✅ About phlox: how to plant correctly in open ground in summer, autumn, spring

The first cultivated varieties of phlox decorated European greenhouses and parks in the 18th century. Today, phlox, which can be planted and cared for in open ground by novice gardeners, is one of the most popular garden perennials.

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

No less remarkable are the low-growing varieties of perennial 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, reproduce easily, like paniculate phlox, and are so diverse that they allow any gardener’s ideas to come to life. Today we’ll talk about the timing of planting phlox in the spring.

How to properly plant phlox in open ground

There are many colors and varieties of phlox, differing in height, size of inflorescences, requirements for care and cultivation.
The most widely known varieties are paniculata, canadian, and subulate. Many gardeners are concerned about the question of when and how to plant phlox in open ground in order to enjoy their aroma and beautiful flowering all summer long. In the article we will tell you how to choose a planting option and a place for a flower bed, and we will look at the whole process step by step.

Preparing for landing

Before planting phlox with roots or seedlings in the spring, you need to choose a suitable place in the flower garden or garden and decide on the composition of the soil. It is important to comply with planting deadlines and select planting material. Although flowers are considered unpretentious, they need to be cared for both during planting and during the growing period.

Landing dates

Knowing when to plant phlox in open ground, you can prepare the beds in advance, purchase seeds, or dig up and divide the rhizomes. The procedure can be performed in early spring, summer or autumn.

Autumn transplant. Conducted in late August-early September, when the plant has faded and formed renewal buds. The latest date for planting roots in a new place is mid-October. Cut off the shoots of the bushes by two-thirds, leaving the leaves, and dig in the rhizomes, mulch with peat, humus, making mounds up to 10 cm high.
Summer landing. Carry out as needed in rainy or gloomy weather when the heat subsides. The bushes are buried and watered in the morning and evening. It is advisable to carry out such work in June.
Spring planting, replanting. It begins after the snow melts, in late April - early May, when the soil dries out. The optimal time is when the plant produces sprouts 6-10 cm long and the average air temperature is above zero.

Good to know. It is better to store purchased phlox in the refrigerator or basement before planting in the ground, and after spring planting, cover it in case of frost.

Selecting a location

Before planting phlox in a permanent place, you need to choose a suitable area for them in the garden. It should be slightly moistened, raised, protected from wind and drafts. Perennials do not like drying out and do not grow well in poor and swampy soil or in the shade. The place should be sunny, with light shade during the daytime.

It is good if the flower garden is located on a slight slope, next to low-growing trees and shrubs, but not under them. It is not advisable to plant bushes near lilac, willow, birch or spruce, as well as in an open place that is heavily blown with snow in winter. The best option is the southeast, east or southwest side of the house, where the flowers will be protected from cold winds.

Soil requirements

Inexperienced gardeners believe that unpretentious perennials will grow in any soil. This is not so - phlox loves fertile loam, moist and loose soil, and organic fertilizing throughout the entire growing period. Their powerful root system grows to a depth of 25-35 cm, so the fertile layer needs to be poured no less than onto the bayonet of a shovel.

When planting in open ground, it is necessary to fertilize the soil with horse or cow manure, humus, peat, and add ash to the hole. Optimal soil composition:

leaf turf;
humus or peat;
coarse river sand;
lowland peat or compost;
lime.

It is important to know. Flowers respond well to the application of organic matter and mineral nitrogen-containing fertilizers in early May, loosening the soil, and subsequent mulching with mown grass and sawdust.

Selection of planting material

Phlox planting material can be sold in packaging bags (paper or transparent) containers with soil or in the form of rhizomes divided into parts. Planting seeds for seedlings is less common; more often this concerns annual varieties.

When purchased, a standard planting division should have from 4 to 6 strong shoots with well-formed buds and several small leaves on thick stems. The roots in the bag should be cut to 15 cm, and the stems at the base should be greenish in color. For each specimen on the packaging, the manufacturer must indicate the name of the variety and attach a picture, if possible.
Bushes sold in containers can be planted in the ground or buried in a mixture of peat and sawdust. Healthy greenish or dark purple sprouts (depending on the variety) or formed stems with leaves should be visible. The soil is usually moist.
The part of the rhizome purchased at a gardening center or dug up during transplantation should be in a coma of earth. On the surface in April-May, sprouts of stems, often with young leaves, are already visible. When planting, the roots should be slightly trimmed and inspected for the absence of rot and pests.

Types and varieties of perennial phlox

Perennial phloxes are divided into tall and creeping. This determines the use of plants in landscape design; tall phloxes can grow up to two meters in height and therefore are best used in the background or to decorate a large area, while creeping ones fit well into rockeries and decorate mixboards and borders.

Paniculate Phlox. One of the most famous and most cultivated species, there are many varieties. Phlox paniculata can be early, mid and late - consider the timing of flowering when composing the composition in the flower garden. The bushes grow from 40 to 180 cm in height - this is a tall type of phlox. The stems are erect, the foliage grows densely, the leaf is smooth, shiny, elongated, with a sharp tip and a pronounced central vein. The inflorescences are paniculate and, depending on the variety, can have different shapes: spherical, pyramidal, conical, etc. The inflorescences consist of small flowers, simple or double, with a diameter of 2 to 5 cm. Phlox paniculata has many color options, not only pure yellow and blue.
Spotted Phlox. The stem is thin, pubescent, the leaves are narrow. The bushes are of medium height, ranging from 40-70 cm. The inflorescences are lush, but loose, the flowers have a double color, most varieties are in pink tones.
Phlox of Douglas. This is a creeping variety of phlox, used to create a “carpet” covering in flower beds. Phlox Douglas has a height of 5-7 cm, the stem is pubescent, the leaves are pointed, green, it is an evergreen plant that retains its decorative effect all year round. Flowering occurs in early summer.
Phlox stoloniferous. Natural appearance, not as decorative as, for example, paniculate phlox, has the appearance of a field or meadow flower. This is a creeping plant with erect shoots 20-30 cm high. The flowers are located along the entire length of the stem, at the end there is an inflorescence; the flowers are simple, mainly in lilac-pink tones.
Phlox subulate. It is an evergreen species, its leaves are very narrow and dense - like an awl, it forms a dense carpet 7-15 cm high, blooms in early summer, and sometimes re-blooms. Flowers are white, pink, crimson.
Phlox spread out. Forms a carpet of shoots 20-25 cm high. It blooms with blue flowers in May-June, the foliage is light green or variegated (green and white).

Aftercare

In order for garden phlox to delight you all summer with its luxurious bright inflorescences and to bloom longer, they need to be periodically watered, loosened, fertilized and weeded after planting.

Spraying. In hot weather, when there is no rain for a long time, the planted plants should be moistened with water from a spray bottle. It is advisable to carry out the procedure late in the evening.
Fertilizer. It is impossible to apply fresh manure under the roots, as this provokes their rotting. It is better to mix humus with river sand, ash and compost. You can also fertilize the plantings with a mixture of potassium sulfate, nitrophoska and Agricola-7, taking 30 g of each drug. In dry summers, liquid fertilizers are used; in rainy summers, granules are used.
Watering. Phlox are moisture-loving plants; after planting, they need to be watered every 2 days for 3 weeks, then as the soil dries. You should pour water not on the leaves and flowers, but at the root. Cold watering in hot weather can cause the stems to crack.
Pinching. By pinching the stem, you can achieve branching and grow small but lush inflorescences. In addition, pinching stimulates the rapid growth of shoots and increases the duration of flowering. The procedure is carried out when the fifth pair of leaves appears at the beginning of summer.
Loosening and weed control. During loosening, you must try not to damage the roots located close to the surface. Before this, you should water the ground and weed out weeds. If desired, you can mulch the soil to better retain moisture.

By consistently following all of the above recommendations, you can achieve highly decorative plantings and grow large phloxes with lush inflorescences of different shades.

Pests and diseases of phlox

Phlox is harmed by nematodes, slugs, earwigs, wireworms, spider mites and slobbering pennies.

In addition, phloxes are affected by viral diseases, rarely fungal ones. Prevention is important here, which is manifested in compliance with the rules of agricultural technology: well-fertilized, uncontaminated soil, absence of weeds, timely watering, loosening and fertilizing the soil.

To combat pests, digging up the earth and destroying infected individuals is suitable. Treating the soil with hot steam will also help.
Do not allow the soil to dry out, otherwise the phlox may become infected with slobbering pennies. In dry years, water your flowers more often.
Do not be alarmed if, with proper care, the lower leaves of phlox begin to dry out and the stems begin to crack. This may be a completely natural physiological process.
When there is a normal amount of minerals in the soil and a sufficient amount of lime, cracking is rare. You should also avoid watering with very cold water on a hot sunny day.

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When to plant phlox

Planting phlox in open ground in spring should be early. When the snow has already melted and the soil has not yet dried out too much.

For the southern regions, this period falls at the end of March - mid-April.
The middle zone plants phlox at the end of April.
The northern regions are waiting for the end of April and beginning of May.

The Paniculate variety is loved to be grown in Russia.

It is important to know! The time period for planting phlox in the spring is two weeks, until the stems begin to actively grow.

Planting dates in autumn

The advantage of autumn planting is the length of planting time - up to 40 days. The plant gives all its strength to root growth, and next spring the phloxes bloom fully. Whereas after spring planting, in summer flowering may be delayed or completely absent.

Autumn planting can begin immediately after the formation of renewal buds. Each plant has its own planting calendar. Usually this is the end of August - beginning of September. Late-flowering varieties are planted from mid-September to the end of October.

What to do if the recommended planting dates have passed

Domestic phlox tolerate transplanting and dividing the tuber even in summer and in a blooming state. During this procedure, it is important not to damage the roots, and to water the planted cuttings regularly.

If the late planting occurs in the fall, it is important to protect the young roots from the cold. To do this, the seedlings are mulched with straw, sawdust, and peat.

Mulch in the hands of a gardener.

It is important to know! In winter, phlox should not be covered with materials that do not allow air to pass through. The plant withers and dies.

How to choose healthy planting material

In garden centers it is possible to purchase greenhouse varieties of low-ornamental varieties. They were brought from Europe and during the delivery process their root system most often dries out. Such seedlings take a very painful and long time to acclimatize. In appearance, they begin to approach the image on the packaging after 2-3 years of life in the garden and with very careful care.

Healthy and well-growing seedlings will be available to local flower lovers. It is important that they were grown in the same conditions, which means that it will be much easier to take root in a new place.

A phlox baby should have 4-5 healthy green shoots up to 10 cm long. The roots should not be dry, free from stains and rot. The root system should be shortened to 15 cm.

Place for planting phlox in spring

Phlox are winter-hardy plants that tolerate drought well. They love light, but overheating of the root system can destroy the plant. Therefore, they need to be grown in partial shade. The inflorescences, fading under the direct rays of the sun, become very bright in a shaded place, and at dusk they produce a magical impression. Raised beds for phlox should be placed away from plants with strong roots.

The soil for phlox must be very fertile. Clay soil in a lowland with groundwater close to the surface is not at all what the plant needs. It also does not like acidified soil, which will have to be neutralized by adding lime. Sand with humus combined with timely watering is an ideal option. Loam will have to be diluted with peat, sand and organic matter.

Soil preparation

The composition of the soil for phlox is a very important point in caring for these beauties.

The soil for planting is prepared six months in advance:

the selected area should be cleared of debris and weeds;
the area needs to be dug up several times to make the soil crumbly;
since phlox roots grow to a depth of 30 cm, soil cultivation should be no less than this depth.

Depending on the type of soil, various additives are needed:

Clay soil needs coarse sand, lowland peat, humus, compost, lime, and mineral fertilizers.
To loose soil you need to add clay soil, turf soil, humus, compost and mineral fertilizers.

It is important to know! During planting, fertilizers are added to the hole. Phosphorus-potassium during autumn planting and nitrogen-containing in the spring.

Reproduction

At the end of May, seeds are sown in the future flower bed. The soil needs to be moistened with warm water, the seeds should not be deepened too much (breeders recommend sowing without deepening on the surface of the soil).

After planting, the seeds need to be covered with film for several days. Next, maintain moisture by spraying, and after germination, reduce watering so that the young roots do not rot.

Growing annual phlox from seed varies slightly. The seed is first planted in containers under film in early spring, and in early May, the seedlings are ready for planting in open ground.

How to grow phlox from seeds

For successful propagation of phlox by roots, they need to have a supply of nutrients. This is either early spring or late autumn.

Autumn roots are cut by 2/3 and planted in boxes with nutritious soil, sprinkled with river sand on top. They need to spend the winter in cold and darkness. And in the spring, slowly increase the temperature and lighting. In May, the seedlings are ready to be transplanted into a schoolyard in open ground.

In spring, planting phlox with rhizomes is easier. How to plant phlox in the spring with roots so as not to harm the mother plant? You only need to cut the roots by 1/3. Then they are placed in pots and live in greenhouses at a temperature no higher than +10C, protected from light. After two weeks, the temperature is raised to +25C. The emerging sprouts are accustomed to the sun. Seedlings that have grown 10 cm are planted in a schoolyard in open ground.

You can divide a phlox bush in early spring or early autumn. The dug up bush is divided into pieces of several shoots.

Important! The main thing is that the roots contain active buds; without them, the division will die.

The process of dividing a phlox bush

How to prepare seeds for sowing

Phlox seeds can be sown dry - this is a classic sowing option. Or you can soak it in a solution of any biostimulant - Zircon, Epin-Extra, Energen (according to the instructions). Stimulants increase the energy of seed germination and in the future the seedlings turn out strong and healthy.

“Phlox seeds are quite large, but they should not be planted in the soil - they must be sown on the surface of the ground, lightly slapping with the palm of your hand so that they come into complete contact with the soil,” advises agronomist-breeder Svetlana Mikhailova. – It is better to sow them in plastic containers with a lid and keep them closed until germination – this way moisture is better retained.

For growing phlox seedlings, universal soil from a garden center is suitable.

Phlox seeds germinate in 5–7 days. As soon as sprouts appear, the lid must be removed.

Planting in open ground and further care

Phlox, both perennial and annual, should be planted only in a substrate prepared in advance.

Planting a seedling in open ground

How to plant phlox in open ground:

The bottom of the hole should be lined with nutritious soil.
A hill is made from the soil, on which the seedling is placed, and its roots are straightened down.
During planting, you need to fertilize the seedling depending on the time of year.

It is important to know! Low varieties are planted at a distance of 35-40 cm from each other. Tall, a meter apart from each other.

Phlox care is simple:

Good lighting will ensure abundant and constant flowering.
Watering is needed abundantly, but not frequently.
The soil periodically needs to be loosened and weeds removed.
During the period of active flowering, it is necessary to apply complex mineral fertilizer every two weeks.

A very interesting question that interests novice flower lovers is where to plant phlox in the shade or in the sun? There is no clear answer because:

in the sun the flowering will be abundant, but the bushes will be more squat;
in the shade the shoots will stretch out, and flowering may be rare;
the scorching midday sun can leave burns on the petals;
It would be optimal to plant in a place where the sun changes to shade during the day.

Annual phlox Drummonda loves sunny places

For wintering, all shoots are cut almost flush with the ground. Afterwards, the flowerbed is mulched with peat, humus or a layer of dried leaves. Pruning is carried out from the end of September to the end of October.

It is important to know! Uncut shoots in winter risk becoming a breeding ground for fungal diseases and pests.

In the right soil, phlox will be completely unpretentious and easy to care for and reproduce. This airy marshmallow of inflorescences with a pleasant aroma is ready to decorate the garden throughout the summer. It easily coexists with other cultures and fits perfectly into decorative compositions.

When is the best time to plant phlox?

Planting phlox in spring in open ground is done during the period when the last spring frosts have passed. This time may vary depending on the planting area and falls between mid-April in the south and late May in the northern parts of the country. To choose a date, you need to check the landing calendar.

Plants are also planted in early autumn, at least a month before the first frost, so that they have time to take root. Autumn planting is more desirable than spring planting, since the seedling devotes a lot of energy to flowering, and for a successful winter the bush needs to develop.

Important! Do not delay planting phlox in the fall. A bush planted late may not take root.

What to do if the recommended planting dates have passed? A bush with a developed root system can be planted throughout the growing season. If a bush is transplanted to a new place, you need to move it with a lump of earth in which the bush grows so that the seedling can take root before winter. Phlox is planted with seeds before the beginning of summer; planting at a later date is not advisable.

Common mistakes

The most common mistakes not only among beginners, but also among professionals in their field are:

When planting, they do not pay special attention to the appearance of the flower, which leads to the spread of diseases not only on this phlox, but also on neighboring bushes.
Failure to comply with planting deadlines, which can lead to freezing.
Incorrect watering. Most often, plantings are watered too often, which ultimately leads to rotting of the root system.
Hilling up young planting material also leads to the death of the plant.

Reproduction of phlox at home

Propagation of phlox from seeds

You can get phlox from seeds; this cultivation is practiced on annual varieties. In this aspect, the Drummond variety showed itself well. But when planting perennial seeds, their varietal qualities are lost. This needs to be remembered for those who want to know how to grow phlox from seeds.

Planting can be done as seedlings at home. They do this in early March, sowing flower seeds in light soil in small pots that are covered with film, wait until the seed hatches, then remove the film. In May, seedlings can be planted on the site.

For reference: in the southern regions, seeds can be sown in the ground outside, but not earlier than the beginning of June. At the same time, you need to understand that germination will be significantly worse.

Propagation of phlox by roots

A formed 3-year-old bush can be divided into several parts and planted in new places.

To do this, in the fall, cut the phlox stems in half, dig up the whole or part of the bush, then transfer it to a new planting site. Fertilizers are added to the pre-dug hole and the rhizome of the divided bush is added. Planting phlox with rhizomes is also done in the spring.

Planting Phlox in the ground

Dividing the bush

The lifespan of phlox is 15 years. To maintain abundant flowering, you can periodically renew the plant by planting parts of the formed rhizome.

A 5-year-old bush is dug up along with a lump of earth, cut with a shovel into several parts, which are transferred to the site of new plantings. The bush should be carefully divided, as insufficient roots can make the plant unproductive. This must be taken into account before planting phlox roots in the spring.

Recommendations for fertilizing phlox

In order for paniculata phlox to bloom profusely, so that strong bushes can grow for a long time without replanting in the same place, it is necessary to regularly fertilize and mulch the soil.

In spring, phloxes begin to grow early. Therefore, feeding phlox should begin in early spring. As soon as the snow melts and the soil surface dries out a little, fertilizers should be applied: saltpeter (30-35 g), superphosphate (50-60 g) and ash (40-60 g per 1 sq.m.)

On the same day, it is necessary to carefully loosen the soil between the bushes, and then mulch (fine rotted manure or humus) with a layer of 2-3 cm

In summer, phloxes are fed 3-5 times with a solution of complete mineral fertilizer at the rate of one bucket (10 l) per 1 sq.m. landing

The first summer feeding of paniculata phlox is done in the second half of May with a solution of fermented mullein (at a dilution of 1:15), or a solution of chicken manure (1:25). This nitrogen fertilizer serves to stimulate the growth of strong stems.

The second feeding of phlox is carried out in early June - with the same fertilizers, but for each bucket of solution add 15-20 g of superphosphate and 10-15 g of potassium salt, or instead of it 20-30 g of ash.

The third feeding of phlox is carried out in early July - with the same fertilizers as the second, but with a slight decrease in the amount of nitrogen fertilizers.

The fourth feeding of phlox is done at the end of July with a solution of only mineral fertilizers: superphosphate 15-20 g, potassium salt 15-20 g (or ash 30-40 g) per 10 liters of water.

In mid-August, paniculate phlox of late-flowering varieties can be given a fifth feeding with the same fertilizers as the fourth. After this, fertilizing of phlox is stopped so that the plants can finish growing before winter and do not produce secondary growth of side shoots.

Fertilizing should be done after a good rain, which has sufficiently moistened the ground, or after preliminary watering of phlox bushes.

Organic and mineral fertilizers for phlox must be applied at the base of the bush, without getting on the leaves. After fertilizing, the plants are watered with clean water to wash away fertilizers from the leaves and stems, which can cause plant burns.

Rules for planting phlox

How to choose healthy planting material

Before planting perennial phlox, it is worth choosing varieties adapted for cultivation in temperate climates.

You should definitely make sure that you are buying a plant with the desired bud color, so it is better to choose material with flowers that have not yet been cut.

When choosing a seedling, they inspect it for diseases, check whether there is rotting or damage from pests on the roots. You need to buy a bush with well-developed roots, their length should be at least 10 cm.

Preparing the soil before planting

Phlox love slightly acidic, light soil. The clay is loosened with sand, and lime and ash are added to the acidic environment. Too poor soil is enriched with manure and compost.

If the bush is planted in a new, uncultivated area, the ground around the hole must be dug up to the depth of a spade bayonet.

Choosing a place and soil for planting

If the area has shallow groundwater, the planting site should be chosen on a hill, since the plant has a developed root system that goes to a depth of 20 cm, and groundwater can lead to rotting of the roots.

There is an opinion among gardeners that it does not matter where to plant phlox, in the shade or in the sun. The most suitable areas are lightly shaded areas where bright sunlight will not burn the petals of the seedling. Plant the bush on pre-fertilized, loosened soil.

Note! Low-lying areas should be avoided, as fog can accumulate in them, which can cause powdery mildew on the plant's leaves.

There is no need to plant the plant near large trees, as they will compete and take nutrients from each other. A tree with developed roots can destroy a recently germinated seedling.

Planting in open ground

If the place and time for planting phlox have been determined, then it is necessary to begin planting. Phloxes are placed at a distance of 40-50 cm from each other. The bush should have 4-5 shoots at least 8 cm long, roots at least 10 cm.

The depth of the pit should be at least 30 cm; a mixture of compost and mineral fertilizers in equal parts is poured into the bottom. The seedling is placed in a hole with the roots straightened.

Before planting phlox in open ground, you need to soak the rhizome for several hours in a root growth stimulator. The growing point should be 3 cm below the surface of the earth.

Choosing a place

When thinking about where to place flowers, we take into account that they will remain in one place for five years or more. Although there are also annual varieties. In general, phloxes have an amazing variety of varieties, and you can choose them in such a way that they alternate and bloom all summer. Phloxes are also universal in the interior - there are those that creep, as well as tall ones.

The two conditions under which these flowers grow excellently are moisture and fertile soil.

What to choose: sun or shade? I noticed that they are equally happy both in open areas and in the shade of trees with a sparse crown. They also contribute to the accumulation of snow in winter, and this protects against freezing.

The main thing is that the site we have chosen is not lowland or sloped. In the lowlands, water accumulates for a long time, and on the slope the flowers will be unprotected from the wind and will freeze out.

Important!
When choosing a place in the shade of trees, we will not plant phlox under lilacs, poplars, birches, spruce and willow. In a word, trees whose root system is close to the surface are not suitable for us, since they will take away all the nutrients from the plants.

A flower bed with phlox can also be placed in the shade of the house, trying to avoid the north and south sides. Although the south side is a controversial issue. After all, if you live in the northern region of Russia, then it is better to place the phloxes on this side, provided that they are well covered in winter.

A good cover is several layers of agril or any rolled non-woven material, as well as peat.

For the southern regions, it is important to choose a place that maintains a humid environment for as long as possible and is not exposed to cold winds.

Any soil is suitable, but special preference is given to loose, neutral or slightly acidic soils, as well as light loam.