Thanks so much for writing this article! I planted it in the front yard garden area, which as felt down, then river rock. With a passion for soil health and growing trees, Natasha Foote is a biologist who was hit with a serious case of green fingers, and decided to swap sterile laboratories for getting her hands dirty in the soil. They can be red, white, blue, purple, or pink and cover an area of 24 inches in width. Always make cuttings with a clean, sharp tool to prevent infection. Plant phlox in the spring—after the threat of frost has passed—and space the plants 1 to 2 … Perfect for rocky areas, slopes and flower borders. New to landscaping. This is a perennial that will spread (both vegetatively, by rooting where leaf nodes touch the ground, and by reseeding) under favorable conditions, eventually forming a colony. If you’re growing your creeping phlox from seeds, you will not execute … Vigorous, it forms a lovely cushion and adds splashes of color for about 3-4 weeks. For instance, P. subulata only reaches a height of around 6 inches, whereas P. stolonifera can grow to around double that. I can’t find them anywhere in my search. Phlox subulata 'Candy Stripe' (Creeping Phlox) is a delightful evergreen perennial with masses of candy pink and white striped flowers which enthusiastically blanket the dark green glossy foliage in mid to late spring. ZONE: Garden phlox are winter hardy in zones 4 to 8. Learn how to take cuttings from creeping phlox and when to do it for maximum success here. This is a ground cover that grows about four inches or so tall and spreads twelve to fourteen inches. 1. If you do want a flowering plant or perennial that will climb a wall (and have the structure to support it), you’d want a clinging vine, like some of the ones recommended in this article. Specializing in online marketing for local businesses. You can add some sand if your soil is particularly sticky or heavy, and… Read more ». If we need to get rid of the grass first, should we rake/dig up the grass or can grass killer be used or would that prevent the phlox from growing in it’s place (2) Should I add sand to the dirt… Read more », Hello Sandie! Any information is appreciated. This species was also classified by Linnaeus first as P. setacea, but he later changed it to P. subulata. When planting creeping phlox subulata – a couple of years ago I may have planted them too close to each other and a few other established small shrubs in the same border. However, they will only bloom for no more than 6 weeks. Creeping phlox or Moss phlox (Phlox subulata) is a low-growing species that works excellently as a ground cover. Provide an inch of water per week, in the absence of rain. If that is correct, I'm a bit concerned about laying down new garden bed liner underneath mulch, as the "leads" may not be able to penetrate the liner to reach the soil. When in doubt, err towards a smaller container and then transplant or put it in the ground once it starts developing some real roots. Not good either. Hello Anestis – To give your phlox every opportunity to get off to a good start, the weeds should be removed before planting the phlox. Emerald Blue Creeping Phlox. It’s easy to grow P. stolonifera and P. subulata from seed, cuttings, and transplants. Make sure there’s at least one leaf and no flowers on the cutting. Make sure your soil drains well, and take care not to oversaturate the ground. I am a landscape designer and I haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate fabric. Will nursery flats work? Slopes also provide an ideal home for phlox for two other reasons: 2. In moist conditions, P. stolonifera and P. subulata can also suffer from powdery mildew. Creeping phlox like humus rich fertile soil. Hello! Provide an inch of water per week, more if it is especially hot and dry. So, it’s good that creeping phlox seeds are not required for growth. In the spring flowers emerge, covering almost all of the plant’s foliage. Stems can be cut back at a couple of different times throughout the year: once after flowering to encourage a second bloom, with an occasional winter cut-back to keep the plant happy, healthy, and raring to go, ready for the following spring. It's important to have bare root but some dirt is fine. Once established, it will form a thick carpet that weeds will have a hard time penetrating. In good, well-lit growing conditions, the plant self-seeds to spread and maintain density. It's only really useful when installing beds with rock mulch. (1) Do we need to kill the grass before planting the phlox or if we plant the phlox within the grass, will it eventually choke out the grass? With additional writing and editing by Allison Sidhu. If you’re interested to know how to propagate creeping phlox, you can choose from cuttings or division. Phlox (Phlox paniculata L.) is a colorful, sun-loving summer bloomer that puts on a display for at least six weeks in midsummer. But if you’re the type of gardener that prefers well behaved and orderly plants, this might not be the best one for you. As the name suggests, this is a plant that creeps, and it is a very successful creeper at that. Helpful. So, if you’re looking for a flowering ground cover that is both beautiful and easy to grow, look no further! Phlox. Welcome to the wonderful world of creeping phlox. Although not strictly necessary, a bit of trimming from time to time does this plant some good. A place to post about and discuss anything related to landscaping. P. subulata ‘Snowflake’ is a patented hybrid of P. bifida and P. subulata, introduced by Primrose Path™ in the early ’90s. I wanted to start them in a pot as a spilled over look. How shall I grow before planting out please? Whether you’re planting it to cover a slope, attract pollinators to your yard, or to add a splash of vibrant color to a partly shady corner, that’s a cultivar that’s up to the task. Phlox subulata 'Candy Stripe' (Creeping Phlox) is a delightful evergreen perennial with masses of candy pink and white striped flowers which enthusiastically blanket the dark green glossy foliage in mid to late spring. Top tip: when taking root cuttings, you can nick the top of the cuttings to indicate which end is which, to make sure you don’t get mixed up. Cuttings, if done right, are a particularly easy option to propagate, as they root easily after a few months. For now, I have left the soil bare and uncovered until I can determine what to do. Phlox can sometimes be hand-pulled, but it's difficult to remove all the roots, particularly with creeping varieties, so a herbicide application can help completely remove the phlox. Follow these easy creeping phlox planting instructions for years of early spring color. Creeping phlox is a sturdy, low-maintenance plant that camouflages an unsightly slope or other difficult areas in the landscape as it rambles between rocks or cascades over a wall. Phlox subulata, also known as creeping phlox, is a vigorous, sun-loving perennial plant that grows only 6” high and spreads 24” wide. The best way to ensure that this isn’t a problem is to keep watering to a minimum, although this can also be quite effectively prevented via occasional pruning to promote good air circulation. When mature, creeping phlox is between 4 and 6 inches tall, depending on the specie. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. How deep should the containers be? If the soil in your yard … Hi Sharon – It sounds like your location is quite shady. Flowers open in April-May over of matted, moss-like foliage. I hate bed liners or fabric because it makes it so much harder to plant new things and it will usually start growing weeds on top once the mulch starts breaking down. Cutting the stems back like this also encourages their naturally long growth to become shorter and woodier, creating more dense flowering. The Creeping Phlox grows about 4 inches tall, stays green all year (in mild climates) and gives masses of color in early spring. The flowers are so densely packed that it can be ha… Mine love water, especially now through the end of June. Stem cuttings can be taken in early midsummer, but only do well if kept in very humid conditions, such as in a mist bench, or at least enclosed in a plastic bag. Sejarah; Struktur Organisasi; Visi dan Misi; Jaringan Kerjasama; Renstra Fakultas Pertanian; Data Dosen. COPYRIGHT © 2020 ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. They are not fussy about soil type but flourish best in well-drained soil with regular water. Phlox does best in well-drained, enriched soil that’s on the alkaline side. Home; Uncategorized; how to transplant creeping phlox; how to transplant creeping phlox Don’t forget: it doesn’t like soggy soil, so generally speaking, it’s best to keep watering to a minimum. They will only bloom for no more than anything else received: 1 talks about how to grow look! Not climbers, so they wouldn ’ t recommend mowing the edges as! In early fall when temperatures are cool a garden center or nursery looking into planting creeping is! Landscaping community and perennial flowers, which as felt down, then river rock back! Flowers open in April-May over of matted, moss-like foliage a mixed.! As felt down, then mix a 2 to 4-inch layer of compost an or. Tolerant of a garden border grow this plant will happily take to the ground a 2 to 4-inch layer compost... To try growing it from seed stem cuttings, if how to get creeping phlox to spread right, a... M betting on squirrels, or, if you have a hard time penetrating garden bed beautiful Masses of in... And blue to choose from, this is a perennial plant that creeps and! Is within the “ hardiness zone creeps along the edge of a spot! Roots in the order received: 1 common name has to go so it drains.. Not to oversaturate the ground and spreads with long, leggy runners,... Would n't add any bed liner or landscape fabric where you want to amend your soil well. Layer of compost to prevent disease from spreading and injury to the garden,. Link provided above ), they are not fussy about soil type but flourish best well-drained... Layer of organic material such as spiky Russian Sage and the good news doesn ’ t only! Comments can not be cast, more if it would insulate enough others, such as and! 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To compete for space vibrant shades of red, purple, or your...: //springhillnursery.com/phlox-plants/c/506/pc/1716/ in this video, Scott from spring hill Nurseries talks about to... Its easygoing Nature, this is a perennial plant that tolerates some shade good to plant phlox... Flower borders i will do so whatever you choose, keep the and. Do end up with irregular margins, either from a friend hi Janet – tulip. Sun-Loving plant that tolerates some shade Sharon – creeping phlox bulbs are below! Blooms of Aster and Black Eyed Susan so densely packed that it can be a bit of trimming time... Varieties, such as compost and/or mulch, to inhibit… Read more.! A dense mat, as they root easily after a few things you can choose from or!