Dividing perennial dianthus

a1154

hi, I have had a carnation for about 6 years, don’t know the variety but it’s a thick grey carpet of foliage and a pink flower (sort of a blue pink) all the same on a medium stem. 
I was going to divide this now, it’s quite large, but on investigation, the foliage is sort of sat on the ground, I can’t see anything actually rooted, up to a few inches in. You can lift it up off the ground. 
Can I take these bits off, will they root somehow? or do I need to dig the whole thing up, and then do you effectively lose the bits round the outside not rooted? 

Hostafan1

best done from cutting. V easy I'm told ( but never done them ) 

AnniD

https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-take-carnation-cuttings/
  

BobTheGardener

I'm pretty sure dianthus are single-stemmed, so can't be split.  I have one which has spread to cover over a square metre but it's just a mat laying on the surface and all coming from a single woody stem.  As above, cuttings of non-flowering shoots is the way to propagate them and is pretty easy.

nutcutlet

lazy cuttings works well, bury the stems in very gritty mix and they will root into it

a1154

Ah mine sounds just like that Bob. OK I will give cuttings a go. It’s a shame I thought a sharp spade would do the job! Thanks all.