Phlox garden planting and outdoor care

Phlox are rightfully considered one of the most beautiful garden plants. Their advantage is the abundance of flowers and a rather long flowering period. In nature, there are about 40 varieties of phlox, including wild ones. However, most of those that we can see on plots and gardens in the middle lane belong to the bush variety Paniculata, which includes many different hybrids.

The cultivated phlox is a perennial plant. Depending on the species, it can bloom at different times of the year - from May to September. A distinctive feature of phlox is their extremely rich color range - various shades of pink, red, white, purple.

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Types and varieties of phlox

Amethyst

Spectacular phlox of medium height with fragrant bluish-lilac inflorescences.

David

Luxurious snow-white phlox David received a prestigious award from British florists. This stately handsome man grows well both in the sun and in partial shade, practically does not get sick.

Delilah

A short plant with pinkish purple flowers. Phlox varieties Delilah are generally not capricious and resistant to various kinds of diseases, but sometimes they can be prone to spotting.

Candy Twist

Candy Twist is a paniculata phlox with a mischievous striped color that resembles candy. This phlox is very aromatic, does not fade in the sun, and is resistant to diseases.

Sandro Botticelli

A delightful variety of phlox selected by Yuri Reprev is quite deservedly named after the great Italian painter. Sandro Botticelli admires the delicate lilac-pink color. You might think that he came straight from the artist's canvas.

Spotted phlox

Spotted phlox is also often called meadow or pyramidal. It is a very close relative of the phlox paniculata. It is possible to distinguish the spotted phlox from its more popular "brother" by two features: small burgundy spots on the stem and the pyramidal shape of the inflorescences.

How to plant phlox in open ground

If you choose the right varieties of phlox and plant them, then you can admire the flowering from mid-spring to the end of September.Phlox can be planted in the ground in spring or autumn, regardless of their type.

Planting annual phlox in the ground

Annual varieties are sown directly outdoors in late autumn. In winter, the seeds undergo natural stratification and germinate better. But most often these flowers are grown as seedlings in the spring. Lush flowering is the result of timely planting of phlox in the ground and good.

Phloxes are sown in boxes with earth, covered with polyethylene and watered regularly. Shoots appear in a week. When they have 4 leaves, they pinch the plants so that they branch better. In May, seedlings are planted in open ground at a distance of 20 cm from each other. Phloxes do not tolerate direct sunlight and fade quickly. The best place for them is light partial shade. The larger the shade, the longer the phlox bloom, however, the flowering intensity decreases. Phlox does not like heavy soils and grows best on fertile sandy loam soils.

Planting phlox in open ground

Seeds are sown in open ground before winter - in September - November, depending on the characteristics of the local climate. If we use our own achenes, we collect them in the fall, when the leaves fade, the capsules will compact, acquire a greenish-brown color and, when pressed, begin to crack.

How to sow phlox seeds

We plant directly into the garden. You can sow achenes directly into the ground, spreading them every 5 cm in rows 1 cm deep. Having distributed the achenes in rows, sprinkle them with soil.

We plant in seedlings. We grow the planting material in advance in a container, keeping a vessel with sown achenes for a couple of weeks in a cold place. We provide the seedlings with a warm place, good lighting, and timely watering. We plant the plants in the garden when 4 leaves appear.

Planting with seeds is good because the bushes are more powerful and healthy, but, unfortunately, they may lose some of the characteristics inherent in the variety.

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If you want to divide the bushes in the fall, we plant the separated bushes in early September, cutting off the stems by a third: rooting will be faster and easier. For the winter, we insulate the planting with mulch. The first shoots will appear in the spring as soon as the snow melts.

Separated bushes are planted as follows:

We dig in the bush to be divided, take it out of the ground and cut off the stems, leaving cuttings 15 cm long.

We divide the roots with a sharp knife: on each separated bush there should be 2-5 buds.

We make large holes, fill them with ash (a large handful) and compost (half a bucket), mix the additives with the soil.

Pour water into the holes, put a bush, sprinkle it with earth, covering the growth points by 4-5 cm.

We tamp the soil around the bushes, put a layer of compost and tamp it again.

At the end of planting, cover the soil around the plants with a ten centimeter layer of mulch using peat or straw.

Outdoor phlox care after planting

When caring for flowers, special attention should be paid to the choice of location, irrigation regime and fertilization. On these three whales the health of phlox is kept.

Location and lighting for the plant

If phlox are planted in a permanently shaded area, they will, of course, grow due to their endurance. But you will definitely not see beautiful bright colors! But take a look at the overly elongated painful stems, thin and deformed.

Give the phlox as much light as possible to get healthy, beautiful plants with a sturdy, sturdy stem that holds the voluminous caps of dense inflorescences. In partial shade conditions, the flowers will appear later than the due date and will be pale and friable. Air humidity

Phloxes tolerate heat and arid atmosphere well, especially with sufficient moisture in the soil. But in the absence of rain, they should be periodically sprayed from above from a spray bottle. The procedure can be carried out only in the evening, when the sun reduces its aggressiveness.

Fertilizing phlox

Fresh manure cannot be applied under phlox, various rot may occur. The land intended for planting phlox must first be fertilized.

If the soil is clay, then coarse river sand, gravel, wood ash, peat, compost are added. To fertilize 1 square meter of soil requires 7 kg of peat, about 300 grams of wood ash, about 5 kg of humus or compost. All components are thoroughly mixed, river sand or fine gravel, 30 grams of nitrophoska, 30 grams of potassium sulfate and the same amount of Agricola-7 are added to them.

Then the fertilized soil is dug up again. Phlox also like coniferous compost, although it is not available to everyone.

During the summer, you need to feed phlox three times. If the summer is rainy, then the top dressing is done dry, if there is not enough rain, liquid top dressing is carried out.

The first feeding is done when the stems grow back. Liquid top dressing consists of 10 liters of water and 2 tablespoons of urea diluted in it. The dry top dressing includes: one bucket of compost or humus and two tablespoons of urea. The components are thoroughly mixed and scattered next to the plants. This amount can feed three phlox bushes.

Watering phlox

Growing phlox is not complete without watering. Phloxes simply adore him. During the growth and development of buds, watering is simply necessary for phlox. It must be firmly remembered that phloxes need to be watered at the root, but not over the plants themselves, especially with cold water. This can provoke such a common fungal disease as powdery mildew. In hot weather, the watering hose can be left under the bush for a while. This method of watering for phlox is the most comfortable.

Pinching phlox

In many cases, summer residents in mid-spring take care of perennial phlox by thinning - pinching. Thus, you can achieve an extension of the life of the bush for several weeks. It should be noted that up to 3 shoots can develop on a pinched stem. All pinched stems allow the growth of small inflorescences that can acquire an exceptional decorative appearance. In addition, this method of caring for phlox allows you to achieve rapid development of shoots and increase the flowering time of the bush until the last days of August. On summer days, we pinch the fifth pair of leaves on top of the phlox bushes. Thanks to this procedure, the plants will grow more branchy and voluminous. In addition, this achieves their fastest tillering. It should be noted that, preferably, after four seasons of flowering, it is better to divide the rhizomes into parts.

Do not forget to loosen the soil under the phlox

While loosening the soil, we strive not to harm the immature roots of plants. Therefore, we carefully cultivate the soil, since there is a considerable risk of affecting young roots in the upper layers of the soil (about 3-4 cm). Systematic and frequent feeding of flowers without proper water supply to the grown phlox is strictly prohibited. It should be taken into account that perennial phloxes develop optimally not only on the soil rich in minerals, but also on sufficiently moisturized soil.

Phlox transplant in the open field

The most favorable time for transplanting is the end of April and the beginning of May. If the transplant is scheduled for the fall, then it should be completed by mid-August. In the autumn, phloxes are transplanted with the trimmed upper part of the plant for better rooting. In the flowering state, transplantation is also possible if the seedling is carefully dug up and watered regularly in the future. If the root system dries up, the phlox will not be able to fully take root and in the future will often hurt and will not be able to fully grow and develop. How to care for a cotoneaster, read on this page. When choosing a phlox planting site, you need to take into account its variety.Since some varieties of Drummond phlox reach half a meter in height, forming a lush bush, you need to choose a place where it will not interfere with neighboring plants.

How to prune phlox

It is recommended to prune phlox bushes in the fall, after flowering ends, approximately from the end of September to the end of October, when all the nutrients accumulated in the plant will go to the root and the soil will begin to freeze. Pruning must be completed before the onset of constant cold weather, in different zones it is different: it can be both in October and in November.

Some gardeners recommend pruning in early spring, (especially in areas with little snow in winter), since the ground part of the bush (stems) will be needed in order to collect snow over phlox in winter, because in the northern regions it is the best protection against frost, and in the south it helps to increase soil moisture. In such cases, snow near the bushes cannot be tamped.

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The process of autumn pruning consists of pruning itself, feeding and mulching the land around the bush, differing only in the materials used.

There are several options for trimming phlox:

• level with the ground - to avoid the preservation of infections and pests;
• leaving 5-10 cm above the ground - to trap snow, in poor snow conditions or when landing in a windy area.

After pruning, all residues (stems, leaves) should be collected and burned, as they may contain fungal spores, foci of diseases and insect pests. The base of the bush and the soil around it should be treated with fungicides against diseases.

Reproduction of phlox by dividing the bush

Phlox can be planted in spring and autumn. In early spring, when young sprouts appear with a sharpened shovel, about 70% of the bush is carefully separated right in the ground. The dug out part is divided with a knife into five or more parts. The resulting plots are planted in a new place, and the old bush grows intensively over the summer and forms new stems. Even if there is no need to multiply phlox for every second year, it is recommended to update the plantings in this way, and excess plots can be given or destroyed.

The flowering of the transplanted plots occurs in the first summer. The part of the bush left in the old place blooms more abundantly, delighting its owners with large flowers.

The autumn division of the bush begins at the end of the growing season. For these purposes, bushes with 20 cm in diameter and more than 10 stems are chosen. These are, as a rule, three to four-year-old plants. Before dividing, the bushes are cleaned of old roots and planted. For 2-3 years of intensive growth, full-fledged bushes are formed.

Reproduction of phlox by cuttings

Phlox can be propagated quite easily by cuttings taken from various parts of the plant. At the same time, there are quite a lot of opportunities for those wishing to propagate the desired variety. The soil for all types of cuttings is prepared in the same way. A cutter, that is, a bed for grafting, is best arranged in partial shade. The soil should be loose, fertile, moist and healthy, 1/3 of good garden or sod land, 1/3 of leaf humus or weathered peat and 1/3 of washed river sand. If the soil on the bed is fertile, then you can pour a mixture of sand and peat, sifted compost or leaf humus on its surface and mix with a rake with the top layer of earth. The surface of the ridge is leveled, compacted or watered abundantly, and washed sand is poured on top with a layer of 2–2.5 cm. The sand prevents mosses and crust from forming on the soil surface. The edges of the bed are well edged with boards 25-30 cm wide, which makes it easier to maintain the microclimate in the bed, more even temperature and humidity.

The genus Phlox belongs to the Polemoniaceae family and has more than 65 species. These plants are native to North America.All representatives of the genus are perennials, with the exception of the Drummond phlox, which is an annual plant.

The name of these beautiful flowers in translation from Greek means "flame". So the plant was named by Karl Linnaeus because of the fiery red color of flowers in wild species.

General information

Phlox, depending on the species, can have both erect and ascending or creeping stems. Their height ranges from 10-20 to 120-150 centimeters. Sessile leaves are located opposite, sometimes in the upper part of the stem can be arranged in the next order. Leaves can be oval-lanceolate, ovate-elongated or lanceolate with a solid edge.

The flowers have a diameter of 2.5 to 4 centimeters and form paniculate or corymbose inflorescences. Flowers delight the eye with a variety of colors: white, scarlet, blue, pink, lilac, red, with an "eye" in the center, etc. Phlox fruits are oval capsules with numerous small seeds.

Perennial phlox grown in the garden are derived from wild species as well as their hybrids. The appearance of phlox, like their botanical features, is very diverse and varies even within species. To systematize them, scientists have to resort to the methods of genetics.

Phloxes are almost ubiquitous. They are found in the harsh climate of Alaska and Canada, and in the southern regions, where winters never happen. They grow both in a dry desert climate and in a humid temperate climate.

The appearance of wild phlox directly depends on the place of their growth. So, phlox, living on scree and bare rocks at an altitude of more than 3500 meters above sea level, undersized plants that form turf trees and, blooming, are covered with a cap of bright flowers. Phlox grow both in moist forests (for example, splayed phlox) and in dry mountain forests (stolon-bearing phlox).

They can also be found near rivers, in lowlands on moist soils, as well as in dry steppes, on sandy soils. Phloxes also differ in their relation to lighting. There are species that prefer to grow in the shade, and there are those that prefer growing in the bright sun and, with a lack of lighting, cease to please with their flowering.

Phloxes have a varied appearance. Most of the representatives have erect herbaceous stems, forming compact bushes with bright and lush inflorescences at the tops. In these species, only rhizomes with buds and the lower part of the stems overwinter. Phlox, forming dense turf, have creeping, branched stems with a large number of evergreen leaves.

These species bloom most often in spring and look like a solid carpet of pink, white, lilac or crimson-pink flowers. There are also phlox-semi-shrubs with woody perennial stems creeping along the ground.

The phlox flower consists of 5 petals and has a tubular-funnel shape. The petals are bent at right angles to the tube and form a flat rim, which can have a star-shaped, wheel-shaped, deeply dissected, notched, saucer-shaped, and other shapes. Flowers come in a wide variety of colors - monochromatic, with "eyes", dots, strokes, shadows.

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Types and varieties of phlox

Depending on the morphological features, phloxes are divided into 3 groups:

• Shrub;
• Loose sod;
• Creeping.

Bush phlox forms are distinguished by 2 more subgroups. The first includes tall plants, strong erect stems of which can reach 180 centimeters in height. By autumn, the base of the stems becomes lignified. Phloxes of this subgroup bloom in summer and early autumn with a large number of fragrant flowers that form large panicle inflorescences.

Representatives of the subgroup - phlox smooth, phlox paniculate and phlox spotted.The second group included low-growing plants with straight or ascending strongly branching stems, ranging in height from 45 to 60 centimeters.

Phloxes of this subgroup form loose bushes with spherical-umbellate or corymbose inflorescences on the tops of the stems. Some representatives may have a shortened panicle or a sparse brush inflorescence. These bush phloxes delight with their flowering in late spring and early summer.

Representatives of this subgroup are hairy phlox, caroline phlox, oval phlox, adorable phlox and others. A characteristic feature of all bush phlox is the absence of grooves and cuts in the edge of the corolla petals.

Loose turf representatives of phlox have strongly branching creeping vegetative stems with multiple flowering shoots extending from them. They got the name due to the fact that their creeping stems form a loose turf.

These phlox bloom in late spring or early summer. The most common representatives of this group are stolon-bearing phlox and wide-spread phlox.

Creeping the phlox group is characterized by branching, creeping stems that sometimes rise at the ends and form sods and cushions of varying density. The leaves of such phlox are narrow and small, collected in bunches in nodes and are often evergreen.

Plants can be bare or pubescent. At the ends of the stems there are peduncles with one or more flowers. Creeping phlox bloom in spring. The most famous representatives are Hood's phlox, styloid phlox, Douglas phlox, snow phlox, dwarf phlox and star phlox.

During the period of introduction of phlox, a significant number of interspecific varieties and hybrids were bred, most of which form independent groups. For example, hybrids of Arends phlox were obtained as a result of crossing paniculata phlox with splay phlox. The first hybrid from such a cross was obtained in 1910 by the breeder J. Arends (hence the name phlox).

Over the next few years, 13 more varieties were obtained, almost all of which, unfortunately, have now been lost. The modern collection of Arends phlox hybrids consists of several varieties that combine the duration of the flowering of the paniculata phlox with the early flowering of the splay phlox.

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Phlox planting and care in the open field

Phloxes are unpretentious plants, but in order to achieve abundant and long-lasting flowering, it is necessary to choose the right place for their planting. It is best to plant the plants in a place protected from the wind.

Phlox can grow both in partial shade and in the sun. At the same time, in sunny places, the flowering of phlox is not long, and the flowers of some varieties may even fade and fade under the influence of sunlight.

Plants prefer soil that is loose, fertile, with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction and sufficient moisture, but without stagnant water. It is advisable to prepare the soil in the fall before planting flowers in spring.

To do this, it is processed to a depth of 30 centimeters (there is no need for deeper, since the root system of phlox is in the upper ball of the soil) and wood ash, compost and superphosphate are added.

If the soil is clay, then it is necessary to add sand to it, in the amount of 1 bucket per square meter, and organic fertilizers. If the reaction of the soil is acidic, then lime is added.

Plant care consists in periodic feeding, loosening the soil and watering in the absence of rain. For the winter, the stems of the plant should be cut off near the ground.

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Reproduction of phlox by dividing the bush

This is probably the most popular of the methods. The time for such a transplant is either early spring, or after flowering in the fall, to allow the seedlings to take root before winter. In the summer, such a transplant is also possible, but it should be done in the evening and with good watering.But it must be borne in mind that the separated seedlings must be large and it is imperative to save an earthen lump at the root. After transplanting, ensure regular watering.

In the autumn period, we begin the division of the bush, with digging, it should be noted that this method of reproduction must be performed if the plant has already reached six years of age. Next, we completely remove the earth from the root system. After that, we carefully divide the roots that go to the stem. If the bush cannot be separated by hand, use a knife. Having divided the roots, we check that each one has shoots' processes. The separated parts are immediately planted in the ground.

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Reproduction of phlox by cuttings

This breeding option involves three ways:

Reproduction of phlox stem cuttings, this method is not difficult and the best time for this is the period of active growth of the stems, before flowering, late May, early June. Choose good, healthy cuttings from an adult plant.

We divide the shoot so that there are several nodes on each handle. The leaves are those that are at the bottom of the cutting must be cut off completely, and the upper ones by half. We plant the cuttings in a container with loose nutrient soil and sprinkle with sand on top with a layer of several centimeters.

If the planting is carried out in open ground, then sprinkle with leaves or peat about 8 centimeters and a layer of sand on top of a few centimeters. We moisten the soil and plant the cuttings on the upper knot with leaves, pressing the soil against them. We plant at a distance of about five centimeters from each other.

After planting, we place a container with cuttings in a greenhouse and hide from direct sunlight for a period of up to 21 days with watering up to 3 times a day. After the cuttings are accepted and rooted, green leaves begin to appear on them, it is necessary to transplant to a more spacious place at a distance of up to 16 cm.This method can be propagated throughout the season.

The second way, the reproduction of phlox leafy cuttings... This method is best applied at the beginning of July. Only with a blade you need to cut off a leaf with a bud and grab a little of the stem.

We plant the cutting in a container with loose soil and add a layer of one centimeter of sand. The distance between the plants is about five centimeters, we plant it deeply, taking into account that the bud and stalk are in the ground.

After disembarking, we cover the container with glass and leave it in a semi-dark place with a temperature of about 19 degrees. And we regularly moisturize, periodically airing, so that the cuttings do not overpower. After rooting, we plant it in the ground.

The third way, the reproduction of phlox, root cuttings... This method is laborious, but it is sometimes used to get rid of stem nematode parasites. Can be planted in spring and after flowering. Having dug up the plant, select the strongest roots and cut into 6 cm pieces.

We plant in a container with earth and sprinkle with a layer of sand about 5 cm. Water abundantly and wait for new shoots. If in winter, we put it in a cool basement and water it, not letting the soil dry out, and in the spring we take it out and accustom it to heat and light gradually, rooted cuttings with shoots are planted in open ground in May.

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Reproduction by layering

A simple method available to anyone, even a novice amateur gardener. Sprinkle the bushes with earth, the higher the better. And after some period, roots appear on the shoots. And when the roots take root, you need to cut them off and plant them in the ground.

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Seed propagation

Subulate phlox reproduce by seeds, but often with such reproduction varietal traits do not always remain.

Before sowing, in order to improve the seedlings, you need to clear them from the boxes. Because of its fragility, it is better to sow immediately after harvest. You need to choose the largest seeds and in November sow in open ground or a box.

In winter, the seeds will undergo natural selection and the most hardened ones will delight you with good shoots.They appear in May, when several leaves appear, they must be planted at a distance of about 15 cm from each other. Following all the rules of planting and care, you will actively develop and bloom.

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Phlox pests and diseases

Phloxes can be affected by pests and fungal, viral and mycoplasma diseases. Most often, plants are affected by powdery mildew. This is due to improper care or growing in the shade.

Phloxes also often suffer from rust, verticillium wilting, white spot and mosaic.

The most dangerous of the pests is the stem phlox nematode. When a plant is damaged by this microscopic worm, the tops of the stems turn pale and twist, and the leaves become thinner.

The plant cannot be cured and must be dug up along with a large clod of earth and removed from the site so that other plants do not become infected.

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Use in landscape design

Phlox are excellent perennials for decorating flower gardens. Their popularity among gardeners is due to their frost resistance, unpretentiousness, ease of care, as well as the splendor and brightness of flowering.

Phloxes can be used as representatives of cottage gardens, village front gardens, in rock gardens near water bodies, landscape, romantic or avant-garde style flower beds.

By choosing the right varieties of phlox, you can achieve flowering flower beds, starting in spring and ending in autumn. So creeping and loose-sourced phloxes will decorate the garden in spring and early summer, and spray ones - during summer and early autumn.

When planting plants, it is necessary to take into account their height and color of flowers so that the created compositions look harmonious.

You can also use fragrant phlox flowers to create bouquets. In this case, it is best to cut them off in the morning, having done the evening watering of the plant before that.

To ensure the formation of lush and dense inflorescences, it is recommended to leave no more than 7-8 stems in the bush.

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The first cultivated varieties of phlox graced European greenhouses and parks in the 18th century. Today phlox, planting and care in the open field, which novice summer residents can do, are one of the most popular garden perennials.

Most often, in flower beds, you can see paniculate phlox with erect leafy stems and caps of simple or semi-double flowers of various colors that open in the second half of summer. For several years, the perennial grows, forming a bright curtain. At the same time, the phlox is not afraid of frosts, the plant is not afraid of drought and is content with minimal care.

No less remarkable are the undersized varieties of phlox, used to decorate borders, rock gardens, and the foreground of multi-tiered flower beds. They are unpretentious, bloom for a long time and brightly, easily, like paniculate phlox, multiply and are so diverse that they make it possible to realize any ideas of a florist.

What are the ways to plant phlox in the ground, when to plant flowers, and how to take care of plants?

How and when to plant phlox in open ground

Thanks to the good germination of seeds, adaptability and simplicity of seedlings, it is not difficult to "tame" beautiful perennial flowers. If you apply a little effort, phlox, after planting in open ground with seeds, green cuttings or parts of an adult plant, will soon delight with the first buds and long flowering.

For paniculate and undersized phlox species, areas are selected:

• in the sun with light protection from the scorching midday rays;
• with loose garden soil of neutral acidity, well permeable to air and water.

When choosing a place for flowers, it should be borne in mind that certain variegated varieties in the hot sun can quickly fade, losing a large share of decorativeness. It will be better if, in the hottest hours, a light shadow covers the inflorescences from the heat.

Planting phlox in open ground

Phlox grow well in one place up to 8–20 years.Such longevity relieves the gardener from worries. But the plants weaken over time, the curtain growing on the periphery becomes bare in the middle.

Every 4-6 years, phloxes are planted, dividing an adult bush into parts.

This can be done in spring, summer, or closer to autumn. True, if the plants get a new place of residence at a later date, they will not have time to take root and will not overwinter. This is important to take into account when planting phlox in open ground in the Urals, Siberia and other regions where sudden frosts and early arrival of cold weather are possible.

Division and transfer rules:

1. The phlox intended for dividing is dug out, trying not to damage the numerous rhizomes up to 15-25 cm long.
2. Shoots are cut at a height of 10-15 m from the soil level.
3. Then, with a sharp knife, the bush is divided into parts so that each has at least 2–5 healthy growth points.
4. The sections are treated with coal powder, after which the cuttings are planted in the place intended for them.

To speed up the engraftment of plants and simplify care in the open field, the soil is prepared in advance before planting phlox. The site is dug up on a full bayonet, weeds are selected, mineral fertilizers are applied.

Planting pits for perennial phloxes are made in the fall, if the plants fall into the ground in the spring. For summer and autumn plantings, the soil is ennobled at least 2-4 weeks before transplanting. Fresh organic matter can burn the roots, therefore, only well-rotted compost and manure are used as fertilizers. When the pits are filled, the soil is moistened and fresh cuttings are planted. The growth points of phlox after planting in the ground should be at a depth of 2-3 cm. The soil is carefully compacted, watered again and mulched thickly.

They do the same when they use green cuttings for planting, cut off, when in May or early June, 15 cm long shoots appear on phloxes. The stems are cut so that a couple of buds remain on the mother plant. The lower leaves are removed from the cuttings, the upper one is cut in half. Then the planting material is immersed in water for 40-60 minutes.

After that, phloxes can be planted in a greenhouse or directly into open ground. The cuttings are buried a couple of centimeters. Within 1–2 weeks, roots appear on new plants, and phlox, ready for planting and care in the open field, are transferred to a permanent place.

Outdoor phlox care after planting

Caring for perennial phloxes will not burden the summer resident. Plants need watering, maintaining the cleanliness of the soil and fertilizing, which will help the phlox grow and bloom perfectly.

After planting phlox in the spring, care for them in the open field must include weeding and loosening the soil. Otherwise, the weeds clog the seedlings, and the dense crust does not provide enough water and oxygen.

If it rains in summer, additional watering is not required. The dry months are a different matter. In this case, the bushes are watered regularly, abundantly, especially during flowering, trying not to get delicate petals. The best time to water perennial phlox is in the evening.

From the second half of summer, phloxes are often affected by powdery mildew - one of the most common diseases spread by harmful fungi. To protect phlox in the open field from disease, post-planting care includes prophylactic and, if necessary, therapeutic treatment of the bushes with fungicides.

Double spraying is carried out at the beginning and middle of summer. If this does not help, the bushes will have to be cut short and copiously treated with a liquid preparation containing copper.

Before the beginning of winter, it is important to remove plant residues from under the bushes, and carefully spray the plants themselves with Bordeaux liquid or copper sulfate.

Perennial phloxes tolerate winter well, but if there is not enough snow, they can freeze slightly. Therefore, in the fall, the aboveground part is cut off, and the bushes are covered with a thick layer of mulch or spruce branches.

How to plant phlox correctly - video

Many people want to decorate the garden with colorful flowers, preferably such that they can be planted in one place, and enjoy flowering for several years. It is these plants that include perennial phlox, planting and care in the open field for which are extremely simple, and within the power of any grower.

We will learn how to plant and care for unpretentious and winter-hardy flowers that do not require exclusively sunny places and oily fertile soils.

Types of phlox for perennial cultivation

Phlox, colorful and varied in color, are distinguished by paniculate or ordinary inflorescences in the form of lush caps with a wonderful aroma. There are over 50 species of this plant, both short and tall, with a color from boiling white to bright crimson or purple.

The most popular types of phlox

• Groundcover... Plants branch and spread strongly, grow up to 20 cm and, with dense plantings, resemble a luxurious carpet. Bloom in May, with umbellate inflorescences of purple, pink or red tones.
• Undersized... Evergreen flowers from 5 to 40 cm high with pale pink, light blue, lilac or white inflorescences. In winter, a phlox flower bed resembles a patch of moss. The buds are formed in May, and the bushes merge into solid colorful spots. Florists often prefer the Douglas and North varieties.

• Paniculata... The name of the species comes from the shape of the inflorescences, similar to panicles. Adult plants with needle-like foliage reach 40-100 cm. Inflorescences are large, lilac, white, lilac, pale or deep pink tones. Varieties with inflorescences have also been bred, on whose petals multi-colored lines flaunt. Panicled phlox blooms in August.

• Subulate... Flowers no more than 15 cm high with branching stems covering the flower bed with a carpet. They bloom in May with small inflorescences of lilac-pink or light-purple tones.
• Terry... A rare species that grows about 60 cm. Flowers are double, multi-tiered, reddish, milky or pink.

In addition to them, there are miniature phlox, which forms neat bushes about 30 cm. Small lush inflorescences of the plant bloom with small abundant inflorescences of white, lilac or purple color.

How perennial phlox are grown

How to plant phlox - perennials

Before planting phlox and leaving in the open field, it is important to know that they are grown from both achenes and roots. The main thing is to provide them with light, better loamy, non-acidic or slightly acidic soil. It is advisable to choose a place that is well lit, but phlox grows well in partial shade.

If you want to plant flowers in the spring (for the root method), we prepare the earth in the fall: we dig up, removing old roots, if necessary, we neutralize the acidic soil by adding 200 grams of lime per square meter. Then we proceed to planting or sowing phlox seeds.

Root planting phlox

In one place, phlox successfully grows for about 15 years, during which it can be divided and planted separately, manipulating it every 5 years. Better to plant "kids" in early spring - at the turn of April and May, ie. as soon as the ground thaws. Saplings take root easier and begin to bloom this summer.

If you want to divide the bushes in the fall, we plant the separated bushes in early September, cutting off the stems by a third: rooting will be faster and easier. For the winter, we insulate the planting with mulch. The first shoots will appear in the spring as soon as the snow melts.

Separated bushes are planted as follows:

• We dig in the bush to be divided, take it out of the ground and cut off the stems, leaving cuttings 15 cm long.
• We divide the roots with a sharp knife: on each separated bush there should be 2-5 buds.
• We make large holes, fill them with ash (a large handful) and compost (half a bucket), mix the additives with the soil.
• Pour water into the holes, put a bush, sprinkle it with earth, covering the growth points by 4-5 cm.
• We tamp the soil around the bushes, put a layer of compost and tamp it again.

At the end of planting, cover the soil around the plants with a ten centimeter layer of mulch using peat or straw.

Planting phlox seeds

Seeds are sown in open ground before winter - in September - November, depending on the local climate. If we use our own achenes, we collect them in the fall, when the leaves fade, the capsules will compact, acquire a greenish-brown color and, when pressed, begin to crack.

How to sow phlox seeds

• We plant directly into the garden. You can sow achenes directly into the ground, spreading them every 5 cm in rows 1 cm deep. Having distributed the achenes in rows, sprinkle them with soil.
• We plant in seedlings. We grow the planting material in advance in a container, keeping a vessel with sown achenes for a couple of weeks in a cold place. We provide the seedlings with a warm place, good lighting, and timely watering. We plant the plants in the garden when 4 leaves appear.

Planting with seeds is good because the bushes are more powerful and healthy, but, unfortunately, they may lose some of the characteristics inherent in the variety.

Perennial phlox, home care

Plants should be looked after in the same way as for other garden flowers: water, loosen, fertilize, cut, pinch, insulate, protect from pests. Let's consider the care procedures in more detail.

Watering and loosening

In dry season, water the flowers moderately twice a day to keep the soil moist. The main thing is not to turn it into a swamp - the plant does not like acidic soil.

If the weather is moderately hot, and it rains periodically, if necessary, water the bushes in the evenings, trying not to fall on the foliage. A five-centimeter layer of mulch will help keep the earth moist longer - we use humus or peat.

After watering, we loosen the soil around the bushes, without deepening more than 2 cm, otherwise we will damage the roots.

Soil fertilization

After the buds appear, we feed the flowers every 7 days: a well-fertilized soil provides a rich green mass and abundant flowering.

We fertilize plants

• In mid-May, we feed the earth with mineral and organic fertilizers. Dissolve chicken droppings or mullein (1 liter), ammonium nitrate (25 grams), potassium-phosphorus additives (20 grams each) in a ten-liter bucket of water. This means is enough for 2 sq. m.
• In the last days of May, we do the same top dressing, but put more potassium-phosphorus supplements - 30 grams each.
• In mid-June, dissolve only potassium (50 grams) and phosphorus (70 grams) in 10 liters of water.

We repeat the last top dressing according to the third option at the beginning of August and stop fertilizing the soil until next year.

Pinching phlox

For more abundant flowering and the formation of a large bush, we pinch young plants in early May.

By pinching, the phlox bushes will bloom 20-30 days later, but will flourish four to five weeks longer.

After pinching the stems, two or three branches will grow on them: later they will be covered with beautiful smaller inflorescences, giving the bush a luxurious look.

Protecting garden phloxes from pests and diseases

Occasionally, plants are subject to the following ailments and pest attacks:

• Nematoda, filamentous worm... Having found a pest, we dig out a bush with an earthen clod and destroy it. We process the place where it grew with lime.

In order to avoid pest attacks, we plant flowers away from places where strawberries grow or were grown.

It is better to keep marigolds and calendula in the neighbors: they will provide the phlox with reliable protection.

• The incidence of spotting, powdery mildew... With such diseases, phlox foliage becomes covered with gray specks and glades, dries up and falls off. It is necessary to cut off diseased stems and spray the bushes with Bordeaux mixture.

For preventive purposes, in mid-October, we treat the bushes with disinfectants using a Bordeaux mixture or a one percent solution of copper sulfate. In spring and summer, we spray the plants twice with insecticides such as Kinmix, Fundazol, Karate or Sumi-Alpha.

Now you know how easy it is to grow perennial phlox, planting and care in open ground for which everyone can do it. The main thing is to protect the plants from frost: if in your area winter temperatures drop from 25 degrees and below, be sure to cover the bushes with insulation in the form of sawdust or peat, otherwise the roots will freeze and the flowers will die.

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