Is it possible to replant flowering phloxes? Rejuvenation of ornamental plants: when to replant phlox? When and how to replant phloxes When is it better to replant phloxes in autumn or spring

Phloxes have long been widespread. In Soviet times, these varied in color and unpretentious flowers grew near every house. Recently, new varieties of phlox have appeared, which has given a new impetus to their popularity. Many people mistakenly believe that there is no need to care for the plant and that it grows like a weed. But this is not so; although the flower is not considered whimsical, it requires some self-care. In this article we will tell you how and when to replant phlox.

Phloxes are actively flowering plants that amaze with a riot of colors. These are perennial flowers that can grow in one place for up to 10 years. If they are not replanted, the inflorescences begin to become smaller, and the plantings themselves degenerate. Gradually, the bush begins to lose its decorative effect, loses the brightness of its flowers and fades.

In addition, the soil on which phlox grows is depleted. Even frequent feedings are unable to restore the required volume of substances for the full development of the flower. Over time, pests and microorganisms accumulate in the soil, causing specific phlox diseases.

If we talk about transplanting phlox, then it is best to do this when the bush is 5-6 years old.

When to replant phloxes

Many people are interested in the question of when to replant phloxes in order to harm them as little as possible. After all this procedure It is considered quite traumatic for plants and therefore should be performed correctly. First of all, this concerns timing.

It is also worth noting that phloxes belong to the category flowering plants, which begin to grow roots during the snow melting period. If you replant in the spring and damage the roots, you may not see flowering this year. However, this does not mean that phlox cannot be transplanted in the spring. Some gardeners replant flowers at this time, believing that in the fall the plants will not have time to take root and will not survive the winter.

If absolutely necessary, phlox can be replanted even in summer. But in this case it is necessary to preserve the earthen lump so that root system was not injured. When replanting in summer, it is not recommended to divide the bush.

So, the timing of phlox transplantation is as follows:

  1. Autumn: last ten days of August - mid-September.
  2. Spring: mid-April – early May.
  3. Summer: any time, but only in cloudy weather and in the evening.

Phlox transplantation

Once you have decided on the timing of the transplant, you need to prepare for the process itself, which occurs in several stages. We will discuss this in more detail below. As mentioned above, the ideal time for transplantation is autumn, so we will consider all the nuances of transplantation, which occurs precisely at this time of year. These rules apply to both spring and autumn transplants.

How to choose a place

The rooting of transplanted flowers largely depends on the condition of the soil. Wild species of phlox grow in floodplain meadows and forest edges, where the soil is characterized by high humidity and particularly looseness. These plants love soil that contains a sufficient amount of organic matter.

The soil for phlox should be sufficiently fertile and loose. If the flowerbed is on loam, then the soil should be supplemented with crushed peat or river sand. They will ensure constant access of moisture to the root system and enhance the drainage properties of the soil.

Phloxes need frequent watering and when choosing seat this needs to be taken into account. It is better to choose a place with close occurrence groundwater. But even this does not always guarantee high-quality hydration of the roots, so in the hot summer the plants will need to be watered periodically.

Phloxes also thrive in partial shade; they do not require constant light. It will be great if in the midday heat the inflorescences are protected from the scorching sun.

The only thing you need to remember is that phloxes do not tolerate proximity to fruit trees.

Preparing the flowerbed

The flowerbed needs to be prepared in advance. This should usually be done 2 weeks before transplanting phlox in the fall. Pre-treatment of the site is due to the fact that the soil must settle before the plants are moved.

The soil of the flower bed must be dug up using a spade, that is, to a depth of 20-30 cm. After this, weeds and other plant debris must be removed. Next you need to apply fertilizer. For autumn feeding will fit:

  • compost;
  • humus + wood ash;
  • potassium and phosphorus compounds.

Consumption of organic fertilizers: 1 bucket per 1 sq. m. The amount of mineral fertilizers applied is indicated on the packaging. Nitrogen-containing substances are introduced only in the spring, as this component causes the formation of new leaves and shoots.

The soil in the flowerbed should be moist. A few days before transferring the phloxes, it needs to be watered abundantly. If the weather is damp, the amount of water can be reduced.

The holes in the flower garden should be 50 cm apart from each other, since phlox bushes grow quite strongly. The depth of the planting hole should be spacious: the roots of the plant should be freely placed in it. The developed root system of an adult phlox can lie to a depth of 20-25 cm. Another 5 cm must be added to this mark, since during cold weather the soil can freeze very much, so the upper part of the rhizome is deepened 5 cm below the surface of the earth.

Processing of planting material

Transferring phlox to a new place contributes to the rejuvenation of the culture. With proper care and compliance with all the rules, the plants will bloom magnificently, but for this you need to choose the strongest and most viable specimens.

A couple of days before transplanting, the bushes need to be watered and then carefully dug up using a pitchfork. Be careful not to damage the roots. Next, you need to divide the largest flowers into separate cuttings, and cut off the shoots. Pruning the stems is necessary to preserve nutrients. There should be a few leaves left on the shoot - this way the plant will survive the winter well, and in the spring it will quickly produce young shoots. Make sure that the skin on the stems is dry and tough.

Flower roots that are too long also need to be shortened. Their size should not exceed 15-20 cm. This is necessary so that the plants take root faster in a new place. Additional branches develop on the roots and the flowers are securely fixed in the ground.

If you do not want to cut off the roots, then you need to dig up the bush, leaving a large lump of earth. This technology is more suitable for summer transplants. In this case, pruning of leaves is not carried out, since the green mass is still involved in metabolic processes. Only dried flowers are removed.

Transplanting bushes into a flower garden

After the planting material has been processed and the area has been prepared, you can proceed to the main stage:

  1. Pour 1-2 liters of water into the holes.
  2. Place the roots of the cutting so that the neck is 5 cm below the surface of the ground.
  3. Fill the hole completely with soil and lightly compact it with your palms. Make a small mound of soil 15 cm high on top. This will protect the stem from winter cold.

With the onset of the first cold weather, place a layer of mulch 2-3 cm thick (dry sawdust, last year's leaves, crushed peat) on the flowerbed. Plants do not need to be covered with film or other synthetic materials. Lack of ventilation can lead to plant death. This is what all autumn care consists of.

During the winter, make sure that the flower bed is covered with snow. In spring, remove the mulch so that the first rays of spring warm the ground and plant roots. If all conditions are met, then in the first spring phlox will delight you with magnificent delicate flowers.

Phlox are perennial unpretentious plants that are a real decoration for a flower bed. Caring for them is as easy as shelling pears: you need to water them in hot weather, remove weeds and replant them. In the latter case, transplantation is carried out only every 5-6 years. Our tips will help you grow a healthy and strong plant.

Phloxes have been widespread for a long time. In Soviet times, it was hardly possible to find a flower garden near a house in which these unpretentious flowers of various colors did not grow. The emergence of new varieties in recent years has given a new impetus to their popularity. Moreover, propagation and transplantation of phloxes is not very difficult.

Phlox is a flame

This is exactly how the word Phlox is translated from Greek into Russian. Apparently, due to the bright red color of the flowers of wild species.

Phlox are perennial plants of the cyanaceae family. They appeared in Europe in the 17th century. Thanks to selection, today there are about 1,500 varieties of phlox and about 60 species. The classification also divides phlox into groups.

Main groups

Ground cover phloxes are the earliest flowering ones among them. For example, phlox subulate begins to bloom in May. It is called so because of the leaves, which have an awl-shaped shape. This group also includes phloxes of Douglas, lovely, Rugelli.

The next group is loose-grass phlox. Their flowering begins a little later than that of groundcovers, but also early. These include, for example, splayed phlox. It blooms very luxuriantly, has a violet scent and, depending on the variety, different colors of flowers: white, violet, lilac.

The third group is bush phlox; they come in tall and short varieties. The first of them are the most popular with us. Phlox paniculata, for example, can be of various colors, and its flowers are collected in lush inflorescences. The white phloxes of this variety are especially beautiful.

Spotted phlox is also a tall species. It is sometimes confused with paniculata. However, its inflorescences resemble a cylinder shape, the stems are covered with purple specks, and it blooms much earlier.

Where to plant?

Everyone talks about the unpretentiousness of phlox, and yet in order for them to delight with the beauty and duration of their flowering, it is necessary to create for them good conditions. First of all, planting or transplanting phloxes should be carried out on loose, well-dressed soil. organic fertilizers soil. Two more important conditions: maintaining sufficient soil moisture and systematic fertilizing during the growing season.

But first, about the landing site. Phlox love good lighting, but prefer diffused light to the open sun. It’s good when, during the hottest time of the day, shrubs and sparse trees shade a flower garden with phlox. These same plantings will protect the flowers from the cold wind, which is contraindicated for them, maintain soil moisture, and in winter protect the phlox from freezing.

Phlox transplant time

You can plant or replant these plants late spring, early autumn and even in summer (but not in hot weather).

In the fall, you cannot delay replanting because the plants will not have time to take root well before the onset of frost and will die. Transplanting phlox in the fall is most favorable in the period from the last ten days of August to mid-September, it is then that renewal buds are formed on the rhizome near the stems. In autumn, phlox should be planted with stems, but inflorescences and clusters with seeds should be cut off.

Late spring planting is fraught with the rapid onset of hot weather, which will also not give phlox the opportunity to develop well. Therefore, we must get down to business as soon as the ground thaws and is suitable for field work.

Finally, if you still need to replant phlox in the summer, then this should be done on a cloudy day, and the plant should be replanted with a large lump of earth.

How to plant phlox correctly

When planting, we must not forget that the root system of plants is branched and lies shallow, which means that the fertile soil from which the roots feed must also be located in top layer soil.

Medium loamy, close to neutral, loose and moist soils are considered the best for phlox. If you have to plant phlox in heavy clay or sandy soil, then you need to initially dig a hole for planting deeper and fill it there to compensate coarse sand or clay, and then fertile soil, where you must add cow or horse manure, ash, leaf soil and mineral fertilizers.

When planting a plant, you need to make sure that the root collar is a few centimeters below ground level.

Having finished planting, the phloxes need to be watered, at least one and a half to two liters of water per bush. Then, regular watering should be continued every 2-3 days for two weeks. When the plants are well established and begin to grow, you can reduce the amount of watering, but you need to mulch the ground around the planted phlox with humus or sawdust.

Phlox care: fertilizing with fertilizers

Although it is generally accepted that phlox are unpretentious flowers, good care for them significantly improves their decorative qualities: the bush becomes more powerful, the flowers are larger, and the flowering period increases. If you conduct annual correct feeding, maintain the necessary soil moisture, mulch it in a timely manner, then replanting phloxes will not be necessary for 5 - 10 years.

During the season, it is necessary to fertilize phlox three times. The first one is produced in May. Take half a bucket of humus or compost, add one tablespoon of urea and mix thoroughly. All this is poured under the bush of the plant.

During budding, a second feeding is done. One or two tablespoons of mineral fertilizer, which is intended specifically for flowering plants, are diluted in a bucket of water. The third feeding is carried out after the phloxes bloom; phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are used for this. In a bucket of water, for example, superphosphate and potassium sulfate are diluted, one tablespoon each.

Maintaining humidity is a must

The powerful root system, large mass of stems, leaves and flowers of phlox require a large amount of moisture. If there is not enough of it, then plant growth is weakened, the leaves turn yellow, and the flowers become smaller and pale, and cease to be bright.

Of course, the amount of water that needs to be applied to phlox is not always the same; it depends on the soil and the weather. But on average it is recommended for 1 sq. m pour out one and a half to two buckets of water. In dry weather more is possible. By the way, if you need to transplant phlox in the summer, then the soil at the planting site must be very well moistened.

Phlox should be watered using the sprinkling method, i.e. from a watering can, and not from a hose, because a stream of water washes away the soil from the rhizomes. Watering is usually done in the afternoon, towards evening, so that the water is absorbed into the soil and does not evaporate. After watering, the soil near the phloxes must be loosened so that a crust does not form.

Reproduction

Phlox propagate by layering, cuttings, seeds, and dividing the bush.

The easiest way is to divide the bush. After all, phloxes are still replanted every 5-6 years, because the bushes grow and flowering weakens. Therefore, it is easy to combine these two procedures.

As soon as the phloxes need to be transplanted, the timing should be combined with the time of dividing the bush. However, they already coincide. The division of the bush is also carried out either in the spring (in May) or in the autumn (August - September).

Having chosen a bush, carefully dig it up, shake off the soil, and clean the root collars. Carefully, so as not to damage, we disassemble the roots that go to the stems and separate them from each other. Of course, if the bush is old, it will hardly be possible to do this. You need to take a knife or shovel and cut the delenka into several parts. Be sure to make sure that each part has eyes, roots and shoot buds.

It is better to plant the separated parts of the bush immediately so that the roots do not dry out. The earthen lump should also not be shaken off completely. The plant takes root better if it is transplanted with a clod of earth. By the way, replanting phlox in the fall requires cutting the stems to 2/3 or 1/3 of their height.

Propagating phlox by layering is also not a particularly complicated procedure. Even before flowering begins, the stem of the plant is bent to the ground, secured and sprinkled with a mixture of peat and humus. In the fall, the independent plant formed from the stem is transplanted to a permanent place.

Decorating the garden plot with phlox

When to replant phloxes and how to do it is now known. Now you need to decide how the phlox bushes will fit into the landscape design of the existing site.

It depends on the variety. For example, subulate phlox is more suitable for alpine slides. But paniculata phlox can be used both as single plantings and in a group with other flowers. It can be either in the background, shading the plantings of annual flowers, or together with perennial flowers: carnations, bells, rudbeckia and others.

When choosing varieties of phlox, it is better to give preference to domestic ones, which are more adapted to our climatic conditions. Moreover, there is a wide variety of these varieties.

If the selection of varieties is made taking into account the height of the bushes, the color of the flowers and the flowering time of the phlox, then the garden will delight with its beauty for five months.

There is no consensus on when to replant phlox in order to do the least harm to the plant. These representatives of the cyanaceae family have long become one of the most popular flowers in Russia. They decorate city flower beds and garden plots.

In nature, this decorative crop can be found often. Wild phlox usually hides in the shade of trees on forest edges and in river floodplains. Plants prefer temperate climates and high humidity. They are quite unpretentious and easily propagated by seeds and cuttings.

Full flowering of a crop in one place is possible within 5-6 years. Then the root system of phlox grows greatly and interferes with the normal development of shoots and buds. To give the plant the opportunity to sparkle with all its colors again, it needs to be replanted. Relocation is stressful for the culture. It helps to rejuvenate plants and increase their protective properties.

The question of when to replant phlox - in spring or autumn - remains a subject of debate among amateur gardeners. Some argue that flowers take root well at any time of the year, so changing the flowerbed can be done even in summer. Others insist that spring is the best time to rejuvenate the crop, although each phlox bush transplanted during this period will be 2-3 weeks late in flowering.

There is a rational grain in both statements. In fact, the plant can be replanted in spring and autumn. But each of these options has its own characteristics. If you correctly fulfill all the requirements for transferring flowers and caring for them, then replanting phlox will go smoothly, regardless of the season.

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    Spring change of flower bed

    After a long and frosty winter, nature is waiting for renewal. A flower garden on a personal plot is no exception. Spring is the most good time for replanting various perennial plants. Phlox is one of the ornamental crops that are recommended to be moved to another place once every 5-6 years in order to prolong their existence. The average lifespan of flowers is up to 10 years if they are provided with proper care.

    In early spring the weather is still quite unstable. Therefore, there is no need to rush to start working in the garden. It is better to wait until the thermometer rises above 10 °C for 7-10 days in a row. Usually by this time the snow melts and the ground has time to warm up a little. The root system of phlox is located very close to the surface, so it is important that frosts do not recur after replanting, otherwise the plant will die.

    Moving phlox too late to another place in the spring is also fraught with unpleasant consequences. If the flowers do not have time to take root before the onset of the summer heat, they will not be able to develop normally. At best, the plant will not bloom this season, at worst, it will begin to dry out and die.

    The optimal time for spring transplantation of phlox is considered to be from mid to late April. If we are talking about late-flowering varieties, work on arranging the flowerbed can be extended until mid-May. But it is better to complete the transplantation before the beginning of the active growing season, since at this stage it is undesirable to interfere with the development of flowers or any other crops.

    Site requirements

    The place for an ornamental plant must be chosen taking into account its characteristics. The area intended for flowers should be well lit, but hidden from direct sunlight. The perennial prefers diffused light. The flowerbed should be planted in the shade of trees or near outbuildings. They will be able to protect phlox not only from excess ultraviolet rays, but also from cold wind. Drafts are harmful to plants.

    The decorative crop prefers loose and light neutral soils. If the environment on the site is too acidic, it can be changed using lime or a small amount of wood ash. Ash not only neutralizes the soil, but also structures it well.

    It is recommended to add washed river sand to heavy clay soils at the rate of 10 kg per 1 m². Sometimes it is mixed with crushed peat. These substances are evenly distributed around the perimeter of the site and dug up the soil to a depth of 15-20 cm. The use of sand and peat increases the drainage properties of the soil and prevents stagnation of moisture at the roots of plants. Excess water can cause mold, rot and other fungal diseases.

    It is desirable that the soil contains a sufficient amount of nutrients. To do this, rotted compost or humus is added to the soil in the spring. Organic fertilizers are combined with artificial mineral fertilizers. They must include 3 main components necessary for the growth and development of flowers:

    • nitrogen;
    • phosphorus;
    • potassium.

    Ready-made chemical additives must be used strictly according to the instructions. Exceeding the dosage of a single element can disrupt the development cycle of phlox and slow down the formation of buds.

    Planting phlox in spring

    Before moving the plant to a new location, it is necessary to prepare a planting hole. In Russia, the most popular species is Phlox paniculata. This is a fairly tall plant, which is a bush formed by elongated shoots. Their crowns are crowned with bright inflorescences consisting of flowers in pink, purple and white shades.

    The planting depth of this type of ornamental crop is 20-25 cm. A little sand is poured into the bottom of the hole, then turf and leaf soil mixed with organic fertilizers. After this, the plant is placed in the hole, carefully straightening the root shoots. They tend to break easily, so the gardener’s task is not to damage them when replanting.

    The flowers are sprinkled with earth so that the root collar is 1.5-3 cm below the surface. If the winter turns out to be snowless and the soil is quite dry, it is watered and then mulched with humus or sawdust.

    Phlox usually blooms in late May or early June. If the plant was replanted in the spring, then the time when the buds will bloom will come a little later. Usually this period is 2-3 weeks.

    Autumn transplant

    Flower growers who do not want to shift the time of summer flowering of phlox, but want to rejuvenate the crop by transferring it to another flowerbed, prefer autumn replanting. Preparations for it should begin in August.

    Before the onset of the first frost, the plant must adapt to new conditions and gain a foothold in open ground. If this does not happen, the crop will die in winter. Therefore, it is recommended to replant phlox in the fall until mid-September. Work in the garden begins in early August.

    This is the time when the last buds fade, and renewal buds are formed in the root part. If you fulfill all the requirements for replanting and manage to complete it before the end of the first ten days of September, then in the summer the phlox will delight the owner of the site with lush and bright inflorescences right on time.

    Flowerbed treatment

    Before moving plants to another place, you need to prepare the area. It should be located on a level area, protected from drafts and open sun. The soil needs to be dug up and organic fertilizers added to it. In autumn, cow or horse manure can be used. During the winter, these natural fertilizers will be slowly processed in the soil, releasing useful material, necessary to nourish the root system of flowers.

    However experienced gardeners It is recommended to use only rotted organic compounds. The fact is that fresh manure contains a large number of weed seeds. They are the first to germinate in the spring, which is undesirable for a flower garden.

    In addition, manure decomposes at high temperatures. A sudden burst of heat can burn weak phlox roots. When fresh manure rots, a lot of nitrogen is released into the soil. This element provokes the growth of green mass, which is undesirable on the eve of winter.

    When choosing mineral additives to enrich the soil, you should give preference to phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. Superphosphate in combination with potassium sulfate is best suited for autumn treatment of the site.

    The depth of the hole should be at least 20 cm. The distance between the bushes should be left up to 50 cm so that the plants do not interfere with each other when they enter the stage of active vegetative development. Phlox should be trimmed before planting. This promotes rapid rooting of flowers. Some gardeners prefer to leave a cutting of 10-15 cm. But it can become a wintering shelter for harmful insects. Therefore, it is better to cut the stem completely, to the base.

    Each plant is carefully placed in a hole and covered with soil, leaving renewal buds at a depth of 1.5 cm from the surface. The flowerbed is watered abundantly and mulched. For this purpose, sawdust or peat is used. You can cover the flower garden with fallen leaves, humus or straw. The mulch layer should be at least 5-6 cm. This will protect the phlox root system from freezing in winter.

    In early spring, when the air warms up, the shelter is removed, fertilizing is carried out and the soil is loosened. Correct and timely transplantation and careful care will allow you to enjoy for several more years. beautiful flowers called phlox, which means “flame”.

    On the eve of transplantation, the bushes are watered abundantly. This is necessary so that the soil sticks well to the roots. Then each plant is dug up, making a large indentation from the base of the crop, so as not to damage the shoots and renewal buds located in the soil. After this, the phloxes are carefully removed along with a lump of earth and installed in this form in the prepared planting hole. It is sprinkled with earth, lightly compacting the soil in the root zone. Then the plant is watered.

    Summer replanting can lead to slower flower growth, disease, and in rare cases, the death of the entire ornamental crop. Therefore, it is recommended to resort to it only in case of emergency. In all other situations, it is better to wait until the end of August and move the plant to a new location in due time.

This phenomenon is due to the unusual beautiful flowering for a long time. Flowers not only delight the eye with a variety of colors, but are also easy to grow and unpretentious to care for.

The frequency of flowering of phlox makes it possible to create incredibly beautiful compositions in flower beds that bloom in early spring and continue to bloom until late autumn.

Why is a transplant necessary?

Like any garden plant that blooms in one place every year, phloxes degenerate over time. This process is characterized by the shrinking of flowers and inflorescences, loss of leaf elasticity during hot periods, and withering of shoots. During the abundant flowering of young bushes, old bushes fade and lose color.

In addition to the degeneration of colors, there is soil depletion, while the application of fertilizers often does not compensate for the lack of nutrients. Pathogenic flora multiplies, contributing to the emergence of diseases and pests.

To avoid these processes, as well as to prevent plant degeneration, they should be renewed every 4-5 years. Rejuvenation of phlox plantings can be achieved by dividing old, densely overgrown plants into separate parts, followed by planting them in another, previously prepared place.

When to replant?

The best period for changing the area of ​​bush plantings is considered to be autumn; at this time, plant growth practically stops.

This is due to the beginning of early growth of the roots of this crop - after the snow melts. Therefore, spring transplantation is fraught with damage to the root system and a decrease in the number of flowering bushes. In the spring, it is quite difficult to catch the right moment when the soil has thawed and root growth has not begun.

It should be noted that in a temperate continental climate zone, replanting is recommended in the spring due to the risk of the plant dying from frost during a winter with little snow due to poorly rooted bushes. In addition, at this time the stems have not yet grown and will break during planting.

You can change the location of phlox plantings in the summer, when the plant is blooming. The work must be done with extreme caution so that as much soil as possible remains on the roots. Divide bushes into summer time undesirable.

in spring

Spring replanting can begin from April to the first half of May.

The reference point will be the plants themselves; the moment shoots grow up to 10 cm long is the optimal period for replanting.

The spring increase in temperature contributes to rapid growth phlox, when transplanting the stems are often damaged, as a result of which flowering is delayed by up to 2 weeks and its duration is reduced.

To make up for the losses during transplantation of all broken shoots, the rhizomes can be planted in the soil, covered with film or agrofibre and periodically moistened well. The result will not be long in coming; all transplanted sprouts will quickly take root.

in autumn

When transplanting an adult plant, you can divide the bush into several parts.

Transplantation in autumn is carried out starting from the third ten days of August, after the formation of shoots from renewal buds, until the first days of October.

Before subzero temperatures set in, the plant needs to take root well, so it is recommended to mulch to maintain warmth in the root zone for as long as possible. It is desirable that the leaves remain on the stems, this helps the plant quickly adapt to a new location.

Autumn transplant dates are 30-40 days, and spring ones – 12-14.

Selecting a location

Plants can be planted in open and semi-shaded areas. The most suitable areas are those protected by shrubs or small trees, providing light shade during the hottest part of the day, especially for dark-colored varieties.


You need to choose a place for phlox that is windless

To prevent flowers from being flooded with water during the snowmelt or rainy season, the location for replanting should be chosen so that the area is located at a slight slope.

Flowerbeds with phlox can be arranged on any side of the house, except the north, and in the shade coniferous trees. Flowers will grow in such areas, but will not bloom luxuriantly.

IN southern regions In Russia, for replanting, it is advisable to allocate damp, wind-protected areas, near trees, buildings, and also near water bodies.

It is important not only to choose a suitable place for transplantation, but also to prepare it correctly. If a change in the location of flower plantings is planned for spring, then preparatory work should be done in the fall, and vice versa, if in the fall, preparation is carried out several months before the subsequent transplant. To do this, dig up the soil, remove all weeds and apply organic and mineral fertilizers. The applied substrates are mixed with the soil at a depth of 12-15 cm due to the fact that the root system of the plant is located there.

Transfer rules

The process of transplanting phlox is carried out as follows:

  1. Dig up the selected bush, clean the rhizome. It is advisable to leave the earthen ball, so the plant will take root better in the new area.
  2. Carefully, disassemble the roots located near the stems and separate them from each other. If the bush is old, with densely overgrown roots, they can be divided into several parts using a knife.

    The division must be carried out in such a way that each separated part has roots and rudimentary shoots.

  3. The plant should be planted immediately after division without allowing the roots to dry out.
  4. The distance between plants should not be less than 45 cm so that phlox can grow in a new place for more than one year.
  5. It is recommended to mulch the soil, this will help retain moisture in the soil, improve its properties and protect the plant from frost.

If replanting is done in the fall, the phlox stems need to be cut back to a third of their height.

Aftercare

The growth and lush flowering of plants depends on the condition of the soil, so, first of all, you should pay attention to its condition. It is necessary to loosen it, increasing air access, and also regularly clear it of weeds.

Flowers need regular, abundant watering, especially in summer. Drying out the soil leads to slower growth and weakening of phlox shoots.

It is equally important to keep the bushes clean and remove dry stems and inflorescences.

Phlox is a popular garden plant, which, thanks to the variety of varieties, can decorate any flowerbed or country cottage area. However, for stable and bright flowering they require not only appropriate care, but also timely replanting. All the features of this process will be discussed in detail in this article, which will allow even novice gardeners to carry out this procedure in compliance with technology.

When to replant phloxes

The most favorable period for transplanting these flowers is autumn, but phlox can adapt quite well to being transferred to a new location at virtually any time of the year.

All the features of this process, depending on the specific season, are discussed in detail below:

  1. Autumn is the most recommended time for replanting, since the root system of phlox feels good in cold conditions and begins to actively develop immediately after the snow melts, and it does not need to wait for the soil to warm up. Another advantage of this option is that the plant does not have stems with increased fragility, which can be accidentally broken during the procedure, which is associated with preliminary seasonal pruning of flowers.
  2. IN middle lane It is often practiced to transplant phloxes in the spring, but this process will be much more difficult, since increased care must be taken so as not to accidentally damage the root shoots that have awakened after hibernation. The fact is that this plant very poorly tolerates even minor mechanical impact on its root system, so the flowering period in the current season may no longer occur.
  3. Replanting in the summer is extremely rare, but if necessary, it can be done, but the process of dividing the bushes will need to be eliminated. The procedure must be carried out extremely carefully so as not to touch the roots; for this, the bush must be dug up around the perimeter and transplanted to a new place along with a large lump of old soil.

Depending on the chosen time of year for replanting phloxes, certain periods are set aside for this procedure:

  1. In the autumn, transplantation can be carried out from the last week of August to the beginning of September, then the plant will have enough time to get used to the new place before the first frost.
  2. In the spring, meeting deadlines is most important, the procedure must be performed at the end of April or early May.
  3. During the summer the dates are uncertain., you can replant during June, July and August.

Purposes of transplantation

Phlox are actively flowering plants, so replanting is a mandatory process for them, which is carried out for the following reasons:

Step-by-step transplant instructions

There is nothing complicated in the implementation of this procedure; a detailed algorithm of actions is given below:

  1. The selected location is pre-cleared of weeds., their roots, stones and other debris; comprehensive soil preparation for planting flowers is carried out.
  2. The places where the bushes will be planted are marked; it is recommended to maintain a distance between them of at least 50 cm, since if there is no urgent need, the next planned replanting will be carried out only after 5-6 years.
  3. A hole is dug, depth and diameter which depends on the size of the root shoots of the bushes.
  4. The bush is carefully immersed inside the hole, after which it is covered with garden soil.
  5. The soil surface must be thoroughly mulched immediately, humus is best used for these purposes, since it will help retain the necessary supply of moisture in the ground, and in winter it will additionally serve as insulation.

Selecting a site for transplantation and preparing the soil Requirements for the site

The processes of rooting and adaptation of phlox in a new place are directly dependent on the correctness of the choice made, as well as the quality, structure and composition of the soil.

For this reason, the place where the plants will be transplanted must meet the following requirements:

  1. The soil should be loosened and abundantly moistened, this is due to the fact that in their natural environment phloxes prefer to grow on forest edges or meadows located on floodplains. It is for this reason that they, unlike most others, garden plants and crops are not afraid of groundwater being too close, even in this case they will require additional watering.
  2. Most a good option considered landing in the ground, which contains a large number of different elements and compounds of the organic type.
  3. Phloxes are not too demanding on the degree of lighting; being in partial shade can even, on the contrary, have a positive effect on their condition, since exposure to direct sunlight can have disastrous consequences. In addition, in winter in such places there is usually an accumulation of snow masses, which act as an insulating layer and can save root processes from freezing when the temperature drops too much.
  4. The selected location should be free of trees or large shrubs, especially those with a shallow root system. This is due to the fact that phlox requires a large amount of moisture, and they often feel a lack of it, and similar neighbors will compete with them for water.

Preparing the site

After choosing a suitable place for transplanting phlox, you will need to first prepare the soil on it. To carry out the procedure in the autumn, you will need to start preparing in the summer; this process will include the following set of measures:

  1. All weeds are removed from the soil surface, after which the future flower bed is carefully dug up. At the same stage, it is recommended to remove all roots remaining in the soil layers.
  2. A large amount of organic fertilizers must be applied to the soil, and after that, fertilizing with mineral mixtures is carried out. Rotted manure, compost, ammonium nitrate, wood ash, superphosphate, and potassium salts are well suited for improving the soil. All fertilizer components must be mixed with the soil to a depth of at least 15 cm, since it is in these layers that most of the root processes of phlox are located.
  3. The free space around the bush should have a diameter of 35 to 50 cm, depending on its size. This entire area must be fertilized and moistened; the cultivation of any other plants or crops is not allowed on it. Only if this condition is met, the flowers will be able to do without another transplant for another 5-6 years.

Below is a recipe for preparing a bait mixture that is most effective in preparing a place for planting phlox. All the indicated dosages are enough to treat one square meter:

  1. Take a standard bucket and fill it with compost. or rotted manure.
  2. About 200 grams are added to the bucket. wood ash, it is recommended to crush it first.
  3. Potassium salts and ammonium nitrate are added, the optimal dosage of each component is approximately 30 g.
  4. Superphosphate is added last, the volume should be no more than 50 g.

Aftercare after transplant

After the plant is transplanted, it will need help to adapt and take root in a new place; for this, it must be provided with the following care:

  1. All weeds must be removed from the flowerbed in a timely manner, the soil must be kept loose, Special attention This moment is given after watering or heavy precipitation.
  2. Watering should be carried out systematically, and each bush will require a large volume of water. During dry and particularly hot periods, you can increase both the amount of water used and the frequency of the procedure.
  3. The soil is mulched; for these purposes it is recommended to use a mixture of straw manure, humus and peat, which are mixed in equal proportions. The layer must have a thickness of at least 5 cm.
  4. Feeding should be done on a regular basis, it is recommended to give preference to fertilizers in liquid form, since they reach the root system faster.
  5. Dried stems and inflorescences should be cut off in a timely manner, since their preservation will take a significant amount of energy and nutrients from the plant to try to preserve the vital activity of these unnecessary shoots.
  6. Pinching of all shoots must be done in a timely manner, as soon as the need arises.

Preparing for winter

Phloxes are distinguished by a very high level of frost resistance, but prolonged exposure to low temperature conditions can still negatively affect their condition, so it is necessary to organize shelter for the winter.

Basic mistakes

Below we discuss the most common mistakes that do not allow phlox to take root and bloom in full force. Familiarization with them will help prevent the likelihood of their recurrence in the future:

  1. It is too late to remove the cover in the spring. It must be remembered that phlox are frost-resistant flowers, so they can tolerate light frosts in the spring without much difficulty. At the same time, a humid and warm microclimate is formed inside the shelter; if dismantling is delayed, the plant may be prohibited in such conditions.
  2. Failure to maintain distances between rows or individual bushes. Depending on the size, it should be 30-60 cm, otherwise the phlox becomes too crowded, a lack of moisture and nutrients begins to be felt, which leads to rather poor flowering.
  3. Failure to comply with the deadlines for spring transplantation. When carrying out the procedure in the autumn, difficulties usually do not arise, but in the spring the timing is often determined incorrectly. You should not be afraid of frosts or delay the process, since all delays lead to the fact that the plants simply do not have enough time to adapt and take root, which is why there is no flowering in the current season.

Tips for flower growers

  1. Despite the absence of viruses that would exclusively infect phlox, these flowers are very susceptible to infection by any universal fungal or viral infections. Timely application of fertilizers to the soil and preventive treatment chemicals can reduce such risk.
  2. It is recommended to throw away all cut inflorescences, shoots or foliage away from the flower bed, or even better, burn them, as they can become sources for the formation dangerous infections or attract the attention of insects.
  3. In the autumn, liquid fecal fertilizing can be done, but this practice is not suitable for only transplanted bushes. It is recommended to carry out similar procedures with bushes that grow in one place for about 2-3 years.

These beautiful, fragrant flowers came to Europe from North America more than three centuries ago. And then the outstanding Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus gave them the botanical name Phlox . And in the old days in Rus', lush multi-colored phloxes were called “sitchik”.

Translated from Greek language Phlox means "flame", "fire". It is also translated into the language of flowers as “the flame of your lips.” The Greek origin of the name of phlox flowers is explained by a beautiful legend. Allegedly, when Odysseus and the Argonauts left the dungeon of the god Hades, they threw their burning torches to the ground. Their flame did not go out, but, turning into bright flowers, sprouted, as if reminiscent of courageous travelers.

Today there are more than 50 species of phlox, and except for the annual Drummond, they are all perennial. In most of them, only the underground parts (roots, rhizomes) are such, and the above-ground stems and leaves die off at the end of the growing season. However, there are also evergreen plants with both parts living for a long time.

Today, only up to 20 types of these flowers are used in decorative gardening, floriculture, and landscape construction. You can admire the bright lush flowering of different varieties for almost six months: from early spring, all summer and until late autumn. Therefore, it is difficult to disagree with the German gardener and philosopher Karl Forster that “a garden without phlox is nonsense.”

Depending on the habitat of wild species of phlox, they appearance, environmental, morphological features may vary. All these plants with straight, rigid stems, fragrant flowers of various colors and petal shapes are divided into 3 groups:

  1. Bush with such subgroups as: tall and short. Their flowers are distinguished by the absence of recesses and dissections on the edges of the corolla petals.

Among the tall ones, reaching a height of up to 180 cm, there are panicled, spotted, smooth and a number of others. They give flowers from early autumn and early summer. They are usually placed in the background of flower arrangements.

Low-growing ones grow to only 60 cm, bloom from late spring to early summer. Popular in this subgroup are thick-leaved (Carolina), hairy, lovely, oval Delilah, Candy Twist, etc. They add special charm to any composition when placed in the foreground.

  1. Ground cover(creeping) are the first to bloom in spring from April-May or early summer. Phloxes of Douglas, Hood, subulate, dwarf, snow, star-shaped, etc. are very common here. They are excellent for retaining walls, ridges, and alpine slides.
  1. Loose turf, as intermediate between the first two. Their flowers appear in late May or early June. The difference from creeping varieties is the ability to rise above the soil up to 30 cm during flowering. These include splayed and shoot-bearing phloxes.

Along with this general classification Breeders continue to create interspecific hybrids and varieties. Some of them have already begun to organize separate groups.

Varieties of perennial phlox with photos

When choosing a plant, we advise you to focus on both its height and the colors of the numerous varieties. There are more than 1,500 items. It is not surprising that they are given very sonorous names, which are associated with certain images and themes. We invite you to get acquainted with some of them:

  • Alyonushka– turf phlox has a straight stem up to 50 cm high. Its delicate pale pink flowers with a diameter of about 4 cm are collected in a dense inflorescence with a volume of 16x18 cm. It blooms for more than 30 days from mid-July. It has good resistance to many diseases.
  • Appassionata with a medium-sized stem up to 75 cm and a dense pyramidal inflorescence (17x12 cm), lilac-lilac with a carmine eye. The size of one flower reaches 4 cm. This bushy variety acquires special splendor during flowering from mid-July for 30-37 days.
  • Snow White contrary to the name, it has only white flowers, and the tube and bud are colored slightly pinkish. During flowering from the end of July for more than a month, the bush seems to be covered with continuous delicate white-pink foam. It is located on the shoots of a tall, straight stem up to 80 cm high. This variety is not afraid of fungal diseases.
  • Bonnie Maid grows up to 70 cm with a round, dense inflorescence. One flower can reach a size of more than 4 cm. The delicate palette of blue or lilac colors and the amazing aroma of these flowers are especially attractive.

    Phlox paniculata - variety “Bonnie Maid”

  • West has a respectable height of up to 1.5 m, the strong stems of which are not prone to lodging. And its small dark crimson flowers with a diameter of only 2 cm are densely located on bushy shoots. This perennial is quite disease resistant.
  • Europe It has straight stems, bright white flowers up to 4 cm in diameter with a carmine eye. They decorate the plants for just over a month, starting in early July. They densely fill fairly large inflorescences measuring 12x20 cm.
  • Dusk has a stem up to 70 cm high and quite large (up to 4 cm in diameter) unlike other phlox flowers. The edges of their petals are strongly curved forward. The inflorescences, with their violet-purple color, seem to be associated with lush caps slightly touched by fog or a light haze.

Selection of planting material

When purchasing planting material, you need to pay attention to the presence of up to 5 correctly colored shoots, the length of which reaches about 6 cm. They should have a shiny surface and healthy roots shortened to 15 cm.

For landing perennial phlox Healthy plants with greenish, roughened skin and leaves undamaged by pests are selected. Future seedlings should have 2-3 thickened stems and large buds formed at their bases.

Even before digging, the length of the stems of adult plants is cut off by half. After carefully removing the bush and clearing it of soil, the root system is divided into several parts.

Cutting off rhizomes for future seedlings can be done by hand, with a sharp shovel or knife. It is important not to damage the vegetative buds located at the base of the stem. Each young bush should have at least 8 buds from which new shoots will grow. And the root may die without them.

You should pay attention to good development root system, root length no more than 15 cm. If necessary, the rhizomes can only be shortened by one third with pruning shears.

Procurement of planting material can be carried out even from the moment of emergence. To do this, a young shoot on a healthy bush is carefully broken off along with part of its rhizome. On a cutting with two internodes, the cut is made under the lower one and 5-7 cm above the upper one.

Reproduction

Perennial phlox can be grown using vegetative methods and, like annuals, from seeds. Most often, planting materials are chosen for propagation of perennial phlox due to the first ones, namely:

  • Dividing the bush It is considered the most labor-intensive method. It allows you to use the plant for a new planting, while helping to rejuvenate the old bush of your favorite variety. “Delenka” is used when the bush reaches 3-4 years of age at any time of the year. This method involves digging it up, dividing it into parts, and filling the resulting hole with fertile soil. Plants divided in this way with straightened roots are planted in another place with a depth of 3 cm into the soil.
  • Layerings made by bending the stem to the ground before flowering. Then it is fixed along its entire length and covered with peat and humus. By autumn, this sprouted shoot is separated from the “native” bush and transplanted to the chosen place.

Many people practice using spring growth shoots. They are carefully pulled out with a “heel” from heavily dense bushes at the very base of the stem. For better rooting, the shoots are first planted in a greenhouse or insulated greenhouse, since in open ground this process is very slow. From the end of May - beginning of June, after regular watering with warm, settled water, shoots with formed roots are planted in a selected area of ​​the site.

Cuttings carried out throughout the entire growing season of the plant. It begins when the shoot reaches 5 cm and ends until the end of September. Spring and summer cuttings take root most successfully.

So in May-June you can cut small pieces of young shoots with two pairs of leaves. These cuttings are placed in moist soil and covered with a jar until they are completely rooted.

The cutting method is advisable if it is necessary to propagate a large number of phloxes.

Phlox propagation: video

When is it better to plant phlox - in spring or autumn?

According to experienced flower growers, the most favorable time for transplantation is early spring (late April - early May).

Autumn planting is completely acceptable during the period of bud formation on the root collars from the end of August, but not later than the first days of September.

If, outside of school hours, “it’s impossible, but you really want to,” then it’s better not to plant, but to bury your favorite plant to a depth of loose soil up to 25 cm. On the eve of cold weather, this place is mulched or covered with dense material.

When planting in autumn, for better rooting, it is necessary to pre-prun the upper part of the bushes. During flowering, phloxes can also be replanted, provided that they are carefully dug up with a lump of earth and further regular watering.

It is important to remember that a plant can take root, fully develop and grow without diseases only if the root system is not overdried. But summer replanting of these plants should be avoided. At this time, they grow very slowly and may be subject to drying out and attacks by pests.

Landing

Perennial phlox can be planted in both fall and spring. The pledge of duration, lush flowering phlox is right choice time and place of their planting, soil cover, agricultural techniques.

The main requirement for proper planting is soil fertility per 1 spade. This is due to the shallow location (up to 30 cm) of a powerful, branched root system and the location of the bulk of the substances that feed it up to 20 cm from the soil surface.

Where to plant

The planting site should be free of stagnant moisture. Therefore, it is better not to choose damp, low-lying areas. The best option– slightly raised in relation to the surface of the flowerbed area. Despite their light-loving nature, they are more suited to light partial shade than to bright sunlight or dense shade.

The place should not be “open to all winds,” especially during wintering. Therefore, planting phlox on the north side is not recommended. Planting flowers should also be avoided in the shade of large trees due to unequal forces in the struggle for light, moisture, nutrients.

When determining the “place of residence” of plants when planting, it is important to take into account their growth, color scheme, and harmonious combination with other plants.

Soil preparation

Choosing a location also requires attention to the composition of the soil. Light soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction is suitable for planting phlox. If the soil in suitable places is too acidic, then it is neutralized with quicklime (200 g per 1 m²).

Clay soil is mixed with sand, and sandy soil with peat. Su clay soil can be “ennobled” by mixing it with mature humus, ash, bone meal in proportions of 100 g per 1 m². Such “intervention in nature” + regular moderate feeding will make growing phlox effective.

Landing Features

Planting perennials and annual phlox There is little difference except for some nuances. So, during spring planting, the distance between perennials should be somewhat greater than that of annuals, since the former will grow over the years.

For example, between low-growing, ground-cover phloxes, a distance between bushes of up to 40 cm is maintained. For varieties with average height it should be up to 50 cm, and for tall ones - at least 70 cm. Along with this, after planting, the soil around them must be mulched (dry humus, peat, small shavings, chopped straw, etc.).

On the eve of winter, phloxes should not be planted, but only buried to a depth of 25 cm. In this case, the place should be protected from the winter wind, and snow should cover them. And after the soil freezes, the buried flowers must be covered with dry leaves or peat.

Phloxes that have managed to grow after spring cuttings are planted in autumn open ground to a permanent place. In the absence of sufficient moisture or rain, the seedlings are watered abundantly 2-3 times weekly for 14 days. The soil around them is loosened and mulched.

Cloudy daytime or evening weather is suitable for planting perennials.

Growing annual phlox from seeds

Growing perennial phlox from seeds

This method of cultivation can be the result of “self-sowing” seeds that have fallen from plants, or by planting pre-collected ones. In the second case, the seeds are collected in the fall before the brown seed pods begin to open and all the foliage withers.

A sign of mature seeds is their dense, dark green structure and a characteristic crackling sound when pressed. The need for frequent collection due to uneven ripening should be taken into account. After collecting, removing husks and remaining leaves, the finished seed material is immediately placed in the prepared soil (September-early November).

As a result of winter natural selection, the strongest survive and begin to germinate as soon as the snow melts. In mid-May, seedlings can be planted in their designated places, taking into account the preferences of the soil composition.

Some gardeners think optimal timing sowing seeds from November to January (sowing before winter). To do this, a previously prepared flower bed or bed is cleared of the first snow. Then the seeds are laid out on their surface at a distance of up to 5 cm from each other, and sprinkled with a layer of up to 1 cm of garden soil and snow on top. Experience with this simple method of planting in open ground shows up to 70% germination, previously lush flowering.

Growing phlox seedlings using these methods makes it possible to obtain fairly resistant plants by planting densely sprouted seeds in open ground. Such seedlings can be planted at the required intervals and you can admire the flowers already in the first year of their life.

Sowing at home

When growing seedlings in room conditions perennial phloxes need seed preparation for germination (stratification). To do this, after planting in a container with a substrate, they are kept for 15-20 days at room temperature and in a cold no higher than +4 °C.

After being in low temperature conditions, the container is placed in a bright place, separated from the heating devices by a screen. Here the air should warm up to the optimum temperature for seed germination, no higher than +12 °C.

After they have sprouted, the period of traditional care for phlox seedlings begins. These include uniformity of lighting, regular watering and spraying, shelter, removal of condensation, ventilation, picking.

Landing in the ground

It begins when the seedlings have 4-6 true leaves. They are seated at a distance of 20 cm in a pre-selected place. In this case, the soil between still small phloxes must be mulched with at least mowed grass without seeds.

Thanks to this, the soil will be moist, soft, and weed-free. Indispensable types of care for growing phloxes include careful loosening of the soil, weeding, watering, and fertilizing.

How to grow perennial phlox from seeds: video

Caring for perennial phlox in summer

It consists of regular watering (morning, evening) at the root. After the flowers have grown stronger, to increase bushiness, pinch them over 4-5 pairs of leaves. During active flowering of phlox from July to September, all fading inflorescences should be removed. This favors the appearance of new flower stalks in the leaf axils.

During the growth period, perennials need 5 times fertilizer, while annuals need 4 times. Thanks to the latter, fertilizing helps the formation of full-fledged seeds in boxes.

With proper care and feeding, flowers will grow for at least 7 years without losing their decorative properties.

Diseases and pests

They don't overpower phlox much. However, with poor care, planting in the shade, or dense plantings, powdery mildew may occur. It attacks stems and leaves.

Another very unpleasant pest is nematodes (roundworms). Neighbors can help here: marigolds, nasturtium, calendula.

How to replant phloxes: video

How to develop a neglected area Planting phlox: video

Paying attention to flowers and following the rules of agricultural technology will allow you to enjoy the colorful and fragrant phlox every year.

Phlox decorate gardens with a variety of colors and shades.

More than 60 types allow you to decorate areas in an unusual way. You should not propagate them in the summer, as they do not take root well. In contrast, planting phlox in the fall allows you to speed up flowering the following year. Advice from experienced flower growers on how to plant plants in open ground, prepare the soil, fertilize and help the flower survive the winter will be useful to every gardener.

Features of planting in autumn

When to plant perennial phlox? Phlox are perennials that bloom luxuriantly for several years, but over the years the flowers become smaller, and the bush requires rejuvenation or replanting. Many gardeners like to experiment and change the appearance of their plot in spring or autumn. But at the end of summer, new ideas arise: what to change, what plants and colors to add. Therefore, transplantation of phloxes to another place is organized.

Despite the fact that this is a rather unpretentious flower, planting phlox in the fall has its own characteristics and some advantages:

  1. The bush does without additional watering. As a rule, autumn rains are quite enough for rooting.
  2. In autumn there is a longer period, which promotes vegetation and rooting and is equal to 30–40 days. In spring, flower growers use only two weeks.
  3. Plants planted during this period bloom the following summer. In contrast, spring propagation delays flowering in the first year.
  4. After flowering, it is easier to determine which varieties will be added or removed to create a unified image of the site.
  5. Plants obtained from cuttings take root better.

Based on these factors, it becomes clear that replanting plants in open ground in the fall is not only possible, but also provides a number of advantages. If certain agricultural technology tips are followed, better reproduction is obtained.

How to choose healthy planting material

Types of phlox

There are also popular varieties: Twilight, Carl Foster, Childhood, Smoky Coral, Ural Rocks, etc.

Main parameters of planting material:

  • rough stem skin;
  • two thick, developed stems;
  • large basal buds;
  • absence of rot and mechanical damage;
  • divisions with strong roots.

Preparation for landing

The roots are trimmed (about 15 cm are left). If the bush is replanted with an earthen clod, the phlox (color top) is trimmed. At least three intact leaves are left on the trunk, this helps prepare the plant for wintering.

Attention! “Treat each specimen with ash or rooting agent.”

Planting dates in autumn

Early and mid-blooming phlox begin to prepare for reproduction at the end of August. During this period, the renewal buds are already formed and the flower does not die after transplantation. When to replant late-blooming phlox? The bushes are moved to a new place in the second ten days of September.

Attention! “To prevent freezing, all work must be completed before mid-October.”

Selecting a location

It is advisable to grow phlox in a loose, fertile area. Loamy soil with a neutral (or close to it) acidity level is suitable for them.

Attention! “If the site has clay soil or heavy black soil, it is necessary to carry out agrotechnical measures and bring the soil quality to the required parameters.”

Features of improving the structure of the earth are described in the next paragraph.

Soil preparation

Planting phlox and landscape design begins with choosing a site, which is prepared in advance, about a couple of weeks before the planned planting. It needs to be dug up so that the earth has time to settle and the flowerbed does not turn out to be buried in comparison with the rest of the area.

It is necessary to dig up the area to a depth of at least 35 cm, since the rhizome is located in the soil at a depth of 20 cm. Remove debris, plant roots, and perennial weeds.

For this use:

  • compost;
  • coarse river sand;
  • aerated peat;
  • ripe humus (preferably made from leaves).

The approach to sandy soil is different. It is necessary to improve the structure, moisture capacity, and make the soil nutritious; for this purpose, clay, turf soil, lime or wood ash, and mineral fertilizers are added during the digging process.

Step by step planting process

Prepared planting material is planted according to the chosen scheme. The distance is selected depending on the size of the adult plant.

Detailed instructions for the sequence of work:

  • a hole is dug of such an area that all the roots can be freely placed in it;
  • a layer of river sand is poured onto the bottom, this will improve drainage;
  • the top of the root is approximately 5 cm from the ground level, otherwise the rhizomes may freeze. With deeper placement, the development of the above-ground part slows down, since the root system is formed in two tiers;
  • the hole is watered abundantly with water, a handful of humus, wood ash + phosphorus fertilizers (1 tbsp) are poured into it. Planting material is placed in liquid soil;
  • The top is covered with excavated soil. There is no need to water additionally;
  • the earth is compacted and leveled, the created flowerbed should be 15 cm high.

In autumn, only potassium and phosphorus fertilizers are applied. Complex mixtures containing nitrogen are applied in the spring until May.

Expert advice! “Fresh manure cannot be used. The bush grows powerful foliage, but will not bloom.”

Competent feeding

Fertilizing in the fall is required. Scattered across frozen ground complex fertilizer mixed with ash. In spring, a solution of mineral fertilizer (10 g per bucket of water) increases the intensity and duration of flowering.

Basic methods of reproduction

Plants are propagated in two ways: by dividing the bush and cuttings. In the first case, the adult plant is dug up completely. Using a sharp, clean knife, cut the rhizome to obtain complete planting material. The cut site is treated with ash, dried a little and only then planted in the chosen place. Otherwise, the root will rot or the plant will become sick.

The second way is that:

  1. the stem is cut from an adult healthy bush;
  2. cuttings no longer than 15–20 cm are cut;
  3. treated with a preparation that promotes the formation of roots and planted in a mixture of loamy soil and peat soil;
  4. Regular watering is organized to keep the soil moist;
  5. The cuttings are transplanted to a permanent place in the fall.

How to carry out regular care

Care in the spring after winter consists of fertilizing, watering, loosening the soil, and controlling pests and diseases. Planting phlox in the fall, including proper care cannot do without watering. Phlox are plants that are afraid of both lack of moisture and excessive watering. Heavy daily dew can damage the flowers, but not provide the necessary moisture to the entire bush.

If there is not enough liquid, the root begins to dry out. To preserve precious moisture, loosening should be kept to a minimum. And in order not to damage the roots, flower growers mulch the bud around the bushes. This agrotechnical method preserves rain moisture, the soil does not become compacted, and the flower develops and blooms well.

Pruning phlox or puncturing involves regularly tearing off shoots of the plant. This technique delays the flowering period and promotes the formation of additional lateral shoots, since seed ripening is prevented by removing inflorescences and flowers. As a result, conditions are created for continued flowering.

There are two types of pruning. First: the stems are cut 5 cm from the soil surface, this allows nutrients to accumulate in the rhizome and protect them during frosts. The second method: cut off the above-ground part at soil level, which becomes a good prevention of fungal diseases.

Diseases and treatment

IN spring time phloxes are affected by diseases and pests of flowering plants, as a result of which their decorative properties deteriorate. Often the cause is poor-quality fertilizers and planting material, placement in partial shade. Flowers suffer from: phomosis, leaf spot, powdery mildew, phlox nematode. This is especially evident in the spring-summer season at low temperatures and high humidity in June, July.

The most common is powdery mildew, which looks like cobweb spots affecting the leaves. The disease begins to spread from the soil and eventually affects the entire flowering bush.

As soon as affected areas are identified, they need to be cut off. Such systemic protection gives the desired result. However, if you delay treatment sick plant infects others, which eventually die, so it is important to treat not only the bushes with fungicides, but also the ground around them, this will contribute to treatment and restoration of decorative properties.

On a plant infected with a nematode, the leaves become thin and ribbon-shaped; it is better to remove such a plant along with its roots. After this, you need to withstand a certain period - 3 years. Phlox and perennial flowers of this family cannot be planted in such a flower garden.

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Every year in October, the land is treated with fungicides that kill pathogenic spores. This is also important to do in the spring, when the spores awaken.

Careful preparation for winter

To prevent the death of planting material, gardeners protect plantings from frost. For this purpose, rotted sawdust, various bulk materials of organic origin, and peat are used. They increase the temperature in the root zone and prevent freezing.

After the snow melts, the mulch is immediately removed, which allows access to the sun's rays, promotes good soil heating and the rapid appearance of leaves.

In the future, the stems are cut off annually before wintering; this will prevent the bush from fungal diseases.

Florist advice! "Under no circumstances should they use plastic film or roofing felt, they do not allow air to pass through and provoke the death of the plant, since the roots are damped out.”

Common mistakes when growing

Despite the fact that phloxes are not exotic plants, the following problems arise:

  • High humidity attracts slugs, which eat the plantings. The fight comes down to using lime and wood ash around the bushes, which destroy slugs;
  • planting in an inappropriate location, strong shade or in a wetland. In the first case, the bush blooms weakly. In the second, the rhizomes rot and die;
  • excess mineral fertilizers or application of manure. The plant “fattens”, grows a huge mass of leaves and refuses to bloom;
  • deep planting of rhizomes also delays the flowering period;
  • untimely replanting of the plant provokes oppression of the plant;
  • By purchasing planting material not from a specialized store, you can introduce pathogenic fungal diseases to the site.

Attention! “Proper planting and care are important to avoid such disasters.”

Proper planting of perennial phlox, selection and preparation of the site, healthy planting material, adherence to planting, care, watering, and fertilizing technologies guarantee abundant flowering that will decorate the garden, site and delight the owners.

Phloxes have been widespread for a long time. In Soviet times, it was hardly possible to find a flower garden near a house in which these unpretentious flowers of various colors did not grow. The emergence of new varieties in recent years has given a new impetus to their popularity. Moreover, propagation and transplantation of phloxes is not very difficult.

Phlox is a flame

This is exactly how the word Phlox is translated from Greek into Russian. Apparently, due to the bright red color of the flowers of wild species.

Phlox are perennial plants of the cyanaceae family. They appeared in Europe in the 17th century. Thanks to selection, today there are about 1,500 varieties of phlox and about 60 species. The classification also divides phlox into groups.

Main groups

Ground cover phloxes are the earliest flowering ones among them. For example, phlox subulate begins to bloom in May. It is called so because of the leaves, which have an awl-shaped shape. This group also includes phloxes of Douglas, lovely, Rugelli.

The next group is loose-grass phlox. Their flowering begins a little later than that of groundcovers, but also early. These include, for example, splayed phlox. It blooms very luxuriantly, has a violet scent and, depending on the variety, different colors of flowers: white, violet, lilac.

The third group is bush phlox; they are tall and short. The first of them are the most popular with us. Phlox paniculata, for example, can be of various colors, and its flowers are collected in lush inflorescences. The white phloxes of this variety are especially beautiful.

Spotted phlox is also a tall species. It is sometimes confused with paniculata. However, its inflorescences resemble a cylinder shape, the stems are covered with purple specks, and it blooms much earlier.

Where to plant?

Everyone talks about the unpretentiousness of phlox, and yet in order for them to delight with the beauty and duration of their flowering, it is necessary to create good conditions for them. First of all, planting or replanting phloxes should be done on loose soil well seasoned with organic fertilizers. Two more important conditions: maintaining sufficient soil moisture and systematic fertilizing during the growing season.

But first, about the landing site. Phlox love good lighting, but prefer diffused light to the open sun. It’s good when, during the hottest time of the day, shrubs and sparse trees shade a flower garden with phlox. These same plantings will protect the flowers from the cold wind, which is contraindicated for them, maintain soil moisture, and in winter protect the phlox from freezing.

Phlox transplant time

These plants can be planted or replanted in late spring, early autumn and even in summer (but not in hot weather).

In the fall, you cannot delay replanting because the plants will not have time to take root well before the onset of frost and will die. Transplanting phlox in the fall is most favorable in the period from the last ten days of August to mid-September, it is then that renewal buds are formed on the rhizome near the stems. In autumn, phlox should be planted with stems, but inflorescences and clusters with seeds should be cut off.

Late spring planting is fraught with the rapid onset of hot weather, which will also prevent phlox from developing well. Therefore, we must get down to business as soon as the ground thaws and is suitable for field work.

Finally, if you still need to replant phlox in the summer, then this should be done on a cloudy day, and the plant should be replanted with a large lump of earth.

How to plant phlox correctly

When planting, we must not forget that the root system of plants is branched and lies shallow, which means that the fertile soil from which the roots feed should also be in the top layer of soil.

Medium loamy, close to neutral, loose and moist soils are considered the best for phlox. If you have to plant phlox in heavy clay or sandy soil, then you need to initially dig a hole for planting deeper and fill it with coarse sand or clay to compensate, and then fertile soil, where you must add cow or horse manure, ash, leaf soil and mineral fertilizers.

When planting a plant, you need to make sure that the root collar is a few centimeters below ground level.

Having finished planting, the phloxes need to be watered, at least one and a half to two liters of water per bush. Then, regular watering should be continued every 2-3 days for two weeks. When the plants are well established and begin to grow, you can reduce the amount of watering, but you need to mulch the ground around the planted phlox with humus or sawdust.

Phlox care: fertilizing with fertilizers

Although it is generally accepted that phlox are unpretentious flowers, good care for them significantly improves their decorative qualities: the bush becomes more powerful, the flowers are larger, and the flowering period increases. If you carry out proper annual fertilizing, maintain the necessary soil moisture, and mulch it in a timely manner, then replanting phloxes will not be necessary for 5 to 10 years.

During the season, it is necessary to fertilize phlox three times. The first one is produced in May. Take half a bucket of humus or compost, add one tablespoon of urea and mix thoroughly. All this is poured under the bush of the plant.

During budding, a second feeding is done. One or two tablespoons of mineral fertilizer, which is intended specifically for flowering plants, are diluted in a bucket of water. The third feeding is carried out after the phloxes bloom; phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are used for this. In a bucket of water, for example, superphosphate and potassium sulfate are diluted, one tablespoon each.

Maintaining humidity is a must

The powerful root system, large mass of stems, leaves and flowers of phlox require a large amount of moisture. If there is not enough of it, then plant growth is weakened, the leaves turn yellow, and the flowers become smaller and pale, and cease to be bright.

Of course, the amount of water that needs to be applied to phlox is not always the same; it depends on the soil and the weather. But on average it is recommended for 1 sq. m pour out one and a half to two buckets of water. In dry weather more is possible. By the way, if you need to transplant phlox in the summer, then the soil at the planting site must be very well moistened.

Phlox should be watered using the sprinkling method, i.e. from a watering can, and not from a hose, because a stream of water washes away the soil from the rhizomes. Watering is usually done in the afternoon, towards evening, so that the water is absorbed into the soil and does not evaporate. After watering, the soil near the phloxes must be loosened so that a crust does not form.

Reproduction

Phlox propagate by layering, cuttings, seeds, and dividing the bush.

The easiest way is to divide the bush. After all, phloxes are still replanted every 5-6 years, because the bushes grow and flowering weakens. Therefore, it is easy to combine these two procedures.

As soon as the phloxes need to be transplanted, the timing should be combined with the time of dividing the bush. However, they already coincide. The division of the bush is also carried out either in the spring (in May) or in the autumn (August - September).

Having chosen a bush, carefully dig it up, shake off the soil, and clean the root collars. Carefully, so as not to damage, we disassemble the roots that go to the stems and separate them from each other. Of course, if the bush is old, it will hardly be possible to do this. You need to take a knife or shovel and cut the delenka into several parts. Be sure to make sure that each part has eyes, roots and shoot buds.

It is better to plant the separated parts of the bush immediately so that the roots do not dry out. The earthen lump should also not be shaken off completely. The plant takes root better if it is transplanted with a clod of earth. By the way, replanting phlox in the fall requires cutting the stems to 2/3 or 1/3 of their height.

Propagating phlox by layering is also not a particularly complicated procedure. Even before flowering begins, the stem of the plant is bent to the ground, secured and sprinkled with a mixture of peat and humus. In the fall, the independent plant formed from the stem is transplanted to a permanent place.

Decorating the garden plot with phlox

When to replant phloxes and how to do it is now known. Now you need to decide how the phlox bushes will fit into the landscape design of the existing site.

It depends on the variety. For example, subulate phlox is more suitable for alpine slides. But paniculata phlox can be used both as single plantings and in a group with other flowers. It can be either in the background, shading the plantings of annual flowers, or together with perennial flowers: carnations, bells, rudbeckia and others.

When choosing varieties of phlox, it is better to give preference to domestic ones, which are more adapted to our climatic conditions. Moreover, there is a wide variety of these varieties.

If the selection of varieties is made taking into account the height of the bushes, the color of the flowers and the flowering time of the phlox, then the garden will delight with its beauty for five months.

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