Phlox are very unpretentious plants.
They withstand winters, which is very popular with many summer gardeners. After all, you don’t need as much trouble with them as with the same roses. Dear readers!
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In this article we will discuss what minimum phlox needs to survive the winter.
How to trim phlox correctly
The most important part of phlox care in the fall is pruning the perennial. It must be done correctly so as not to injure the flower.
Pruning phlox after flowering
Phlox should be trimmed for the first time in the summer. The procedure is carried out after flowering. In this way, the strength of the flower is preserved, which does not need to waste energy and nutrition on peduncles.
Peduncles are cut at a level of half a meter from the ground.
How to determine if phlox needs pruning in the fall
Beginning gardeners often wonder why they should prune phlox (and indeed any perennial flowers) for the winter.
However, it is an important part of caring for and preparing for winter. There are at least 2 reasons for this procedure.
The first is that long shoots remain uncovered and can be caught by frost, which can lead to the death of the entire perennial.
The second is that pest larvae, as well as spores of pathogenic fungi and harmful bacteria, can overwinter in the stems.
That is, pruning will save you from many possible problems both when preparing for winter and when preparing for the new summer season.
The right time for autumn pruning of phlox
When determining the timing of pruning, you must first of all be guided by the condition of the flower.
The procedure is carried out only after all the leaves have fallen and the bush itself has turned yellow and dried out.
You shouldn't prune too early. You can wait for the onset of stable frosts. As soon as the temperature begins to steadily approach zero degrees, you can pick up the pruning shears.
The specific date varies by region. In general, this range is from the first ten days of October to the first ten days of November.
Instructions for pruning phlox in autumn
Phlox should be cut at soil level, without leaving stumps. You won't need them. In the spring, the rhizome will produce new shoots, and the old ones will have to be removed in any case. Therefore, it is better to do this in preparation for winter.
IMPORTANT! If throughout the entire season there has not been a single reason to doubt the health of the plant, then the cut shoots can be used to cover other crops. Otherwise, the stems and leaves must be burned.
Types and varieties of phlox
Phlox paniculata.
Paniculate phloxes are indispensable for misborders and borders. They can be safely planted in the most visible place, without worrying that the flowers will fade due to the heat and scorching sun. On the other hand, they bloom no less luxuriantly even in light shade.
It is important to consider that for good growth, paniculate phlox need good air circulation, so you should not plant them close to buildings. These plants should never be mulched in the summer.
David.
Luxurious snow-white phlox David received a prestigious award from British flower growers. This stately beauty grows well both in the sun and in partial shade, and practically does not get sick.
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Candy Twist.
Candy Twist is a variety of paniculate phlox with playful striped colors reminiscent of a candy cane. This phlox is very fragrant, does not fade in the sun, and is disease resistant.
Sandro Botticelli.
A delightful variety of phlox selected by Yuri Reprev is deservedly named after the great Italian painter. Sandro Botticelli delights with its delicate lilac-pink color. You'd think it came straight from an artist's canvas.
Phlox spotted.
Spotted phlox is also often called meadow or pyramidal phlox. This is a very close relative of Phlox paniculata. You can distinguish spotted phlox from its more popular “brother” by two features: small burgundy spots on the stem and the pyramidal shape of the inflorescences.
When to stop watering phlox in the fall
Unlike other perennial plants, phlox needs to be watered in the fall. They do this as needed. If the autumn is dry, then water more often and more abundantly.
On average, the water consumption rate is 20 liters per square meter.
Watering is stopped around mid-autumn, earlier if the weather is rainy. For the winter, the bush should leave well “drunk.”
After the last watering, the root zone must be mulched. Many people forget about this when preparing the plant for winter. But in phlox, the roots are located close to the surface and require additional shelter.
Propagation of phlox by cuttings in late autumn
From the second ten days of September, autumn cuttings can be carried out. Phlox bushes form rich cutting material during the growing season. The cuttings are planted directly in open ground, choosing areas with loamy soil, which is recommended to be mixed with peat. The cuttings are slightly buried in the soil, positioned at an angle. After planting, the soil is mulched with a layer of fallen leaves (preferably birch). Overwintered cuttings are transplanted in the spring to ridges with fertile soil for growing, and in the fall they are transplanted to a permanent place.
To increase shoot formation, all shoots are cut off from bushes marked for autumn cuttings in mid-August, leaving stumps 10 cm high. By September, the bushes will have formed excellent material for cuttings. The cut cuttings are planted in a greenhouse for wintering. In this case, the cuttings take root earlier and are ready for transplanting into garden beds in May, and at the end of summer you can admire their flowering. This method is especially relevant for the propagation of weakly rooting varieties.
Feeding phlox in the fall
Before feeding the flowers, it is advisable to weed the soil under them. This is necessary so that it is the bush and not the weeds that receive the nutrients.
If we talk about fertilizers, then autumn care involves the use of potassium (potassium salt, potassium sulfate, potassium sulfate) and phosphorus (superphosphate, phosphate rock) preparations.
You can buy ready-made complex formulations. Nowadays there are quite a variety of drugs on the market from different manufacturers.
You can use both types of fertilizers separately. Then 2 tablespoons are consumed per bush. Dry fertilizer must be embedded in the soil, after which watering is carried out.
If autumn is rainy, then there is no need to water additionally.
ON A NOTE. When incorporating granular fertilizers into the soil, you can immediately loosen it. This way the fertilizing will be evenly distributed in the root zone, and the roots will have access to air.
You can also use ready-made liquid fertilizers.
From organic matter, ash is quite suitable. Consumption rate – 3 tablespoons per 1 bush.
Transplantation and division
Many gardeners are completely unconcerned about exactly how, when and where to replant phlox. This is due to the fact that they own fairly resistant varieties, and the bushes are planted in the right places. As a result, it seems to the gardener that the most unpretentious flower on his estate is phlox.
If the conditions are changed, then very soon it becomes clear that phlox is just as demanding of certain conditions as a rose, petunia or hydrangea.
Division time
As soon as the autumn pruning is done, you can begin dividing the rhizomes. Ideally, it is better to choose cloudy weather so that the thin and delicate roots do not have time to weather and dry out. If the heat is quite abnormal, then it is advisable to carry out the work quickly.
You should not delay dividing and replanting, since rapid cooling will slow down the rooting process, and finely divided rhizomes may not survive the winter. Propagation of phlox in the fall is completely straightforward. It is enough to dig up the bush and, without shaking off the soil, cut the rhizomes into segments. If the time is chosen correctly, then rooting proceeds quickly and without problems.
It is necessary to take into account the timing of phlox flowering. Those that bloom earlier need to be divided and replanted earlier than those that bloom late. However, late bloomers do not need to be left until the autumn.
Autumn treatment of phlox from diseases and pests
Treatment is an important part of caring for perennials in the fall.
It is necessary to destroy those insects and pathogenic microorganisms that decide to overwinter in the stems.
Of the fungicides, preference is best given to HOM and one from the strobilirubin group. For example, Strobi, Profit Gold. Treatment with these drugs will destroy pathogens of viruses, fungal and bacterial infections.
Of the insecticides, it is best to use the time-tested Aktaru, Fufanon, Decis, Actellik.
Pest diseases - how to help
Phlox diseases and their treatment are under constant control of breeders and agrochemists. When creating new beautiful varieties, the focus is not only on the color scheme, size and shape of the flower, but also on resistance to viruses, fungi, and bacteria.
However, old varieties are just as beautiful, but are very susceptible to powdery mildew. If the grower begins treatment with fungicides on time, then by autumn the plant looks good enough and can be taken from cuttings. If the treatments are late, then a large plant should not be taken by cuttings, since the percentage of waste will be very high.
If powdery mildew appears on phlox, how to get rid of it needs to be decided radically. As a rule, the thickened middle is the first to suffer, and it also affects the decorative effect. Old bushes are most susceptible to fungus, which is why timely division and thinning is the best prevention.
Planting fastidious varieties in sunny locations will also help control the fungus. It’s even better to give preference to modern varieties that are resistant to diseases.
At the first signs of fungal infection, the bushes should be sprayed with fungicidal preparations. Treatment with Discor 2 ml per bucket of water gives a good effect; treatment interval is 15-18 days.
Sheltering phlox for the winter
The last event that needs to be carried out in preparing the perennial for winter is covering the plant.
There are several nuances here, which we will dwell on in a little more detail.
Do I need to cover phloxes for the winter?
In general, phlox is considered a hardy flower crop that can overwinter without shelter.
However, experienced gardeners advise building at least a minimal structure that will protect the perennial from frost.
It is strongly recommended to cover the bush for those gardeners who will not be able to monitor the condition of the flower in winter. If there is not enough snow, the roots of the phlox may freeze.
How to properly cover plants depending on the region
If you cut old shoots right to the ground, then covering the phloxes is as easy as shelling pears: spread a five-centimeter layer of peat mulch, sawdust on the rhizome and lightly sprinkle with foliage.
This applies only to old plants; it is better to lightly sprinkle young bushes with leaves so that they do not fall underground.
This method of covering flowers for the winter is suitable for the Middle Zone, South, and Volga region.
But flower growers in Siberia are advised to dig up phlox for the winter.
In the spring, when the threat of severe frost has passed, the shelter is removed so that the rhizome does not begin to rot and rot.
How to properly prepare phlox for winter
Proper pre-winter preparation plays a huge role in the life of perennial crops and consists of several important points.
Phloxes must be prepared for wintering before snow cover sets in.
Trimming
In phloxes, the above-ground part dies off with the arrival of cold weather. It is preferable to prune dead shoots to destroy fungal spores and harmful insects that have settled on the branches. In addition, cultivated bushes are much easier to care for and prepare for wintering.
Phloxes are pruned only after flowering has ended.
Peduncles are removed only after flowering has completely finished. For early flowering varieties this time occurs in September, later varieties are pruned in October.
Some gardeners do not prune phlox in the fall.
There are three schemes for autumn pruning of phlox, depending on the height of the remaining stumps:
- 1–2 cm - when almost all stems are removed, the risk of the spread of fungal infections and pest infestation is significantly reduced;
- 8–10 cm - on the remaining stems there are several buds, from which fresh shoots will develop in the spring, but they are weaker and develop worse than basal shoots;
- 10–20 cm - tall stems hold snow well and contribute to better wintering, but pathogens and insects remain on them, and besides, such bushes are inconvenient to process and mulch.
Options 1 and 3 are the most popular among gardeners.
All cut stems must be burned.
Video: cutting phlox correctly
Preventive treatment against diseases and pests
Phlox bushes and the ground around them are sprayed with special fungicidal preparations for preventive purposes:
- Fundazol - 10 g per 10 l;
- Fitosporin-M - 5 g per 10 l;
- Bordeaux mixture (0.25–0.5%);
- copper oxychloride (0.5%).
Photo gallery: preparations for autumn treatment of phlox
Bordeaux mixture is an indispensable assistant for combating various fungal plant diseases in a summer cottage or vegetable garden.
Fitosporin M is a universal remedy for fungal and bacterial pathologies, used for both gardening and indoor crops.
The drug Fundazol is an effective remedy against fungal infections and rot
The drug copper oxychloride - HOM - allows you to quickly nip fungal plant diseases in the bud
Fungicides show the greatest effectiveness at temperatures of +16…+18 °C. Spraying is carried out on a dry, windless and sunny day.
Top dressing
Approximately 10–15 days after preventive treatment, phlox plantings are fed with fertilizers with a high content of phosphorus and potassium (per 1 bush):
- wood ash - 100-150 g or potassium sulfate - 10-15 g;
- superphosphate - 30-35 g or bone meal - 100-150 g;
- special autumn mineral complexes (Osennee, Autumn, etc.).
Photo gallery: autumn feeding for phlox
Fertilizer Agricola Autumn contains increased amounts of phosphorus and potassium, which are especially necessary for plants in the autumn.
Antey Autumn fertilizer is used for basic application and fertilizing in the summer-autumn period
Buiskoe fertilizer Autumn is a complex granular fertilizer of prolonged action, produced on the basis of lowland peat, which includes humic substances, macro- and microelements
Agrochemical Hera Autumn - mixed fertilizer for basic application and fertilizing in the summer-autumn period
Sotka is a complex mineral granular fertilizer containing the main set of macro- and microelements necessary for the full growth and development of all types of crops.
Fasco Autumn fertilizer is used to feed plants at the end of the growing season (August-October), which is especially important for perennial crops
Fertilizer Autumn universal Terrasol - mixed mineral fertilizer with microelements for fertilizing or application before planting in the autumn for fruits and berries, bulbs and flower and ornamental crops
Fertika Autumn is a complex mineral fertilizer for feeding all types of plants in late summer and autumn.
A clean crystal leaf for autumn application is an ideal fertilizer that gives the best result: it replenishes the deficiency of elements; promotes the plant's transition to a dormant state
Wood ash is a good potassium and phosphorus fertilizer for acidic or neutral soils
Bone meal - organic phosphorus fertilizer
Potassium sulfate fertilizer is the most acceptable chemical for enriching the soil with potassium, since it does not have a negative impact on the environment
Double superphosphate contains almost 2 times more phosphorus than simple superphosphate
Before applying fertilizing, the flowerbed with phlox should be well watered . Dry fertilizers are scattered evenly under the bushes, then shallowly incorporated into the soil with a rake or hoe. It is allowed to apply fertilizer in liquid form by dissolving the granules in water.
Fertilizer granules are scattered under the bushes
Nitrogen-containing fertilizers are stopped given to phlox at the end of summer, so as not to provoke unnecessary growth of shoots, which will still freeze in the winter.
Shelter for the winter
Phlox is considered a fairly frost-resistant crop. They easily tolerate short-term drops in temperature down to -15...-20 °C, and a snow cover more than 0.5 m thick will protect them even at -35 °C. In areas with little snow in winters or in northern regions where frosts are much more severe, flowers require shelter.
To prevent phlox from freezing in winter, they must be covered with a layer of mulch.
Snow does not always provide reliable protection, so phloxes are covered for the winter with a layer of at least 10–12 cm of:
- peat crumbs;
- humus (compost);
- dry leaves.
For each bush, about one bucket of bulk insulation is consumed.
Return thaws caused by changeable weather pose a great danger to plants . With the onset of deceptive warmth, the buds begin to grow, and then die from the sudden return of cold weather. Mulching will help with all this. The mulch is scattered when a persistent cold snap sets in, when the return of heat can no longer be expected and the bushes do not hide under the winter shelter. Spruce or pine spruce branches, tops, brushwood, etc. are thrown on top of the phlox planting to retain snow.
To hold the snow on top of the mulch, spruce branches are thrown
Plants should not be covered with materials that do not allow air to pass through, since the risk of rot developing under airtight coverings greatly increases.
Phlox can be covered with agro-fabric
White and bright pink phlox grew in our front garden for many years. We never covered them with anything, since there was always plenty of snow on this side. But a few years ago there was an abnormally warm January, drops started dripping and streams flowed like in spring. The thaw lasted about two weeks, then very severe frosts hit, which lasted for almost a month. All the phloxes died, so I had to ask my neighbors for seedlings.
Video: an original way to winter phlox in the open ground
Common mistakes
- The roots of the perennial are not covered. The root system grows upward, not downward, so the absence of a minimum layer of mulch or leaves on the roots is fraught with the death of the entire bush.
- The bush is covered with film. Because of this, the flower withers and begins to rot. It is necessary to use “breathable” or natural materials (leaves, stems, peat, sawdust).
- Phloxes are not pruned. Long stems can be damaged by frost, resulting in the death of the entire bush.
- Flowers are not treated for diseases. Pathogens can overwinter in the shoots, which, with the onset of spring, will “wake up” and begin to inhibit the development of phlox.
Pruning in autumn or summer?
Is it necessary to prune phloxes in the fall, or perhaps this should be done immediately after flowering, in the summer, when there are still many other flowers in the flower garden? Such questions are usually asked by beginning gardeners. The answer is very simple. You need to trim what has lost its decorative effect.
Phlox has a tall shoot, it ends in an inflorescence, which decorates our front garden for quite a long time. However, everything comes to an end. Gradually, the small flowers fade, and the inflorescence no longer looks decorative; it attracts attention, but not with the beauty of color, shade, shape, but with its disheveledness and dryness. It is at this moment that the phlox needs to be trimmed.
The level of pruning will be determined by the inflorescence. The place where the last flowers end will be the pointer for the cutting tool.
There is no point in waiting until the shoot begins to wither or dry out entirely, this is still far away, it has not fulfilled its main function and still needs help, but you need to say goodbye to the inflorescence.
Feeding
When thinking about what to feed phlox in the fall, you should understand that this is not the time for nitrogen fertilizing. However, by scattering stove ash and fresh humus under the bushes, you will help the plant to overwinter and show its flowering in all its splendor.
In agrotechnical measures when growing phlox, there is not a single place that can be missed. They all must be completed. This condition will allow you to achieve good and long flowering.
Fertilizer application
Before applying the main fertilizers, it is necessary to treat the phloxes with the preparation “Fitosporin-M” or “Fundazol”. To do this, you need to take a little dry powder and dilute it in a bucket of water. After a couple of hours, water the soil with the resulting solution. You need to work with these drugs carefully, they are toxic, so you need to use a respirator and protective equipment. Fungicides can only be applied on dry days. The introduction of drugs will prevent the development of bacterial and fungal diseases.
You may be interested in: How to dig up gladioli for the winter, rules for storing bulbs
After applying fungicides, it’s time for superphosphate. For one bush you will need to apply about 50 grams of fertilizer. It is also worth adding wood ash (a glass per bush). If there is no superphosphate, you can add bone meal (200 grams per square of plantings).
Important! You need to be careful, stores also sell double superphosphate, it contains twice as much phosphate. And this can be dangerous for phlox.
Fertilizers applied help plants accumulate nutrients in their roots and increase their survival. Ash gives phlox calcium, potassium and boron, and also helps destroy pests. If you prepare an aqueous solution with ash, the nutrients will be absorbed better.
You can choose complex fertilizers for autumn feeding. Specialized stores sell mixtures with phosphorus and potassium. The main thing is that they are marked “Autumn”.
Features of caring for phlox in the fall and preparing for winter: main activities
In order for the plant to delight you with lush flowering in the coming season, you need to devote a little time and effort to it. So, autumn phlox care includes the following activities:
- Even in the summer, pruning is carried out after flowering;
- winter pruning;
- fertilizing with phosphorus-potassium fertilizer;
- weeding;
- mulching or shelter for the winter.
Also in the fall, you can divide and replant the phloxes to a new place in the garden (this is recommended to be done once every 4-5 years).
Video: transplanting phlox in the fall
Mulching the soil
Experienced gardeners recommend mulching phlox for the winter. This especially applies to the regions of central Russia, the Urals, and Siberia. When mulched and the snowdrifts are half a meter high, phlox can easily overwinter if the air temperature does not drop below - 25 degrees. But in the Moscow region there are also severe frosts and winters without snow. In this case, most varieties of foreign selection may die.
It is worth considering that the root system of the bush grows in a peculiar way. The stem extends horizontally underground. Later, the stem becomes hard, it sprouts young roots, and growth buds appear above the roots in the fall. Gradually, the rhizome grows several centimeters and begins to protrude from the ground. Such plants weaken and may die in winter. Annual mulching can protect the bush and delay the aging process.
