Perennial phlox planting and care photo species propagation by cuttings growing from seeds

Phlox decorate gardens with a variety of colors and shades. More than 60 types allow you to decorate areas in an unusual way. You should not propagate them in the summer, as they do not take root well. In contrast, planting phlox in the fall allows you to speed up flowering the following year.

Adviсe experienced flower growers about how to plant plants in open ground, preparing the soil, fertilizing and helping the flower survive the winter will be useful to every gardener.

Features of planting in autumn

When to plant perennial phlox? Phlox are perennials that bloom luxuriantly for several years, but over the years the flowers become smaller, and the bush requires rejuvenation or replanting. Many gardeners like to experiment and change appearance plot in spring or autumn. But at the end of summer, new ideas arise: what to change, what plants and color scheme add. Therefore, transplantation of phloxes to another place is organized.

Even though it's quite unpretentious flower, planting phlox in the fall has its own characteristics and some advantages:

1. The bush does without additional watering. As a rule, autumn rains are quite enough for rooting.
2. In autumn there is a longer period, which promotes vegetation and rooting and is equal to 30–40 days. In spring, flower growers use only two weeks.
3. Plants planted during this period bloom the following summer. In contrast, spring propagation delays flowering in the first year.
4. After flowering, it is easier to determine which varieties will be added or removed to create a unified image of the site.
5. Plants obtained from cuttings take root better.

Based on these factors, it becomes clear that replanting plants in open ground in the fall is not only possible, but also provides a number of advantages. If certain agricultural technology tips are followed, better reproduction is obtained.

How to choose healthy planting material

Types of phlox

Is there some more popular varieties: Dusk, Carl Foster, Childhood, Smoky coral, Ural rocks, etc. Basic parameters of planting material:

• rough stem skin;
• two thick, developed stems;
• large basal buds;
• absence of rot and mechanical damage;
• divisions with strong roots.

Preparation for landing

The roots are trimmed (about 15 cm are left). If the bush is replanted with an earthen clod, the phlox (color top) is trimmed. At least three intact leaves are left on the trunk, this helps prepare the plant for wintering.

Planting dates in autumn

Early and mid-blooming phlox begin to prepare for reproduction at the end of August. During this period, the renewal buds are already formed and the flower does not die after transplantation. When to replant late-blooming phlox? The bushes are moved to a new place in the second ten days of September.

Selecting a location

It is advisable to grow phlox on loose fertile area. Loamy soil with a neutral (or close to it) acidity level is suitable for them. Features of improving the structure of the earth are described in the next paragraph.

Soil preparation

Planting phlox and landscape design begins with choosing a site, which is prepared in advance, about a couple of weeks before the planned planting. It needs to be dug up so that the earth has time to settle and the flowerbed does not turn out to be buried in comparison with the rest of the area.

It is necessary to dig up the area to a depth of at least 35 cm, since the rhizome is located in the soil at a depth of 20 cm. Remove debris, plant roots, and perennial weeds. For this use:

• compost;
• coarse river sand;
• aerated peat;
• ripe humus (preferably made from leaves).

The approach to sandy soil is different. It is necessary to improve the structure, moisture capacity, make the soil nutritious, for this purpose clay is added during the digging process, sod land, lime or wood ash, mineral fertilizers.

Step by step planting process

According to the chosen scheme, prepared planting material. The distance is selected depending on the size of the adult plant.

Detailed instructions for the sequence of work:

• a hole is dug of such an area that all the roots can be freely placed in it;
• a layer is poured onto the bottom river sand, this will improve drainage;
• the top of the root is approximately 5 cm from the ground level, otherwise the rhizomes may freeze. With deeper placement, the development of the above-ground part slows down, since root system formed in two tiers;
• the hole is watered generously, a handful of humus is poured into it, wood ash+ phosphorus fertilizers (1 tbsp.). IN liquid earth planting material is placed;
• The top is covered with excavated soil. There is no need to water additionally;
• the earth is compacted and leveled, the created flowerbed should be 15 cm high.

In autumn, only potassium and phosphorus fertilizers are applied. Complex mixtures containing nitrogen are applied in the spring until May.

Expert advice! “Fresh manure cannot be used. The bush grows powerful foliage, but will not bloom.”

Competent feeding

Fertilizing in the fall is required. Complex fertilizer mixed with ash is scattered over frozen soil. In spring, a solution of mineral fertilizer (10 g per bucket of water) increases the intensity and duration of flowering.

Basic methods of reproduction

Plants are propagated in two ways: by dividing the bush and cuttings. In the first case mature plant dig out completely. Using a sharp, clean knife, cut the rhizome to obtain complete planting material. The cut site is treated with ash, dried a little and only then planted in the chosen place. Otherwise, the root will rot or the plant will become sick.

The second way is that:

1. the stem is cut from an adult healthy bush;
2. cuttings no longer than 15–20 cm are cut;
3. treated with a preparation that promotes the formation of roots and planted in a mixture of loamy soil and peat soil;
4. Regular watering is organized to keep the soil moist;
5. transplant the cuttings to permanent place in the fall.

How to carry out regular care

Care in the spring after winter consists of fertilizing, watering, loosening the soil, and controlling pests and diseases. Planting phlox in the fall, including proper care cannot do without watering. Phlox are plants that are afraid of both lack of moisture and overwatering. Heavy daily dew can damage the flowers, but not provide the necessary moisture to the entire bush.

If there is not enough liquid, the root begins to dry out. To preserve precious moisture, loosening should be kept to a minimum. And in order not to damage the roots, gardeners mulch the buds around the bushes. This agrotechnical method preserves rain moisture, the soil does not become compacted, and the flower develops and blooms well.

Pruning phlox or puncturing involves regularly tearing off shoots of the plant. This technique delays the flowering period and promotes the formation of additional lateral shoots, since seed ripening is prevented by removing inflorescences and flowers. As a result, conditions are created for continued flowering.

There are two types of pruning. First: the stems are cut 5 cm from the soil surface, this allows you to accumulate nutrients in the rhizome and protect them during frosts. The second method: cut off the above-ground part at soil level, which becomes a good prevention of fungal diseases.

Diseases and treatment

IN spring time phloxes are affected by diseases and pests flowering plants, as a result, their decorative effect deteriorates. Often the cause is poor-quality fertilizers and planting material, placement in partial shade. Flowers suffer from: phomosis, leaf spot, powdery mildew, phlox nematode. This is especially evident in the spring-summer season at low temperatures and high humidity in June, July.

The most common is powdery mildew, which looks like cobweb spots that affect the leaves. The disease begins to spread from the soil and eventually affects the entire flowering bush. As soon as affected areas are identified, they need to be cut off. Such systemic protection gives the desired result.

However, if you delay treatment, a diseased plant infects others, which eventually die, so it is important to treat not only the bushes with fungicides, but also the ground around them, this will contribute to treatment and regeneration. decorative properties. On a plant infected with a nematode, the leaves become thin and ribbon-shaped; it is better to remove such a plant along with its roots.

After this, you need to withstand a certain period - 3 years. Phlox and perennial flowers of this family cannot be planted in such a flower garden.

Every year in October, the land is treated with fungicides that kill pathogenic spores. It is also important to do this in spring period when the spore awakens.

Careful preparation for winter

To prevent the death of planting material, gardeners protect plantings from frost. For this purpose, rotted sawdust, various bulk materials organic origin, peat. They increase the temperature in the root zone and prevent freezing.

After the snow melts, the mulch is immediately removed, which allows access to the sun's rays, promotes good soil warming and rapid emergence leaves. In the future, the stems are cut off annually before wintering; this will prevent the bush from fungal diseases.

Florist advice! “Under no circumstances should they use plastic film or roofing felt, they do not allow air to pass through and provoke the death of the plant, since the roots are damped out.”

Common mistakes when growing

Despite the fact that phloxes are not exotic plants, the following problems arise:

• High humidity attracts slugs, which eat the plantings. The fight comes down to using lime and wood ash around the bushes, which destroy slugs;
• planting in an inappropriate location, strong shade or in a wetland. In the first case, the bush blooms weakly. In the second, the rhizomes rot and die;
• excess mineral fertilizers or applying manure. The plant “fattens”, grows a huge mass of leaves and refuses to bloom;
• deep planting of rhizomes also delays the flowering period;
• untimely replanting of the plant provokes oppression of the plant;
• By purchasing planting material not from a specialized store, you can introduce pathogenic fungal diseases to the site.

Correct fit perennial phlox, selection and preparation of a site, healthy planting material, compliance with planting, care, watering, and fertilizing technologies guarantee abundant flowering, which will decorate the garden, site and delight the owners.

Phlox are flowers that belong to the cyanaceae family. In total there are more than 65 species. They grow in North America. All of them perennials, except Phlox Drummond. This plant pleases with its flowering only one year. If you translate phlox from Greek, it means flame. This is due to the fact that the flowers are fiery red in color.

How and when to plant

Perennial phlox should be planted in autumn and spring. Autumn planting should occur at the end of August. Until this time, the plant must form renewal buds. So those that finish flowering early will be the first to be ready for planting and replanting. Late crops are planted in September. At the beginning of October, phlox planting ends. on the contrary, it occurs in the spring.

When planting phlox, expect flowering next season. At the same time, it will already be full and colorful. In the spring, it is worth planting later varieties of plants, which were obtained late in the fall and placed indoors for the winter.

At spring planting You should wait until the soil is cool and moist. IN middle lane In Russia, the planting time is the end of April.

The seedlings should be placed in a trench at a slight slope. Cover the roots and bases of the stems with soil to a depth of 15 cm. When the soil freezes, cover the plant completely with peat or a layer of leaves. It is worth laying the film on top. When the snow has already melted from the ground in spring, dig up the seedlings. Do this very carefully so as not to injure the shoots. By then they will have already begun to grow, so they can be planted in a permanent place of growth.

If phloxes were planted in the spring, then they get sick longer than those planted in the fall. But during spring planting, even the smallest rhizomes will be able to take root. But for this they have to be watered. Very weak tubers should be soaked in a growth stimulator. These include Epin, Kornevin, Humate.

The plant is unpretentious in terms of care and can be grown on any soil. Of course, it is better if these are nutritious loams with low acidity. The land will have to be dug up, fertilizers added, debris and perennial weeds removed. 14 days before planting, the soil will be able to settle and the roots of the plant will not be drawn to depth after planting. But what to do when the ground on the site is covered with moss is described in great detail in this

To plant phlox, do not dig deep grooves. You need to create a hole that will accommodate the roots of the plant. The bulk of the roots will be concentrated in the arable horizon, and this is no deeper than 30 cm. So you need to dig up the area using the bayonet of a shovel.

Phlox is a plant that loves organic matter. Before digging the soil, it is necessary to saturate the soil with compost and humus. You can also add phosphorus or potassium fertilizer. Clay soil loosen thoroughly and add sand. And if the soil is sandy, then place clay in it. It will retain moisture in hot weather.

But you can see how to plant Balsam from seeds in the video in this article:

You will have to dig up the area several times so that all the fertilizers are mixed and the structure becomes granular. Phloxes are unpretentious plants, so they can be planted even in an area where there is no fertile layer at all.

In the video - planting Phlox in open ground:

To do this, you need to take into account several nuances:

1. In the selected area, outline the borders of the flower bed (you can see what they look like in the photo in the article).
2. Use a shovel to remove the soil to a depth of 50 cm.
3. Fill the bottom of the groove with dry clay to a depth of 15 cm.
4. pour fertile soil and fertilizers. Carry out compaction and plant seedlings.

It is worth leaving 30 cm between the sprouts of low-growing border crops, and 70 cm of tall ones. If these conditions are met, it is possible to plant up to 7 seedlings on every 1 m2.

To choose the right site for planting phlox, it is necessary that it meets the following conditions:

1. There was no strong wind.
2. It was located in partial shade.
3. Had excellent snow accumulation.
4. There were no trees with shallow roots nearby.

It is best to plant phlox near the house on the east or west side. It is not permissible to do this with north side and in the shadows coniferous trees. Otherwise, your plants simply won't bloom.

How to care

So that phloxes give you an incredible gift throughout the entire flowering beautiful flowers, you should adhere to some rules for caring for the crop:

1. In order for the flowers to be bright and large, and the bush to be lush, it is worth adding fertilizer to the soil. They can be mineral and organic.
2. If the summer is dry, then the flower will need to be watered regularly. But make sure there is no standing water. Here's how it happens drip irrigation by using plastic bottles, can be seen in this
3. If there is no snow in winter, then the phloxes will have to be covered (but you can see what it looks like in the contents of this article)
4. Also, the bush should be trimmed periodically, then the buds will be larger. There should be no more than 7 shoots on one bush.

In addition to the rules for caring for phlox described above, care must be taken to ensure that the plant is not exposed to diseases or pests. If everything is done correctly, the bushes will be green, and flowers will appear on them at the specified time. But sometimes even the smallest mistake leads to the development of diseases.

Video on how to care for flowers:

When the flower garden is located in a very dark place, the phlox is affected by white spotting, rust and powdery mildew. There is another disease - phlox stem nematode. You can detect it by the fact that the flower leaves curl and the top begins to turn yellow.

To prevent the development of the disease, it is necessary to immediately remove damaged parts of the plant. Also in a specialized store you can purchase drugs that successfully fight a particular disease.

Phloxes are ornamental plant, which allows you to create any flower garden and give it originality, sophistication and uniqueness. At the same time, caring for phlox is not at all difficult, and even an inexperienced gardener can cope with all the tasks. Due to the fact that phlox are not picky plants, they can be planted together with other flowering crops, thus creating a unique flower arrangement.

For seedlings. Flower seeds quickly become unusable, so you should not delay planting and it is better to purchase them in a specialized store.

How to plant phlox: 3 effective ways

Phloxes do not like the bright rays of the sun, which make the colors of the buds dull. A place that is too dark does not have enough light for growth. The best option– plant the flower in partial shade. Before starting work, you need to prepare the soil, the acidity of which should be neutral or slightly salted.

Then dig up the ground to a depth of 30 cm, remove the weeds and make the beds. Sow the prepared area only after the soil has settled. At the end of autumn or early winter, place the seeds in the ground, with an interval of 5 cm. Sprinkle the seeds with prepared soil or store-bought soil. If snow has already fallen, make a small snowdrift on top.

It is better to divide bushes in early spring or at the end of August. Carefully dig up the phlox and remove excess soil. Divide the plant into parts so that they have growth buds. Place the flower root in the prepared shallow hole and cover with soil.

Propagation by cuttings. Cut a healthy stem and divide it into sections with two nodes. Make cuts under the bottom node and slightly above the top one. Plant the cuttings in soil fertilized with leaf humus, mixed with sand and watered.

How to grow phlox

To grow luxurious phloxes, you need to care for them. Flowers do not like dry soil and especially need moisture during the flowering period. They need to be watered right under the bush, without touching the buds. Water the planted cuttings 2-3 times a day for several weeks. In order for the flowers to bloom beautifully and for a long time, nourish the soil with various fertilizers.

The first stage of feeding begins after the snow melts. At this stage, the flower needs nitrogen and water. The fertilizer is diluted in liquid and added to the soil or poured dry and then watered from a watering can. Manure or chopped grass – good view feeding. At the second stage, the formation of a bud and the appearance of flowers begins. During this period, the plant needs potassium and phosphorus more than nitrogen.

Feeding begins at the end of spring with complex mineral fertilizers. This can be a mixture of mullein with potassium humate or with ash. On last stage Seeds are ripening and preparing for winter, so phlox needs phosphorus. Fertilizing is carried out in June with potassium fertilizers, and in some cases with urea solution.

Excess nitrogen supplements make the plant more susceptible to various infections, for example, powdery mildew. This is the most common disease when the leaves become covered with white spots and then dry out. In this case, prophylaxis with a solution is necessary soda ash or a mixture copper sulfate and soap.

Now you know phloxes and theirs. If you properly care for flowers, they will bloom long and luxuriantly.

Phloxes - enough unpretentious perennials. They are able to grow and bloom in the same place for more than one year. But, like many others herbaceous plants, over time, their flowers become smaller, become less lush and beautiful. To avoid this, phlox bushes are rejuvenated - divided and planted in new places.

Most experts call best time for transplantation early spring. In practice, transplanting phlox in the fall is not only possible, but also has a number of advantages. Firstly, the timing of autumn planting is significantly longer than in spring and ranges from 35 to 40 days. Whereas in the spring it is necessary to do it in just two weeks. Then the stems grow back, and the transplant operation becomes risky.

Secondly, properly carried out autumn planting allows you to get beautiful, fully flowering plants the next season. Transplanted in the spring, phlox delays the formation of buds for one to two weeks, or may not bloom at all. In addition, at the end of the season it can be easier to determine the variety of the plant being divided.

But those who are planning to replant phlox in the fall must remember that such planting also has its own characteristics, its own rules, failure to comply with which can lead to very disastrous results.

Landing dates

Autumn planting of phloxes, which have early and medium flowering periods, begins at the end of August, when their renewal buds have already formed. Late flowering plants can only be planted in the second half of September. In any case, the phlox should have time to take root before the onset of frost. Therefore, delaying this work until mid-October is very risky.

To be on the safe side, at the end of October, or even in November, many gardeners mulch their plantings with peat, rotted sawdust or other loose materials. organic materials. In severe winters, this will slightly increase the temperature of the soil around the roots and protect them from freezing. But in no case should you cover the ground with film or roofing felt that does not allow air to pass through. Such coating very often causes the death of plants from damping off. With the onset of spring, as soon as the snow melts, the mulch must be removed so as not to interfere with the heating of the soil by direct sunlight.

Selection and preparation of planting material

In the fall, it is better to plant relatively large cuttings - they take root faster and withstand wintering more easily. At the same time, you can place in permanent places those plants that were obtained from spring cuttings.

A cutting suitable for planting usually has at least two thick stems, which should be cut at a height of about 20 cm, and fully formed large renewal buds at the base. The skin on the stems should be quite rough. The roots must be shortened, leaving no more than 15 cm.

For phloxes that are transplanted together with a lump of earth, only the top that has finished flowering should be cut off. Or leave at least two or three healthy leaves intact. At this time, the leaf apparatus still continues its work, helping the plant prepare for winter.

Soil preparation

It is advisable to prepare the area for phlox in advance, at least two weeks before planting. Otherwise, the earth simply will not have time to settle sufficiently. The soil should be thoroughly cleared of perennial weeds and various types of debris, because the bushes will grow on it for many years.

The best are considered to be fertile and loose medium loamy soils with an acidity level close to neutral. If the soil is clayey and heavy, it is necessary to add coarse sand, aerated peat, compost or humus.

Sandy soil, on the contrary, must be made moisture-absorbing and nutritious. To do this, turf soil and clay are mixed into it. At the last stage, during digging, mineral fertilizers and lime are added.

You have to dig quite deeply - phloxes have a powerful, well-branched root system, reaching a depth of 30 cm. And the bulk of the roots feeding the bush are located at a distance of 20 cm from the surface.

The planting hole must be made wide enough so that the roots can fit freely into it. The planting depth is required such that the upper part of the rhizome is 5 cm below ground level. If this distance is smaller, the roots may freeze in winter; if this distance is larger, they will form a two-tiered root system, which will greatly slow down the development of the above-ground parts of the plant.

Immediately before planting, the hole is well shed with water, a handful of sifted ash, humus and a tablespoon of phosphorus fertilizers are poured in. Then the prepared section is placed directly into the resulting “dirt” and covered with earth.

In the fall, only phosphorus and potassium mineral fertilizers are applied to the planting holes, setting aside complex mixtures containing nitrogen for the spring. The use of root growth stimulants, for example, Kornevin, is very useful.

You can place phlox on clean sand. To do this, the soil is completely removed from the selected site, digging a hole about half a meter deep. A layer of clay 20 cm thick is laid on the bottom. A pre-prepared soil mixture is placed on top, leveled well and compacted. Ready flowerbed should rise 15 cm above ground level.

Phlox decorate gardens with a variety of colors and shades. More than 60 types allow you to decorate areas in an unusual way. You should not propagate them in the summer, as they do not take root well. In contrast, planting phlox in the fall allows you to speed up flowering the following year.

Advice from experienced flower growers on how to plant plants in open ground, prepare the soil, fertilize and help the flower survive the winter will be useful to every gardener.

Features of planting in autumn

When to plant perennial phlox? Phlox are perennials that bloom luxuriantly for several years, but over the years the flowers become smaller, and the bush requires rejuvenation or replanting. Many gardeners like to experiment and change the appearance of their plot in spring or autumn. But at the end of summer, new ideas arise: what to change, what plants and colors to add. Therefore, transplantation of phloxes to another place is organized.

Despite the fact that this is a rather unpretentious flower, planting phlox in the fall has its own characteristics and some advantages:

1. The bush does without additional watering. As a rule, autumn rains are quite enough for rooting.
2. In autumn there is a longer period, which promotes vegetation and rooting and is equal to 30–40 days. In spring, flower growers use only two weeks.
3. Plants planted during this period bloom the following summer. In contrast, spring propagation delays flowering in the first year.
4. After flowering, it is easier to determine which varieties will be added or removed to create a unified image of the site.
5. Plants obtained from cuttings take root better.

Based on these factors, it becomes clear that replanting plants in open ground in the fall is not only possible, but also provides a number of advantages. If certain agricultural technology tips are followed, better reproduction is obtained.

How to choose healthy planting material

Types of phlox

There are also popular varieties: Twilight, Karl Foster, Childhood, Smoky Coral, Ural Rocks, etc. Basic parameters of planting material:

• rough stem skin;
• two thick, developed stems;
• large basal buds;
• absence of rot and mechanical damage;
• divisions with strong roots.

Preparation for landing

The roots are trimmed (about 15 cm are left). If the bush is replanted with an earthen clod, the phlox (color top) is trimmed. At least three intact leaves are left on the trunk, this helps prepare the plant for wintering.

Planting dates in autumn

Early and mid-blooming phlox begin to prepare for reproduction at the end of August. During this period, the renewal buds are already formed and the flower does not die after transplantation. When to replant late-blooming phlox? The bushes are moved to a new place in the second ten days of September.

Selecting a location

It is advisable to grow phlox in a loose, fertile area. Loamy soil with a neutral (or close to it) acidity level is suitable for them. Features of improving the structure of the earth are described in the next paragraph.

Soil preparation

Planting phlox and landscape design begins with choosing a site, which is prepared in advance, about a couple of weeks before the planned planting. It needs to be dug up so that the earth has time to settle and the flowerbed does not turn out to be buried in comparison with the rest of the area.

It is necessary to dig up the area to a depth of at least 35 cm, since the rhizome is located in the soil at a depth of 20 cm. Remove debris, plant roots, and perennial weeds. For this use:

• compost;
• coarse river sand;
• aerated peat;
• ripe humus (preferably made from leaves).

The approach to sandy soil is different. It is necessary to improve the structure, moisture capacity, and make the soil nutritious; for this purpose, clay, turf soil, lime or wood ash, and mineral fertilizers are added during the digging process.

Step by step planting process

Prepared planting material is planted according to the chosen scheme. The distance is selected depending on the size of the adult plant.

Detailed instructions for the sequence of work:

• a hole is dug of such an area that all the roots can be freely placed in it;
• a layer of river sand is poured onto the bottom, this will improve drainage;
• the top of the root is approximately 5 cm from the ground level, otherwise the rhizomes may freeze. With deeper placement, the development of the above-ground part slows down, since the root system is formed in two tiers;
• the hole is watered abundantly with water, a handful of humus, wood ash + phosphorus fertilizers (1 tbsp) are poured into it. Planting material is placed in liquid soil;
• The top is covered with excavated soil. There is no need to water additionally;
• the earth is compacted and leveled, the created flowerbed should be 15 cm high.

In autumn, only potassium and phosphorus fertilizers are applied. Complex mixtures containing nitrogen are applied in the spring until May.

Expert advice! “Fresh manure cannot be used. The bush grows powerful foliage, but will not bloom.”

Competent feeding

Fertilizing in the fall is required. Complex fertilizer mixed with ash is scattered over frozen soil. In spring, a solution of mineral fertilizer (10 g per bucket of water) increases the intensity and duration of flowering.

Basic methods of reproduction

Plants are propagated in two ways: by dividing the bush and cuttings. In the first case, the adult plant is dug up completely. Using a sharp, clean knife, cut the rhizome to obtain complete planting material. The cut site is treated with ash, dried a little and only then planted in the chosen place. Otherwise, the root will rot or the plant will become sick.

The second way is that:

1. the stem is cut from an adult healthy bush;
2. cuttings no longer than 15–20 cm are cut;
3. treated with a preparation that promotes the formation of roots and planted in a mixture of loamy soil and peat soil;
4. Regular watering is organized to keep the soil moist;
5. The cuttings are transplanted to a permanent place in the fall.

How to carry out regular care

Care in the spring after winter consists of fertilizing, watering, loosening the soil, and controlling pests and diseases. Planting phlox in the fall, including proper care, is not complete without watering. Phlox are plants that are afraid of both lack of moisture and excessive watering. Heavy daily dew can damage the flowers, but not provide the necessary moisture to the entire bush.

If there is not enough liquid, the root begins to dry out. To preserve precious moisture, loosening should be kept to a minimum. And in order not to damage the roots, gardeners mulch the buds around the bushes. This agrotechnical method preserves rain moisture, the soil does not become compacted, and the flower develops and blooms well.

Pruning phlox or puncturing involves regularly tearing off shoots of the plant. This technique delays the flowering period and promotes the formation of additional lateral shoots, since seed ripening is prevented by removing inflorescences and flowers. As a result, conditions are created for continued flowering.

There are two types of pruning. First: the stems are cut 5 cm from the soil surface, this allows nutrients to accumulate in the rhizome and protect them during frosts. The second method: cut off the above-ground part at soil level, which becomes a good prevention of fungal diseases.

Diseases and treatment

In spring, phloxes are affected by diseases and pests of flowering plants, as a result of which their decorative properties deteriorate. Often the cause is poor-quality fertilizers and planting material, placement in partial shade. Flowers suffer from: phomosis, leaf spot, powdery mildew, phlox nematode. This is especially evident in the spring-summer season with low temperatures and high humidity in June and July.

The most common is powdery mildew, which looks like cobwebby spots that affect the leaves. The disease begins to spread from the soil and eventually affects the entire flowering bush. As soon as affected areas are identified, they need to be cut off. Such systemic protection gives the desired result.

However, if treatment is delayed, a diseased plant infects others, which eventually die, so it is important to treat not only the bushes with fungicides, but also the ground around them, this will contribute to treatment and restoration of decorative properties. On a plant infected with a nematode, the leaves become thin and ribbon-shaped; it is better to remove such a plant along with its roots.

After this, you need to withstand a certain period - 3 years. Phlox and perennial flowers of this family cannot be planted in such a flower garden.

Every year in October, the land is treated with fungicides that kill pathogenic spores. This is also important to do in the spring, when the spores awaken.

Careful preparation for winter

To prevent the death of planting material, gardeners protect plantings from frost. For this purpose, rotted sawdust, various bulk materials of organic origin, and peat are used. They increase the temperature in the root zone and prevent freezing.

After the snow melts, the mulch is immediately removed, which allows access to the sun's rays, promotes good soil heating and the rapid appearance of leaves. In the future, the stems are cut off annually before wintering; this will prevent the bush from fungal diseases.

Florist advice! “Under no circumstances should they use plastic film or roofing felt; they do not allow air to pass through and cause the death of the plant because the roots are damped out.”

Common mistakes when growing

Despite the fact that phloxes are not exotic plants, the following problems arise:

• High humidity attracts slugs, which eat the plantings. The fight comes down to using lime and wood ash around the bushes, which destroy slugs;
• planting in an inappropriate location, strong shade or in a wetland. In the first case, the bush blooms weakly. In the second, the rhizomes rot and die;
• excess mineral fertilizers or application of manure. The plant “fattens”, grows a huge mass of leaves and refuses to bloom;
• deep planting of rhizomes also delays the flowering period;
• untimely replanting of the plant provokes oppression of the plant;
• By purchasing planting material not from a specialized store, you can introduce pathogenic fungal diseases to the site.

Proper planting of perennial phlox, selection and preparation of the site, healthy planting material, adherence to planting, care, watering, and fertilizing technologies guarantee abundant flowering that will decorate the garden, site and delight the owners.