How To Prune Dianthus And Lavender

Question From: A. Martin - Baldwin, New York, United States
Q: What care or pruning should I give my dianthus? Should I cut out the brown growth or just leave it alone? And my grosso lavendar-do I do anything to those very thin woody stems that r so tall? If I remember correctly they bore "flowers" last summer and for quite a long time. Thx so much for ur help.
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A: I remove dead growth from perennials in early spring. The stalks of the lavender should be removed. I trim back the lavender by one third to encourage dense growth. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy