Phlox in open ground: planting and care

Phlox is a pleasing to the eye plant that can decorate and enrich any garden or veranda. Its light, pleasant fragrance will further enhance the visual pleasure. Growing and caring for phlox outdoors is straightforward if you follow all the recommendations and provide this delicate and beautiful plant with proper attention and care.

Today, a wide variety of this plant's cultivars has been discovered, including hybrids. However, the most popular type of phlox remains the paniculate phlox, beloved by gardeners for its rich color palette and low-maintenance care. If you grow roses and other flowers in your flowerbed, consider common diseases.

What you need to know before you start growing phlox

Before planting and caring for phlox outdoors (photo), carefully consider where the plant will grow and who will be its neighbors. Although these flowers love light, it's best to protect them from direct sunlight, which can easily burn the flower. The best location for phlox is a plot of land that receives shade from nearby bushes and trees around midday.

Also, areas exposed to constant wind are not suitable for growing phlox. The plant requires protection from the wind so that its roots are completely covered in snow during the winter. This will protect them from freezing and, consequently, death. Gusts of wind can blow away the snow "shield." For this reason, a north-facing site should not be chosen for planting and caring for phlox outdoors.

Before planting and caring for phlox in open ground, consider the plant variety you've chosen: low-growing (up to 60 centimeters tall) or tall (up to 170 centimeters tall). Low-growing phlox varieties are best planted along the perimeter of the plot, while taller varieties are best planted behind shorter plants to ensure each flower has a chance to shine.

Time for landing

To the most favorable time for planting and caring for phloxes Outdoor cultivation typically occurs in spring and fall. If planting in spring, it's best to choose the end of the last month of spring so the plant has time to bloom during the summer heat.

If you choose to plant in the fall, consider the risk of the plant dying over the winter. During this period, the plant's root system is most vulnerable and may lack the strength for further development and growth. If you do choose to plant and care for phlox outdoors in the fall, do so no later than the second ten days of September. This will give the plant more time to establish itself before the onset of frost.

Suitable place and soil

As mentioned earlier, phloxes don't tolerate direct sunlight or wind. They are best planted on the south side of the plot, or in partial shade. Providing the plant with partial shade will reward it with abundant blooms for a long period, as no sun will be able to reach its delicate foliage and petals.

Regarding soil selection, it's worth noting that this plant is undemanding. However, the experience of many gardeners shows that phlox grows best in loamy soil with a neutral pH. However, it's crucial to ensure the soil is consistently moist. The plant doesn't tolerate drought and will bloom sparingly.

Before planting and caring for phlox in open ground, the soil should be loosened and dug. The soil should be mulched with humus and compost.

Distance between plants when planting

The appropriate spacing between plants also depends on whether the variety is short or tall. Taller varieties should be spaced 70 centimeters apart in the garden bed.

In the case of low-growing plants, a distance of 40 centimeters between them will be sufficient.

If properly planted and cared for, phlox in open ground can survive in one location for about seven years. It's important to consider planting spacing, as planting the seeds too closely will ruin their decorative appearance in the flowerbed.

The seeds are planted in holes slightly larger than the root ball and about 5 centimeters deep. Before planting, water the seeds with cold water and add fertilizer. Once the soil has absorbed all the moisture and there are no puddles left in the hole, place the root ball in, lightly covering it with soil. Immediately after the seeds are in the hole, water them at the roots.

How to care for a plant

The most important factor when planting and caring for phlox outdoors is watering. While phlox don't tolerate drought, excessive moisture can also kill them. Therefore, it's important to water moderately and regularly, depending on the soil condition.

The plant requires three fertilizing sessions per year, which are done in the summer. The first fertilizing session is as soon as the plant's green shoots appear. For this, use urea diluted in water.

The second feeding is carried out during the period of bud formation using organic fertilizers.

The third feeding is done when the plant has finished flowering, and for this purpose it is recommended to use a mixture of potassium sulfate and superphosphate. These flowers are excellent suitable for flower beds so that they bloom all summer.

Other phlox care items include pricking and weeding. Once the plant stops blooming, trim away dead branches and flowers and mulch the soil with straw and plant debris.

Planting and caring for phlox in open ground is a task even an amateur can master. Experience shows that, with a few simple steps, the plant is quite unpretentious. It will reward you with its delicate beauty and enchanting fragrance for your care and attention! Make your garden vibrant and unique with these extraordinary phlox!