Planting
When to Plant Phlox
Plant phlox in the spring after the threat of frost has passed, or plant in the fall at least a month before your first frost.
Where to Plant Phlox
Because there are so many different types of phlox, sunlight requirements vary. Tall garden phlox do best in full sun, while woodland species thrive in partial shade.
In general, phlox prefer soil that is nutrient-rich and evenly moist. They do not like to sit in wet soil, however. Use a garden fork or tiller to prepare your garden bed prior to planting. Loosen the soil to about 12 to 15 inches deep, then mix in a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost to improve soil consistency and fertility.
How to Plant Phlox
- It is easier to grow phlox from cuttings/transplants than from seeds, although established plants will readily spread by seed in the garden.
- Space plants according to their mature size.
- If you are transplanting a plant from a pot, dig a hole about twice the size of the pot’s diameter and place the plant so that the top of the root ball is even with the soil’s surface. Fill in around the root ball, and remember to water it thoroughly.
Types
These perennials sport copious star-shaped, colorful flowers from spring through summer, depending on the variety. Because there are so many types (many of which are native to North America), you can find a phlox for almost any garden. Truly, their versatility can’t be overstated.
- Low-growing creeping phlox works great as ground cover in sunny yards.
- Ankle-high woodland phlox is perfect for dappled, shady beds.
- Medium-height garden phlox is often the “backbone” of the perennial garden, providing a layer of color midway through the garden and filling in gaps.
- Tall garden phlox is excellent as a colorful backdrop, with large, often-fragrant flower clusters.
Sounds as if you ordered bare-root plants--and yes, they will look dried out and perk up in the growing season. Phlox is usually planted in the spring. It can be planted in fall in early autumn. Fall-planted phlox are more subject to frost heaving, though it's not unusual to receive mail-order plants too late in fall to be planted safely. If you plant them, be sure to add 4 to 6 inches of mulch (hay, pine needles, chipped leaves) as soon as the soil freezes to protect your plants and give them the best chance.
With phlox, you may pinch or cut back half way -- no later than early June. Note that legginess before bloom often comes from overfertilization, especially use of nitrogen, so avoid this.
Hi, Aubrey, This all sounds normal... It's fall: Phlox is a perennial, it will die back in autumn (as daylight lessens and cooler temps set in). Cut the plants back to about 3 inches (too much more might damage the crown). Remove debris from the bed to discourage diseases. When it's clear that the warm days are behind us, lay on a protective pillow of mulch. (Doing this too soon, while the soil is still relatively warm, might trigger regrowth.) Since this is the plants' first year, leave them intact, but in future consider that autumn is a good time to divide plants.
Hope this helps!
Do the leaves of your phlox appear to have a whitish dust on them? Phlox is quite hardy but also prone to powdery mildew if it's been humid or wet. It's fairly normal and doesn't usually hurt the plant. You can throw away the affected foliage and pinch off any other affected leaves; spray the rest of the plant with fungicidal soap.
If your phlox doesn't have powdery mildew, sometimes leave drop can happen with older phlox as the summer progresses. This is a signal that you may need to divide your phlox and and replant in compost-rich soil.
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