Hello all... I am in North Carolina and just started a perennial garden
(I'm a novice grower:-)). Planted about 8 varieties about 2 months ago
and have watered them regularly, plus we've gotten a lot of rain. Every
other week I water them with a Miracle Gro solution.

The soil is a mix of clay and compost, with landscape fabric over that and
cedar mulch on top. ALMOST everything (salvia, day lilies, gaillardia,
shasta daisy, echinacea, achillea) is growing gangbusters, but my dianthus
("Strawberry Parfait") are hardly any bigger than when they went in the
ground :-(. They've put out a few flowers, and they look healthy - no
brown or yellow leaves - just no growth.

Do they need some special treatment that they're not getting? They get
full morning sun and afternoon sun until about 4.

Thanks!