![]() This drought-tolerant perennial will struggle with water-logged soil, so practice restraint with your hose!įertilizing: An application of general garden fertilizer each spring or spreading a fresh layer of compost or fine mulch over the garden each spring is about all these delightful plants need. During seasons with regular rainfall, your phlox should not need any extra water from the gardener. Watering: Although you’ll need to water young plants regularly until they become established, in general, phlox does not require much water. If you decide to stake, do so early in the year, when the plant is still low to the ground, rather than when flowers begin to form. The stems are quite strong and rarely need staking unless the plant is in an area of high winds or where animals can knock the plant over. Staking: The clump of Garden phlox emerges with bright-green leaves that stay low until spring is well established and then begins to grow upward stems. Flowers continue to be produced until the weather turns to summer heat but you might well find a few flowers come back when cooler late summer or fall weather arrives. Eventually, tall stalks will begin to shoot skyward from the base of the plant.Īfter a few weeks of spring sunshine, the Creeping phlox will be covered with colorful blooms. Keep the area weed-free and let the phlox just grow. Growth Habit: Each spring you will see the dormant crown of Garden phlox start to emerge from dormancy and produce small green leaves. Hold off on spring planting until the soil is free from melted snow and ice, and the ground is easy to work. Planting in Spring: Likewise, if the plant arrives in a container in spring, keep the container moist until the ground is ready to plant. Planting in Fall: Fall plants can be kept cool on the deck for a few days until it’s convenient for you to plant, but don’t let the roots dry out and be sure to plant a few weeks before your first frost arrives. Over the next few years you’ll see that both varieties form clumps that will gradually increase and join together to form one large grouping of phlox, with the Creeping variety creating a mat or carpet. (Although most varieties available today have been bred to resist mildew.) Giving these plants lots of room for air circulation is the key to limiting the appearance of mildew. Spacing: Garden phlox should be planted about 18 inches apart, while Creeping phlox should be planted about 2 feet apart. Add compost or peat moss to the garden to improve drainage and create a better overall environment. Damp, waterlogged spring soil can rot the dormant roots. Soil: Phlox is tolerant of most garden soils, but well-drained soil is preferable, particularly in northern areas where spring snow is slow to drain. Light: Both varieties of phlox enjoy full sun, although the upright Garden phlox can take a little afternoon shade, particularly in the south. Whether you're craving something formal or a little more low maintenance, let these beautiful boxwood landscape ideas inspire your next weekend project.Phlox can be planted in spring or fall, and should be planted immediately upon receiving. And they require less maintenance than you might think: Although they need watering and mulching, boxwoods do not require regular tending, unless you opt for a super-sculpted look. Yet its sculptural nature also lends itself quite nicely to minimalist settings and, when allowed to grow a bit more wildly, the evergreen shrub is right at home in more rustic gardens as well.īeyond just their style, boxwoods serve many functions in landscaping, from framing an entry and edging a walkway border to surrounding an outdoor fountain and marking off a shady flower bed. Long associated with French gardens with clipped hedges demarcating shapely parterres, the small-leafed bush is an obvious choice for adding formality to any house facade. Thanks to their versatility, boxwoods are a perennial favorite among traditionalists and modernists alike. Nothing freshens up the facade of a house like emerald-green shrubbery.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |