own; they do this by adding dolomite flour. Lighten the soil by adding peat or sand to it.

Planting seeds should start in early spring (March). The temperature should stabilize by this time and be about 15 degrees Celsius.

You do not need to dig in the seeds, they are covered with earth a little, watered sparingly, and covered with a film. When the temperature rises to 18 degrees, the first shoots will appear.

A pick is carried out after the appearance of several leaves. The procedure is carried out carefully so as not to damage the young and fragile roots completely.

After the first shoots, containers with seeds are brought out into the light, the temperature is slightly reduced. When the seedlings reach 30 centimeters, you can freely plant them in open ground.

We care properly

Caring for a perennial carnation will not take much effort, the flower is quite unpretentious. You need to follow a few simple rules, and the flower will delight with its aroma and flowering:

• Timely watering.
• Removal of weeds and weeds.
• Top dressing.
• Pruning. After the carnation has faded, its buds are carefully cut.

Important! Excessive dampness will be detrimental to cloves. Therefore, it should be watered frequently, but in small quantities. Pay close attention to the period when the snow begins to melt or it rains abundantly. The earth needs periodic loosening. A large amount of moisture can lead to putrefactive processes in the root system.

At the end of the flowering period, not only the buds are cut off, but the stems are also shortened. For proper care and attentive attitude, the carnation will be grateful, and will bloom for the second time in late August and early September.

In winter, it is recommended to cover the carnation (wrap it up), especially in frosty weather.Many growers do not leave the flower in the ground, but transplant it into pots and containers and move it indoors. The plant tolerates such wintering successfully.

We feed and fertilize

Like all decorative flowers, the garden beauty needs feeding. Various fertilizers are applied throughout the growing season. The procedures begin in early autumn. Important periods in which feeding is required:

• Formation of buds.
• Bloom.

Never fertilize your cloves with fresh manure or products that contain potassium. Also, you should carefully apply fertilizing containing nitrogen. If you overdo it, fungal diseases can occur.

Mineral dressing will be very helpful.

Post-flowering care

If you pinch withered stems and inflorescences, then more new buds appear. Immediately after flowering, the stems are cut at a height of about 10 cm above the soil surface to maintain compactness.

Reproduction of carnation

Even a novice florist can use any method for propagating perennial carnations: sowing seeds into the soil, dividing a bush and grafting. If the gardener wants to get a multi-colored carpet, then ready-made varietal mixtures are best suited.

A large mother bush in the spring or after flowering is cut into pieces with a sharp knife or shovel. It is necessary that each delenka has kidneys. Parts are planted in a new place, watered. Valuable varieties are propagated by cuttings. Cut shoots are rooted in containers filled with peat and sand. The substrate should be evenly moist, without stagnant water. The roots grow back within 8 weeks.

Garden carnation in combination with other plants

All varieties of perennial carnations can be grown in various flower beds. They look great both in a group planting and a single one. When creating plant beds, it is important to keep in mind that richly colored variegated carnations will look good in a neutral and more discreet environment. Ideal partners for her will be:

• yarrow;
• broom kochia;
• graceful gypsophila;
• bicolor rose flower.

Carnations with feathery flowers of a heavenly hue are perfectly combined with bright blue bearded irises. But the neighborhood with tulips is still worth avoiding. The fact is that the latter can infect a decorative carnation with diseases, and the means that are usually used to treat carnations are not suitable for delicate tulips.

Garden carnation in landscape design

A perennial ornamental plant is not the last line in landscape design. Garden carnation is a full-fledged mistress of flower beds, all kinds of alpine slides and rockeries. Group plantings with roses allow you to effectively decorate your lawn and outdoor terrace. Bright and lush bushes of carnations fit beautifully into a rocky Japanese-style garden; due to such blooming islands, the garden will retain its decorative effect for a long time.

Seedling growing

Planting and subsequent care for perennial garden carnations is a simple matter and even a novice florist can handle it. Seeds for seedlings are laid around March in a large container or peat cups.

Recommendation! In order for the seed to give healthy strong shoots, it is advisable to pre-soak it for a day in a weak solution of succinic acid!

So, garden carnations are grown as follows.

• We fill the container with a fertile substrate, moisten it and make small grooves.
• We sow prepared seeds. It is not necessary to deepen them too deeply into the soil, it is enough to distribute them over the surface and sprinkle them on top with a small amount of sand.
• We cover the container with polyethylene or glass and place it in a shaded place. The room temperature should be within the range of + 18..20 ° C.
• After some time, the first shoots will appear on the surface of the soil.At this time, remove the cover and move the container to a well-lit windowsill.
• We periodically moisten the substrate, but do not allow stagnation of water.
  

  Important! It is better not to overdo it with watering, otherwise the seedlings will be struck by a black leg - a fungal disease. For this reason, it is better not to water the plants, but spray them with water from a spray bottle!

• When the first pair of true leaves appears on the seedlings, we dive them into separate containers. Watering is carried out in the same mode.
• Two weeks later, after the young plants have taken root, they must be pinched. This event will allow in the future to get a strong lush bush with a powerful root.
• About 15 days before planting the carnation in the open ground, we begin to harden it. Every day we take out the seedlings to fresh air, first for a couple of hours and gradually increase the holding time.

Pruning

Throughout the summer, the bushes must be pinched, cutting off all faded flower stalks from the shoots. This will help stimulate the release of new buds. In the future, after flowering has completely stopped, all stems should be cut from the bush, leaving about 10 cm above the ground.

Preparing for winter

Garden carnation is characterized by good frost resistance, and therefore tolerates winter cold quite easily. If the winter turned out to be snowless, then in this case it is recommended to cover the bushes with spruce branches or sawdust. This event will help prevent freezing.

On a note! In addition, when growing garden carnations for several years, it is recommended to replant the bushes from time to time to a new place. This is done, as a rule, in late July - early August.

Diseases and pests

Garden carnation, with proper care, gets sick and is hit by pests very rarely, but still, sometimes there are situations when an infection occurs.

Among the pests, the most common are spider mites and aphids. In the fight against them, insecticides such as Aktellik, Aktara and Mospilan show very good results. With a weak infection against parasitic insects and mites, you can use folk remedies, for example, an infusion of potato tops or onion husks. Means are prepared from dried plant materials, filled with boiling water. It is insisted for two days, after which it is diluted in a bucket of water and the affected plants are sprayed.

When infected with root nematode, diseased bushes must be removed. After that, the soil in the garden is repeatedly treated with boiling water, and then one of the chemicals is used. Here you can use "Phosphamide" or "Mercaptophos".

If bears have settled on your site, then it is quite easy to exterminate them with the help of traps. At the same time, preparation for the fight must be carried out in the fall. In September-October, we dig several holes in the garden, fill them with fresh manure and cover them with foil. Bears will begin to crawl into these shelters, where they will stay for the winter. In the spring, it will be quite easy for you to destroy all pests without using toxic chemicals.

In order to protect a garden carnation from fungal diseases, it is necessary, first of all, to water it correctly and prevent moisture stagnation. In addition, at the beginning and in the middle of the growing season, plants can be treated with such fungicidal preparations as "Maxim", "Chistotsvet", "Topaz" or "Fundazol". And at the same time, it is extremely undesirable to grow this flower next to tulips, since these plants affect the same diseases.

Interesting to know

There is a lot of interesting information about a garden carnation that is useful for every gardener to know:

• The leading country in the cultivation of carnations is Tanzania. Most breeders are working on developing new varieties, improving existing ones. Thanks to this, the popularity of cloves is growing all over the world.
• At home, carnation does not tolerate noise.In such an environment, the flower withers quickly.
• It is customary to give flowers to young people entering the army. The flower symbolizes victory and a healthy return home. The tradition goes back to France and is used in other countries. Soldiers who carry a carnation with them consider it a talisman that protects in difficult times.
• Italian women pin a flower to the uniform of their lover, thus showing love. She protects him in dangerous situations.
• Clove is one of the most exquisite spices known around the world and used by many culinary experts. Only it is impossible to get it from an ordinary garden flower, the effect will be completely different. The spice is made from the tropical clove tree.
• The carnation is not always a symbol of blood, history knows the "revolution of carnations", which ended peacefully.
• The Duke of Windsor adorned his costume with a white bud. For this reason, she is an indicator of the style of aristocrats and easy life.
• The Belgians regard the carnation as the flower of the poor. Most often it can be seen in the miners' front gardens. It symbolizes the flowering of life after the dark mines. The bouquet is presented as a gift to a daughter who is getting married.
• The needlewomen are very fond of carnation, who decorate old lace with it.
• The carnation is considered to be the "Divine Flower" that is used to decorate tables.

Difficulties that can be faced

Most often, novice gardeners who have bought a carnation, but do not know the rules for caring for it, and do not follow them, face problems. In this case, the flower begins to hurt, various parasites are bred.

One of the most dangerous problems is bear, nematodes and thrips. The most effective fight against them with the help of chemicals.

So that fungal diseases do not arise, care must be correct and timely. This is the best prevention.

On a note! In the front garden, it is recommended to plant perennial carnations away from tulips. They may have the same diseases, only the methods of dealing with them are different. Those substances that can be used to treat a tulip are contraindicated for a carnation.

Perennial garden carnation, planting and caring for which is very easy - it is often found in garden plots. It is difficult to pass by the garden in which the bright and fragrant carnation grows. It is about this flower that since ancient times they wrote quietly and sang songs, told many legends. Carnation has a bright red color, which is why most of the legends are associated with bloodshed. In many countries, to this day, the carnation is considered a symbol of victory.

Every year, more and more new and beautiful varieties are being brought out, which do not remain without fans.

Perennial garden carnation

Varieties

The variety of varieties is very great, and each of them pleases with its beauty and originality. Flowers not only decorate the flower bed, but also look great in a vase on the table. Bouquets stand for a long time, exude a pleasant and delicate smell. In addition, when going to a celebration, you do not need to run to a flower shop, just look at your own flower bed, and a wonderful composition will be ready.

Any variety can be planted on the garden plot. In this case, everything depends on the grower, someone wants to observe certain flowers, while others want to see something new. In any case, the perennial carnation will be a decoration of the garden.

Let's consider the popular varieties in detail:

• Feathery. It has quite large flowers, about 3 centimeters. The bushes are dense, and the color delights with an emerald shade of bluish tint. Throughout the summer period, a flower bed with carnations will shimmer with gentle tones, from white to purple. Flowers can be used for landscaping. Pleasant fragrance will be a big plus.

  Pinnate carnation

• Garden (Dutch). Obtained as a result of breeding work. Differs in long-term flowering.Already at the beginning of summer, you can observe a varied flowering, and it will last until the onset of the first frost. It is for this reason that the Dutch carnation is very popular, especially in areas where there is practically no winter. In such weather conditions, flowering can last all year (except for the rainy season).

  Dutch carnation

• Shabo. This variety stands out for its variety of color palette. You can create a whole rainbow on your flower bed. Another distinctive feature of the variety is the size of the flowers, the petals can be of different shapes: folded into a bud, corrugated, with slight bends. The fragrance is gentle, captivating.

  Carnation Shabo

• Turkish. The main advantage of the variety is that it can contain several shades at once. The color palette is very rich, the size of the buds is large, can reach up to 12 centimeters. The petals can have different edges and patterns, which makes the branches truly unique. Popular due to its unpretentious care.

  Turkish Carnation

We plant in the ground

Perennial carnation favors sunny locations. If the soil for growth is swampy, or the place is shaded, then successful cultivation will not work, flowering will be scarce. The optimal choice of soil is with neutral acidity, it is great if it turns out to be with peat (clay or sand).

Acidic soil can be neutralized on its own; they do this by adding dolomite flour. Lighten the soil by adding peat or sand to it.

Planting seeds should start in early spring (March). The temperature should stabilize by this time and be about 15 degrees Celsius.

You do not need to dig in the seeds, they are covered with earth a little, watered sparingly, and covered with a film. When the temperature rises to 18 degrees, the first shoots will appear.

A pick is carried out after the appearance of several leaves. The procedure is carried out carefully so as not to damage the young and fragile roots completely.

After the first shoots, containers with seeds are brought out into the light, the temperature is slightly reduced. When the seedlings reach 30 centimeters, you can freely plant them in open ground.

We care properly

Caring for a perennial carnation will not take much effort, the flower is quite unpretentious. You need to follow a few simple rules, and the flower will delight with its aroma and flowering:

• Timely watering.
• Removal of weeds and weeds.
• Top dressing.
• Pruning. After the carnation has faded, its buds are carefully cut.

Important! Excessive dampness will be detrimental to cloves. Therefore, it should be watered frequently, but in small quantities. Pay close attention to the period when the snow begins to melt or it rains abundantly. The earth needs periodic loosening. A large amount of moisture can lead to putrefactive processes in the root system.

At the end of the flowering period, not only the buds are cut off, but the stems are also shortened. For proper care and attentive attitude, the carnation will be grateful, and will bloom for the second time in late August and early September.

In winter, it is recommended to cover the carnation (wrap it up), especially in frosty weather. Many growers do not leave the flower in the ground, but transplant it into pots and containers and move it indoors. The plant tolerates such wintering successfully.

We feed and fertilize

Like all decorative flowers, the garden beauty needs feeding. Various fertilizers are applied throughout the growing season. The procedures begin in early autumn. Important periods in which feeding is required:

• Formation of buds.
• Bloom.

Never fertilize your cloves with fresh manure or products that contain potassium. Also, you should carefully apply fertilizing containing nitrogen. If you overdo it, fungal diseases can occur.

Mineral dressing will be very helpful.

Reproduction of a garden beauty

Perennial carnations can be propagated in more than one way, there are several of them:

• Cuttings.
• Seeds.
• Division of the bush.

Cuttings are carried out at the beginning of summer. Cuttings are cut only from a strong and healthy plant, its optimal length is about 10 centimeters (not less).

So that the development of the cuttings is fast enough, the slices can be treated with growth stimulants. The material is planted in a nutrient soil. Until the first leaves appear, the cuttings must be covered with foil.

Young cuttings quickly grow stronger and develop, and very soon it will be possible to observe small bushes. It is propagation by cuttings that is very popular.

The seed planting process is described at the beginning of the article. It can be added to the information that the seeds are bought both in a flower shop and are collected independently. The collection of dry bolls is carried out after full maturation, in the fall.

Propagation by seeds of hybrid varieties is not recommended, the new flower cannot repeat the qualities of the mother, therefore, the preservation of the variety will not work.

Reproduction by dividing the bush occurs well in perennial carnations. The procedure is very simple, a part with roots is cut off from the mother bush, and transplanted to a new place. Caring for such a plant does not differ from usual, it will bloom next year.

Is the plant sick

Perennial carnation is characterized by the following diseases and pests:

• Ticks.
• Aphid.
• Gray rot.
• Rust.
• Mosaic.
• Fungus, etc.

So that you do not have to treat the plant, get rid of annoying pests, you need to properly care for it. Strong cloves have good immunity.

Observe the watering rules, loosen the soil more often and remove weeds, transplant the bushes to a new area every 2-3 years. In this case, most of the problems can be avoided.

Interesting to know

There is a lot of interesting information about a garden carnation that is useful for every gardener to know:

• The leading country in the cultivation of carnations is Tanzania. Most breeders are working on developing new varieties, improving existing ones. Thanks to this, the popularity of cloves is growing all over the world.
• At home, carnation does not tolerate noise. In such an environment, the flower withers quickly.
• It is customary to give flowers to young people entering the army. The flower symbolizes victory and the return home in good health. The tradition goes back to France and is used in other countries. Soldiers who carry a carnation with them consider it a talisman that protects in difficult times.
• Italian women pin a flower to the uniform of their lover, thus showing love. She protects him in dangerous situations.
• Clove is one of the most exquisite spices known around the world and used by many culinary experts. Only it is impossible to get it from an ordinary garden flower, the effect will be completely different. The spice is made from the tropical clove tree.
• The carnation is not always a symbol of blood, history knows the "revolution of carnations", which ended peacefully.
• The Duke of Windsor adorned his costume with a white bud. For this reason, she is an indicator of the style of aristocrats and easy life.
• The Belgians regard the carnation as the flower of the poor. Most often it can be seen in the miners' front gardens. It symbolizes the flowering of life after the dark mines. The bouquet is presented as a gift to a daughter who is getting married.
• The needlewomen are very fond of carnation, who decorate old lace with it.
• The carnation is considered to be the "Divine Flower" that is used to decorate tables.

Difficulties that can be faced

Most often, novice gardeners who have bought a carnation, but do not know the rules for caring for it, and do not follow them, face problems. In this case, the flower begins to hurt, various parasites are bred.

One of the most dangerous problems is bear, nematodes and thrips. The most effective fight against them with the help of chemicals.

So that fungal diseases do not arise, care must be correct and timely. This is the best prevention.

On a note! In the front garden, it is recommended to plant perennial carnations away from tulips. They may have the same diseases, only the methods of dealing with them are different. Those substances that can be used to treat a tulip are contraindicated for a carnation.