Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Creeping phlox

polbpolb Posts: 198
in Plants
Hi, I have a few slopes with grass on and I was thinking of trying to grow some creeping phlox on a section of one of the slopes, which is in full sun. Before planting I was wondering if it would be a good idea to plant some summer flowering bulbs amongst the phlox to give the area some colour during the non flowering time of the phlox.

Would this work?? Or would this hamper with the growth of the phlox? Or perhaps the bulbs wouldn't come to anything?

Any ideas of what I could add in that wouldn't break up the phlox's colour would be fab. Something that would push through? Or would this not work?

Thank you! :-)

Posts

  • LucidLucid Posts: 387
    Hi polb. I don't know about the bulbs as I'm still pretty new to gardening but am curious whether you have found somewhere to buy your creeping phlox from? I was considering it for around out pond at one point but was struggling to find it for sale in the garden centres.

    Lucid  :)
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    A lot depends on what colours you choose for your phlox.  There are several available - https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/Search-Results?form-mode=false&query=Phlox douglasii

    You'll need to clear the grass thoroughly and fork over the soil before planting it.  Cultivation details available by clicking on plants on the above list.   

    You could add spring bulbs too starting with crocus and miniature daffs which will naturalise well and then die back before the phlox starts blooming.    Some of the smaller flowered alliums might look good later on and maybe some gladiolus byzantinus too - https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/89297/i-Gladiolus-communis-i-subsp-i-byzantinus-i/Details 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Mark56Mark56 Posts: 1,653
    Lucid you should find them in nurseries and GC around April time, near the aubrietia 
  • LucidLucid Posts: 387
    Thanks very much Mark56. I'll try to keep a look out then.

    Lucid  :)
  • polbpolb Posts: 198
    Lucid - thompson-morgan.com have some good offers on at the moment - delivered then in April. :-)

    Thanks Obelixx for the ideas! :-) I was going to completely clear a section of the grass and leave some room around the edge to allow the Phlox to creep and then I'd keep removing the grass if the Phlox was doing well to give it room. :-)



  • LucidLucid Posts: 387
    Thanks polb, I'll have to check it out. Good luck with your plans. 

    Lucid  :)
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited March 2018
    I'd be concerned about the soil washing away down the slope in heavy rain in the time between getting rid of the grass and the creeping phlox becoming established enough to cover the soil ... 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • polbpolb Posts: 198
    Good point dove from above! :-) thank you..
Sign In or Register to comment.