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.
Assuming you are transplanting them from their nursery pots to a container or the soil, there is a phenomenon called "transplant shock," which may occur shortly after you transplant a plant into a new environment, especially if the new environment has very different conditions (more light, more heat, less water, etc.). The plant may drop its flowers or some of its leaves in order to prioritize producing new roots. It sounds like this is what's happening with yours, made worse by the heat of summer. After it is planted and settles in, the phlox should produce new flowers. Do yours?
Alternatively, it could be that the phlox is not used to so much sun and heat. It may have lived a more sheltered life in the nursery, so perhaps try keeping it in partial sun for a week or so when you first bring it home, then move it into full sun.
Seeds or transplants? Plant seeds 1 inch deep and plant transplants no deeper than they are already planted in their pots.
Spring is the best time to plant creeping phlox, so now would be fine. We're about a month from summer, officially, so this should give it time to become acclimated.
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