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Phlox

terence.mccallumterence.mccallum Posts: 72
in Plants
Hi all,
I grew some phlox from seeds this year for the first time, they flowered and grew to about Three foot tall, they are now looking a bit poorly now I was wondering do I cut them back if not what do I do thanks
Terry

Posts

  • D0rdogne_DamselD0rdogne_Damsel Posts: 4,184
    edited September 2021
    I usually cut them back to ground level once they start dying back and they come back evey year. I also trim them in late spring to get them to be bushier and produce more flowers. However, this year I have just had another flush of flowers this week, but we have had a warm spell. 
    • “Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?” —Betsy Cañas Garmon
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited September 2021
    They're starting to die back for the winter. They'll grow new stems from ground level in the spring that'll carry next year's flowers, so you can cut them back to ground level any time between now and when the new growth starts. For anything slightly tender I'd say leave the old growth on over winter for frost protection, but the perennial phlox are pretty hardy.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I should add, if you think you might forget where they are it might be best to leave them (or leave a few inches) until spring so they don't get accidentally stepped on or dug up.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • terence.mccallumterence.mccallum Posts: 72
    Thanks for the help
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    My phlox  hasn't even made it into the ground. It's been  chewed to the ankles in the pot twice but on a positive note, I saw one flower and it was a rather unpleasant Windolene pink so no loss there  I'd have been peeved If it had been a dark red one.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Are there some phlox with a proper dark red that doesn't tend to pink?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Windowlene pink @B3 - Love that!
    As attractive as hearing aid beige, which we often used to use for descriptions of various unattractive shades of certain colours.
    I think there's a few dark reds @Fire, but whether they fade to a pink or not, I'm not sure. I don't grow them now, apart from the alpine ones.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Cough mixture pink is a specific shade too!
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