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Sweet Williams - Pruning advice

Southcoastgran34Southcoastgran34 Posts: 7
in Plants
Hi all. inherited a lovely garden when I moved so I don't know how long my Sweet Williams have been here. They are just coming to the end of their flowering and are starting to go to seed. The foliage is starting to look untidy. Do I cut down to the ground or just continue deadheading them? They are pretty tall!
Fairies live at the bottom of my garden.

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    When I've grown them I sometimes cut them right back to about 3" in the hope that they'll flower again the following year.
    They often do, but there are very few flowers and the plants look pretty knackered so I'm not sure if it's worth it.

    The best option is to look for little seedlings after the parent plant has dropped seed (or collect the seed and sow it) then move them to where you want them to flower the following year - or sometimes the year after.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Southcoastgran34Southcoastgran34 Posts: 7
    Thank you Pete.8. I will do that. Needs something less tall where they are anyway as they are right in front of some pretty roses. 
    Fairies live at the bottom of my garden.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Most sweet willimas are grown as biennials so, once they've flowered, you pull them up and plant something else.  

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/105495/dianthus-barbatus/details 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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