Phlox subulate: photo planting and care in open ground

Phlox awl-shaped planting and care photo

Carpet plantings are often found in garden plots. Ground cover plants can quickly disguise empty parts of a flower bed or rock garden, giving them a luxurious look. One of the popular representatives of perennial ground covers is phlox subulate; planting and care photo of the plant; you will find recommendations for caring for it in this article. If agricultural techniques are followed, fluffy bushes can delight you with bright blooms twice a season, and their unique aroma is hardly comparable to anything.

Planting in open ground

The root system of the plant is superficial, so when planting, phloxes are not deeply buried. When digging the soil, weed rhizomes are carefully removed so that they do not interfere with the growth of turf. Until the phlox plantings turn into a continuous carpet, regular weeding is a mandatory maintenance procedure in the first 1–2 years.

Phlox seedlings are planted in prepared holes or holes to a depth of 10–15 cm at a distance of 25–30 cm from each other. After planting, they are watered abundantly.

The article “Perennial Phlox - Types and Popular Varieties,” which describes the varieties of all known perennial phlox, will help you choose subulate phlox seeds.

Phlox awl-shaped description, photo

Phlox subulata belongs to the cyanaceae family. The genus got its name thanks to the botanist Carl Linnaeus. He compared wild shrubs to a bright flame, because this is how the name of the genus is translated from Greek. They began to call it awl-shaped because of the shape of the leaf blades, similar to a stationery tool.

Wild relatives are common in North America. These perennials grow in dry areas on talus and sandy hills, sometimes found among sparse thickets of shrubs.

Know! Exotic garden cultivars have good frost resistance. Even if damaged from too cold a winter, they are able to recover quickly.

Exotic bushes are evergreen mats; the color of the foliage does not change even under a layer of snow cover. The height of this low-growing subshrub is only 15-17 cm. The plant has creeping, densely leafy shoots. The stems are highly branched and consist of many short internodes. When they come into contact with the ground, they send out roots and grow quite quickly. The foliage cover is very dense and tough. The length of the plate is 2-2.5 cm. The leaves are narrow, lanceolate, without a petiole, arranged in opposite order.

The root system of the perennial is fibrous and lies superficially. It penetrates into the soil no more than 15 cm. Reproduction is both seed and vegetative.

Funnel-shaped flowers are located at the end of the stems, 5-7 pieces in an inflorescence. The corolla consists of five divided petals with a small notch along the edge. The diameter of the bud does not exceed 2-2.5 cm. The color of the petals can be snow-white, cream, pink, lilac and transitional shades. Often there are cultivars with a contrasting eye, the shape of which can vary. It differs from other cultivated representatives of its genus in its early flowering. The first wave is abundant, occurs in May and lasts 1-1.5 months. Secondary flowering is less abundant and occurs in August and September.

This is interesting! Due to the similarity of phlox subulata buds to carnation flowers, North Americans nicknamed it moss carnation.

Despite the small size of the buds, the bush is highly decorative. There are so many tiny fragrant inflorescences that during the flowering period the stems and foliage are practically invisible. After wilting, an oval box is formed, inside which are brown seeds.

What does awl-shaped phlox look like?

Awl-shaped phlox (Phlox subulata) got its name because of the special shape of the leaves, visually reminiscent of a tool such as an awl. The culture is distinguished by a variety of color palettes, including all shades of pink, scarlet, blue and lilac. Among the perennials you can also find varieties of two-color colors, which look very organic in a small front garden or alpine hill.

Phlox are plants up to 20 cm high with long (1-1.2 m) creeping shoots. The stems of perennials are covered with narrow, pointed leaf blades 1.5-2 cm long, dark green. Each leaf has a tough skin. The main feature of intertwining stems is a large number of internodes that can take root.

The inflorescences consist of 5-7 funnel-shaped flowers. The diameter of each is 2 cm. Five-petal flowers can be observed both at the ends of the stems and at the internodes. Phlox bloom profusely and brightly from mid-May to the first ten days of June. Due to the dense arrangement of inflorescences, they form a natural “carpet”.

Comment! Some varieties may bloom again in late August and early September.

Colorful flowering can be observed for 3-4 years. On the fifth day, the plantings need to be renewed, otherwise it will affect the immunity of the plants and the brightness of the colors.

Even under a blanket of snow, phloxes remain green

Types and varieties

The first specimens of phlox subulata reached Europe in 1746. Breeders considered this event very successful for their work. The first attempts at hybridization helped to develop garden forms of the plant that differed in bush height and flower color. Even the most noble gardens in England could only boast of the presence of wild specimens that had undergone a process of natural mutation.

The painstaking work of flower growers has made it possible to create a mass of garden hybrids over two centuries. Unfortunately, it was not possible to preserve the genetic ancestors - the natural mutation of the perennial played a role. Garden cultivars bred by breeders have acquired a compact shape, rapid growth, resistance to the vagaries of weather and diseases, and their decorative properties have increased. Domestic breeders cannot boast of success - due to harsh climatic conditions, heat-loving exotics do not form seeds. All commercially available seed material is made abroad. The main producers of phlox subulata seeds are Holland, Germany, England, Japan, USA and France.

Know! You will not be able to get seeds from your moss carnation plantation.

For their combination of beautiful appearance, unique aroma and unpretentiousness, gardeners are very fond of the following varieties of the American guest:

1. Aurora. The variety is of great value to gardeners. Lovers of abundant flowering will definitely be pleased with this cultivar. It forms lush “drifts” of a pale pink hue, which from a distance looks like white. The star-shaped buds reach a diameter of 2.5 cm. The total height of the bush is 10-12 cm. The variety is ideal for carpet planting and beautifying empty areas of the garden.
2. Amazing Grace. It has white buds 1.5-1.8 cm in diameter. In the central part of the corolla there is a purple eye. The height of the cultivar is 12 cm.
3. Coral eye. Has stars of a light pink hue. Near the tube there is a scarlet star-shaped eye. The variety is characterized by fast growth and good survival rate. Forms cushions 12 cm high.
4. Thumbelina. A variety with cool pink petals framing a dark red eye. Rugs grow very quickly and have a height of 10-15 cm.
5. More perfect. The owner of small, dazzling white, wheel-shaped flowers. Their diameter does not exceed 1.5 cm. The bushes themselves are also short, 8-10 cm in height. The hybrid is most common among white varieties.
6. Tellaria. It has lilac buds with a scarlet star-shaped eye. The diameter of the bud is 2-2.3 cm. It stands out among its relatives for its long flowering period. Plant height 12 cm.
7. G. F. Wilson. The petals are painted in a delicate bluish-lavender hue. They have the shape of a star with a diameter of 1.5-1.8 cm. Landscape designers prefer this strong, hardy and tall (among other varieties) hybrid. It forms thick cushions up to 20 cm high.
8. Temiskaming. One of the most popular varieties. It differs from its garden counterparts in the density of the bush and dark leaves with a burgundy tint. The flowers are dark crimson with a diameter of 2 cm. The mat reaches a height of 15 cm. It takes root well during vegetative propagation.
9. Vivid. Dense low pillows have rich pink round buds.
10. Candy Stripes. The owner of white petals with a pink stripe in the center. The diameter of the buds is 1.7-2.0 cm. Low mats (10 cm) have gained the love of gardeners for their unusual coloring and abundant and long-lasting flowering.

Know! The cultivar “Netteleto Variegata” compares favorably with its counterparts with its beautiful foliage. The plates are painted in a dark green shade and have a pink border along the edges, due to which the hybrid is used in landscaping as an ornamental foliage plant.

The most popular varieties of phlox subulate

Breeders from different countries have created a large number of varieties, the main difference of which is the color of the flowers.

Phlox awl-shaped white shades

Phlox subulate variety "Candy Stripes"

• Aurora: a low-growing variety (up to 12 cm) with delicate white flowers (diameter up to 25 mm) and a barely noticeable pinkish tint.
• Candy Stripes: due to its small height (up to 12 cm), this variety is ideal for use as borders. Among all the white phloxes, Candy stands out with a wide stripe of bright pink color.

Phlox awl-shaped blue shades

Phlox subulate variety "Emerald Cuchon Blue"

• G.F. Wilson: will decorate any flower bed with small blue flowers with a purple tint (diameter up to 18 mm). The height of the variety is 20 cm.
• Emerald Cuchon Blue: another representative of the bluish-purple hue. Emerald Cuchon Blue centuries along the ground, rising 8-10 cm above the surface. A pleasant aroma gives additional charm to the beautiful flowers (diameter from 15 to 20 mm).

Pink awl-shaped phloxes

Phlox subulate variety "Scarlet Flame"

• Coral AI: the petals of the flowers of the Coral AI variety have a light shade of pink, they are set off by a bright red core.
• Scarlet Flame: Very bright pink petals around a dark red center makes Scarlet Flame the center of flower arrangements.
• Emerald Pink: bright pink petals gathered in a corolla around a crimson center form flowers large enough for phlox (diameter 20 mm). The variety is low-growing, the height of the bushes is from 8 to 12 cm.

Planting phlox subulate in the garden

Each garden crop requires a specific approach to planting. The success of cultivation and obtaining abundant flowering depends on the chosen location.

Choosing a landing site

Despite the unpretentiousness of the moss carnation, it will need to create conditions that best match its natural habitat. At home, the perennial prefers to bask in the rays of sunlight, so choose an area of ​​the garden with maximum illumination.

The awl-shaped phlox will easily tolerate a slight drought, but excess moisture in the soil will destroy it. In addition to susceptibility to various fungal diseases, waterlogging threatens loss of decorativeness and gradual decline in growth. A bush planted in an area with nearby groundwater will certainly die. You should worry about creating a good drainage system in advance. In addition, the area should be well ventilated.

Important! Avoid planting flowers in lowlands. Choose a place where there is sufficient snowfall in winter.

Soil preparation

The North American visitor is accustomed to growing in poor soil. It will happily settle on fertilized soil, but it will not bloom. The plant will use all the nutrients absorbed by the root system to form green mass.

The soil for planting should be loose and not absorb too much moisture. To give it such properties, add sand to the prepared area. The heavier the soil, the more it will be needed. There is no need to specially enrich the substrate with humus, but you will have to adjust the pH value.

The soils of Central Russia are characterized by high acidity. From acidic soils, exotic plants will not be able to fully absorb the microelements necessary for the successful development of flower stalks. Before planting, the area should be limed with dolomite flour. The application rate will directly depend on the acidity of the soil. As a rule, 200-400 grams per square meter of planting will be sufficient.

Remember! The liming process will be successful only when dolomite flour is mixed with earth. Carefully dig up the area and level it with a rake.

Technology of planting awl-shaped phlox

Before planting, the prepared area should be carefully examined for the presence of weed roots. Field bindweed is especially dangerous. This stubborn weed will certainly grow through the turf of the bush and ruin its appearance. Other weeds are no less dangerous - in addition to fighting for nutrients, if you try to pull them out of the flowerbed, you can easily damage the root system of the moss carnation. Like other ground covers, its roots lie very close to the surface of the earth.

Planting is done in small holes. Their width depends on the degree of development of the root system. Keep in mind that the roots in the hole will need to be carefully straightened. The planting step is at least 40-50 cm, because the perennial will grow in one place for about 5-6 years and during this period the bushes will expand greatly in width. Planted specimens are watered and the top layer of soil is mulched with peat.

The planting time will directly depend on the type of planting material. So, seedlings are planted after the frosts have subsided, cuttings with heels in early spring, and cuttings in late August or early September.

Disease and pest control

Phlox subulate is a fairly strong plant that is resistant to many diseases.

Most often, help is required for shrubs that show signs of powdery mildew (lethargy, slow development, reduced flowering). It is necessary to begin an urgent fight against this fungal disease. To stop its development, not only diseased plants are removed from plantings, but also the top layer of soil where they grew. After this, the soil and remaining flowers are treated with any antifungal drug.

To prevent the appearance of powdery mildew, you can carry out preventive treatment of the plantings in the spring, before flowering. For this, Bordeaux mixture is used, and Topaz is also treated before and after flowering.

The plant's pests are spider mites. Spots first appear on the leaves, then the entire leaf dries out. The stems are often attacked by caterpillars, and nematodes are another pest. When pests appear, it is necessary to remove the plants damaged by them and treat the remaining plantings with special preparations (Aktrofit, etc.).

Caring for a plant in the garden

Caring for our tropical guest is not particularly difficult. The exotic is so unpretentious that even a novice gardener can cope with its cultivation. In addition to standard weed removal, flower growers should take care of the correct watering schedule and timely fertilizing.

Watering

The North American does not tolerate excess moisture, so the watering regime should be as moderate as possible. The procedure is carried out in the absence of sun - early in the morning or after sunset. Watering should be done strictly at the root, because water that gets on the buds and leaves can cause burns and spoil the fragrant flowers. In hot weather, maintain a moderate watering regime, but make it abundant. For 1 meter of planting you will need about 15-20 liters of water.

Important! You can water awl-shaped phloxes only with warm water. Cold liquid, especially on hot days, will cause the stems to crack.

Top dressing

In order for the bushes to please with the splendor and abundance of flowers, it is worth taking care of feeding. Follow the following fertilization schedule:

1. Beginning of the growing season. After hibernation, fertilizing with humates is carried out. They stimulate growth and will help phlox recover faster.
2. During the budding period, a potassium-phosphorus complex is introduced. These microelements will have a beneficial effect on the formation of flower stalks.
3. After flowering ends, you can fertilize with a full complex.
4. During the entire growth period, root and surface fertilizing with an ash solution can be carried out. It contains no nitrogen, which promotes abundant foliage growth but has a detrimental effect on flowering.

To prepare an ash solution, boil 300 grams of ash in two liters of water. Boiling time 10 minutes. The prepared extract must be cooled, filtered and the volume brought to 10 liters.

On a note! An ash solution can prevent pest attacks. Feel free to use it as a foliar feeding.

How to grow phlox subulate

When planting phlox subulate, it is worth considering several important points regarding the preparation and selection of a site, timing, and also study the planting algorithm.

Site selection and preparation

The perennial grows well in poor, dry soil. In this case, the acidity indicator should be neutral. On nutrient soils, the crop will increase green mass to the detriment of flowering. Also, clay soil is not suitable for the crop, and stagnation of water provokes the appearance of rot, so the planting site should be open and illuminated by the sun.

When planting phlox, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the plants that previously occupied the chosen place. Good predecessors are calendula, lawn grass, and perennials that are not tolerated by roundworms.

Phlox cannot be planted in the same area where strawberries grow, as there is a high risk of soil contamination with nematodes.

Before planting, prepare the soil by removing all weeds, especially dandelion roots, which, growing through the turf, impair the decorative appearance of the plantings. The soil can be enriched with rotted compost.

When growing a perennial, you need to know when to plant awl-shaped phlox. It is recommended to plan planting work in mid-April or early May, when the soil has already warmed up well and has not lost moisture. Such conditions promote rapid rooting, stimulate growth and have a positive effect on lush flowering.

Planting technology

Cultivation of phlox awl-shaped involves competently carried out planting, which includes the following operations:

1. Dig holes at intervals of 25 to 35 cm.
2. Carefully straighten the roots of the seedlings in the hole, sprinkle with nutritious soil and compact.
3. Water and mulch.

Next year the plant will cover the flowerbed with a luxurious flowering carpet.

To get a beautiful flower bed, plant the plants by pointing the stems in the required direction, pinning them and sprinkling them with moistened soil. Such shoots will actively take root in the branching areas and continue to take over the territory allocated for them.

Bush formation

Another important measure for caring for ground cover is the formation of a bush. Be sure to remove damaged branches and wilted inflorescences. This will promote rapid growth and help avoid diseases. To stimulate the formation of next year's flower buds, completely remove the shoots after flowering ends (in July). In autumn, pruning cannot be carried out; awl-shaped phloxes overwinter green.

Further flower care

Caring for styloid phlox consists of the following simple procedures:

• Very moderate watering. Usually one watering per week is enough (4–5 liters per bush). During drought, the bushes are moistened after 2–3 days. Use only lukewarm water, otherwise the stems will crack.
• Weeding and loosening. Weeds are removed regularly and the soil is loosened after each watering.
• Feeding for 1 bush: before flowering - nitrogen-containing fertilizers (urea - 10-15 g, etc.);
• during budding and flowering - phosphorus-potassium complexes (superphosphate - 15-20 g, wood ash - 35-40 g, etc.);
• in mid-summer - any complex mineral fertilizers for flowering garden crops (amount according to instructions).

The best fertilizer for phlox is considered to be an infusion of wood ash. Add 0.3 kg of ash to 2 liters of hot water, boil for 7–10 minutes, cool, and filter. Dilute in a ratio of 1:10 and water the bushes (1–2 liters per plant).

Video: caring for styloid phlox

Features of cultivation, flowering of awl-shaped phlox

There are several important nuances in the process of cultivating an American guest, which will be discussed in this section of the article.

How long does the plant bloom?

Moss carnation is extremely decorative. Its emerald greenery pleases the eye throughout the entire growth period. Even the awl-shaped phlox leaves for the winter in a green outfit.

During the flowering period, lush mats are completely covered with delicate fragrant buds. Even their small sizes do not affect their high decorative value. At the end of May or the first ten days of June, your garden will begin to smell fragrant and be covered with bright pillows. The formation of new buds lasts for 4-6 weeks, after which the above-ground part withers and requires radical pruning.

Know! With proper care and a long, warm, dry autumn, colorful buds will again appear on the fluffy rug in early September.

When does the awl-shaped phlox bloom?

Thanks to the varietal diversity, you can create a continuously blooming carpet on your site. Depending on the timing of flowering, there are 3 types:

• early (May-June);
• average (July-August);
• late (late August - early September).

Under favorable conditions, some varieties can bloom twice during the season.

The duration of spring flowering is 20-25 days with a peak at the end of May. In summer, annuals bloom most often, and you can admire them for 1-1.5 months. Bush-like phloxes are characterized by late autumn flowering, which can last until October.

Crop rotation

For our exotics, an important factor in proper growth is compliance with crop rotation. This is due to the increased risk of nematode infection. A microscopic worm that infects strawberries will easily move to the tender shoots of moss cloves. To avoid infection with nematodes, use for cultivation those areas where garden berries have not grown over the past 2-3 years.

Marigolds and calendula will help protect the American guest. Nematodes cannot stand the aroma of these garden inhabitants, so these plants are the best predecessors on the site.

Growing perennial phlox from seeds. Collection and preparation of seeds

To start growing phlox, you first need to prepare planting material or seeds. You can buy high-quality phlox seeds at any flower shop or collect them yourself from the plant.

Planting material that was collected with one's own hands has its drawbacks. For example, when collecting seeds from hybrid bushes, there is a high probability of losing the uniqueness of a particular variety. At the same time, in stores you can pick up not only certain varieties of phlox, but also bags with mixed seeds of different varieties - this will allow you to create flower beds of different colors.

Determining the readiness of phlox seeds for harvesting is quite simple - you need to assess the condition of the flower box.

If it is open or slightly open, consider that the time to collect seeds has come and you can begin preparing the planting material for planting.

A procedure such as collecting seeds should not be delayed, otherwise they may simply fall off and rot on the ground. If you doubt the degree of readiness of the flower box, then pay attention to the color of the seeds itself - mature varieties have a brown-green tint. If the seeds need to ripen a little more, cut off the capsule and place it in an envelope until signs of ripeness appear.

This method of collecting seeds is used when growing both annual and perennial phlox. It is best to choose flower boxes of the most beautiful, lush and healthy plants for collecting seeds.

To prepare the seeds of such plants for the procedure of planting in a container, three days before planting, they should be placed in a small container with water at room temperature.

This will significantly increase the percentage of seed germination.

Shelter of awl-shaped phlox for the winter

The American guest is quite winter-hardy. In the southern regions, it will calmly overwinter without shelter. Colder climates will require careful management of the dormant period.

With the onset of frost, the root collar of the perennial should be mulched with peat. In addition to serving as a warm blanket, it will be an excellent top dressing next spring. To protect the rhizome as much as possible from the cold, cover it with spruce branches.

Take it into service! If the winter has little snow, you should try to add snow to the flowerbed. Provided there is a snow cover more than half a meter high, the exotic will survive even the harshest winter.

Damping off with the onset of an early thaw is much worse for shoots. Even if the shoots are severely damaged, the perennial will recover fairly quickly. Fertilizing with potassium humate stimulates growth.

How to care for styloid phlox

Phlox subulates are one of the most unpretentious crops. Caring for them requires virtually no effort or time.

When and what to feed

The following feeding scheme will help improve the splendor of flowering:

• the beginning of the vegetative period - humates (stimulate development, growth and recovery);
• budding – potassium-phosphorus complexes (accelerate the formation of flower stalks);
• the end of the flowering period - any mixtures with a minimum content of nitrogen compounds.

Comment! During the growth period, it is recommended to carry out foliar feeding with ash solutions.

Caring for awl-shaped phlox in the fall and preparing for winter

Preparing awl-shaped phloxes for winter begins in the second half of summer. Nitrogen is removed from fertilizers. At the end of autumn flowering, phloxes are watered abundantly, then after two days they are treated with fungicides.

Comment! Spraying is carried out only on a dry day.

After 2 weeks, the last feeding is carried out with a potassium-phosphorus mixture and the bush is mulched.

How to trim subulate phlox

It is a mistake to believe that ground cover plants do not require shaping. Subulate phloxes are pruned in the spring. First of all, dry, frozen shoots are removed; in the summer, wilted inflorescences are removed.

Pruning has a positive effect on plant lushness

It is recommended to completely remove the shoots in July. This will stimulate the formation of buds for the next year. But in the fall, pruning of awl-shaped phlox should not be done.

Read more Propagation of phlox by cuttings in summer, autumn, spring

How to cover a subulate phlox for the winter

All varieties of phlox are distinguished by high winter hardiness. Still, it is recommended to cover especially valuable species and young plants for the winter. To do this, the root collar of the plant is mulched with peat. The rhizome can also be protected with spruce branches.

During winters with little snow, it is necessary to regularly add snow to the rock garden or flower bed. As a rule, awl-shaped phloxes survive wintering in open ground without consequences if the snow cover above them exceeds 50-60 cm.

Methods for propagating awl-shaped phlox

The heat-loving perennial reproduces well vegetatively. For these purposes the following can be used:

• green cuttings;
• cuttings from the rhizome;
• cuttings with a heel (layering).

In addition, some gardeners grow phlox from seeds. It is unlikely that you will be able to get them from your own plot, but buying them at a garden center is not difficult.

Propagation by cuttings

Your green pet reproduces well from cuttings. They take root quite quickly without any treatment. It is enough to cut off the top of the shoot 8-10 cm long, remove the lower leaves from it and plant it in a pot. Use a mixture of peat and sand as a substrate. Cuttings can be done before budding or after the appearance of new foliage in August.

It is very easy to get layering. To do this, creeping shoots should be pinned and covered with earth. They will quickly take root, and after a while it will be possible to separate them from the mother plant and plant the cuttings in a permanent place.

This is interesting! Experienced gardeners recommend breaking off branches for cuttings rather than cutting them. So, they take root faster.

Landing Features

To ensure maximum flowering, awl-shaped phlox should be planted in well-lit, slightly elevated areas, on dry, loose, aerobic sandy or loamy soils with neutral acidity . It can grow in light shade, but it will bloom noticeably worse. But the culture does not tolerate close proximity to groundwater, swampiness, stagnation of melt water and moisture.

Clayey, moisture-absorbing soils are loosened with sand and peat (a bucket per 1 m2), making them crumbly. Too acidic soils are deoxidized with fluff (1–2 cups per 1 m2) or dolomite flour (200–400 g per 1 m2).

Subulate phloxes can grow in light partial shade of large trees.

The selected area is first dug up, carefully selecting the rhizomes of perennial weeds (loach, wheatgrass, etc.), and added in very moderate quantities to prevent excessive growth of green mass (per m2):

• humus or compost (3–4 kg);
• crushed wood ash (50–60 g).

Planting technology:

1. The holes are not dug too deep (5–15 cm), since the root system of phlox is quite superficial.
2. Leave at least 25–30 cm between individual specimens, since plants grow quite quickly.
3. Drainage made of expanded clay or pebbles (3–4 cm) must be poured onto the bottom.
4. The bushes are laid out, carefully straightening the roots.
5. Then sprinkle with soil mixture and compact.
6. Water and mulch with humus, peat, etc.

Phlox subulate reproduces in several ways:

• Seeds. The least rarely used method . Seed material is sown before winter in bowls with loose soil mixture, then placed in a cool place to undergo stratification (you can do without it). In the spring, at the stage of 4–5 true leaves, the seedlings are planted in a permanent place.
• By cuttings. Cuttings are harvested in spring and summer; any shoot, even an accidentally broken off one, will do. The chopped material is stuck into a moistened substrate of sand and peat, covered with cans or cut plastic bottles to create a greenhouse effect. After 1–2 weeks, the cuttings take root and the shelter can be removed. In the fall or spring of next year, place it in a flower bed.

  Phlox cuttings root very quickly

• Dividing the bush. Large adult bushes are dug up and divided into parts, each of which should have its own root system . Then they are planted in the right places.
• Rooting shoots. The shoot is bent, pinned to the ground, sprinkled with soil in this place and watered. After rooting, it is separated from the mother plant.

Very often there is no need to specially lay phlox shoots on the ground, because they themselves easily take root, since the vines spread and crawl in different directions. I take this planting material in the fall, while the small bushes have not yet grown too much.

Video: planting and propagating phlox subulate

When to sow awl-shaped phlox seeds for seedlings

Those wishing to grow seedlings are advised to sow them in March, but sowing can be done before winter. The seeds are placed on the bed in increments of 3-4 cm and sprinkled with a little soil. Seedlings will appear in the spring. After throwing out 3-4 leaves, they can be planted into holes in increments of 15-20 cm. In the second year, the seedlings will bloom.

On a note! Experienced gardeners consider growing moss carnation by seed a waste of time. This method is used in practice only by breeders.

Planting phlox seeds before winter

Before winter, ordinary varieties of phlox subulate are sown. For this, the ground is prepared in November or December. Humus, sand and lime are added to it, placed in containers, moistened and seeds sown.

After this, the crops are sent outside and covered with a large amount of snow. It is important that the snow cover does not melt during the winter. At the beginning of March, the containers are transferred to greenhouses or to a closed balcony. Water the hatched sprouts as needed. At the end of April, seedlings are planted in open ground.

Comment! You can sow the seeds directly into the ground, covering them with snow and dividing the grown seedlings in the spring.

Proper planting of awl-shaped phlox in the fall guarantees increased winter hardiness of the crop.

How to properly divide a five-year-old phlox bush

To obtain cuttings, five-year-old bushes are used. As they grow, the stems become lignified in the middle part, forming a bare area. Dividing the bush promotes its rejuvenation.

This operation is carried out in mid-August. Carefully remove the rhizome from the ground and divide it into several parts so that each has a sufficient number of stems and a developed root system. Use the same planting algorithm as described above, only add a little humus or rotted compost to the hole. It will help better rooting.

Care

Phlox awl-shaped does not require any special care. It can go without water for a long time and tolerates drought well. In hot weather, water the plants a couple of times a week. If there is no heat, once every 7 days is enough. If it suddenly happens that the flowers are left for some time without watering, do not worry. Nothing bad will happen. The plant accumulates water in itself for such cases. Be guided by the soil; a dry top layer of soil means that the plant requires water. If you have just planted a plant, regular watering is required.

Phloxes love light and warmth. Plant the plants in a sunny area. Be sure to remove weeds, they interfere with the growth and development of the plant. The soil should be fertilized several times a year. First before flowering, then during and after flowering. Most often, gardeners fertilize the soil with liquid manure. Special fertilizers are also used. You can purchase them at a flower shop.

You can give the bushes beautiful shapes yourself. Pruning is best done in the spring. Removing dried leaves and flowers encourages phlox to bloom again.

Pests and diseases

With proper agricultural technology, an unpretentious exotic plant is unlikely to be susceptible to the fungal diseases listed below:

1. If, when examining the leaves, you find a whitish coating of powdery mildew, treat with copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture.
2. Rust is also caused by a pathogenic fungus. The disease manifests itself by the appearance of reddish-brown spots on the leaves, which blur over time and lead to the death of the plate. The affected parts should be removed and treated with Topaz.
3. Phoma causes fragility of shoots and drying out of leaves. This is the work of a microscopic fungus, which a colloidal sulfur solution will help destroy.
4. Septoria is another fungal disease that can be identified by the appearance of brown spots on the leaf blades. If the disease is not stopped, the spots will begin to grow and interfere with photosynthesis, causing the perennial to die. Preventive treatments with copper-containing preparations will help in the fight against fungus.

Remember! Compliance with the rules of agricultural technology, preventive examinations and spring treatment with Bordeaux mixture are the main measures for the prevention of fungal diseases.

Variegation is a plant virus. It manifests itself as a change in the color of the corolla, which becomes covered with stripes. At the first symptoms of the disease, remove infected specimens and burn them.

Among the pests, nematodes and caterpillars are dangerous. When attacked by stem nematodes, the color and shape of the leaves change and growth slows down. It is better to take preventative measures in the form of crop rotation than to try to fight the parasite. Caterpillars can be collected by hand and destroyed, or infected specimens can be treated with any insecticide against leaf-eating insects.

Growing and care

Phlox subulates are a very graceful and undemanding plant; they are easy to grow. You need to remember about regular weeding and weed control. Apart from weeding, the perennial does not require regular care.

Once the plant has finished blooming, its flowering shoots usually do not need to be cut off (as with many other perennials). If it is provided with the proper conditions, it will repeat flowering in the summer (in August), although it will be much weaker than in the spring.

Watering, fertilizing

Phlox groundcovers are fairly drought-resistant plants. But during a prolonged drought, they expect watering.

Varieties of awl-shaped phlox do not tolerate organic matter that acidifies the soil, so there is no need to mulch them with compost or feed them with rotted manure.

In spring and summer, you can feed phlox with multi-component slow-release fertilizers.

Trimming

In early spring (March and early April), it is worth pruning phlox shoots that have partially dried out or died (for example, after winter frosts, drought).

Photo. This is what poorly overwintered shoots look like in mid-April. They need pruning. Dried shoots that need to be removed are marked in red.

Plant after pruning.

Plant a month later.

If the shoots grow too much in the flower beds or dry out, you can trim the bush with pruning shears, but from the sides, not from the top. It is not recommended to break off shoots manually.

In May, the plants create beautiful cushions of flowers - white, pink or purple. Faded flowers of awl-shaped phlox are not cut off. In any case, it will be difficult because there are hundreds of them. Phlox will bloom again in August, when the day lasts 15 hours. However, there will not be as many flowers as in spring.

Photo. This is what phlox shoots look like immediately after flowering. They don't need to be trimmed.

There is no need to cut this species for the winter.

Autumn care, preparation for winter

Phloxes of this species (subulate) overwinter quite well and are completely frost-resistant (frost-hardiness zones 3-10). In the temperate climate of the Middle Zone and Moscow region, phlox is quite frost-resistant, but in colder regions of the country, during harsh, snowless winters it can partially freeze. Therefore, before the onset of severe frosts, phloxes should be covered for the winter with branches of coniferous trees, shrubs or agrofibre. In Siberia and the Urals, subulate phloxes must be covered with covering material for the winter; in the spring, when the snow melts, the cover must be removed.

Many relatively delicate varieties have lower frost resistance - GF Wilson, Red Wings.

Diseases, pests

This type of phlox is very resistant to diseases and pests. Plants planted in the wrong place (too wet or too dry) or weakened by a heavy, cold winter can be attacked by fungal diseases (powdery mildew). Humidity and a shaded position contribute to the occurrence of the disease. Powdery mildew should be controlled by spraying with fungicides.

It is recommended to carry out preventive treatments several times a season: in the spring, when the shoots reach 10 cm and then once a month. Treated with Topaz.

If the soil is too dry, the plant may be susceptible to spider mite attacks. Appropriate acaricides are used against ticks.

Damage to the plant can be caused by voles and moles, which destroy the delicate roots of phlox. This type of phlox has a deep root system, but the roots are very thin, even ants who have built an anthill nearby can damage them. If the root system is damaged, phlox may not survive the winter. Moles and voles can gnaw off the roots of phlox; serious damage to the root system can lead to the death of flowers. It is necessary to fight rodents; the anthill can be moved or sprinkled with an anti-ant preparation.

Sometimes phlox appears white in early spring, this happens when it is burned by the early spring sun in parts of the garden where the snow cover melts faster (south, southeast). This is not critical, the plant then recovers.

Transfer

Phlox of this type look good during the first 4-5 years of cultivation; pruning the upper parts of shoots with wilted inflorescences helps with this. Then they should be rejuvenated to prevent aging, bare shoots, and “baldness” of the bushes, since the central part of the bush is partially deprived of leaves and loses its decorative value. You should dig up the plant, select young, healthy parts and plant them in a new place.

Phlox awl-shaped in landscape design, combination with other plants

Thanks to their incredible endurance, winter hardiness and unique appearance, fragrant bushes have earned the love of landscape designers. Low-growing annuals are used to decorate rockeries, create bright cushions on the lawn, and fill empty spaces in a mixborder or on an alpine slide. The moss carnation looks great along paths, buildings, and borders. It will become a beautiful filling for the discount.

Other ground covers will be good neighbors in the flowerbed - alyssum, young, sedum. In the background you can plant ornamental grasses or low-growing coniferous, decorative and deciduous shrubs. The combination of awl-shaped phloxes with primroses, irises, asters, and snapdragons looks very harmonious.

Botanical description

For landscape designers, phlox subulate is a carpet plant: when representatives of the flora of this species bloom, they seem to cover the soil with a bright, fragrant blanket. If you have never seen these flowers in your life, you can easily recognize them the first time you meet them. Here are their main characteristics.

• Stem:
  thin, branched, reaches a height of 0.1 meters.
• Leaves:
  evergreen, pointed closer to the tip, resemble needles, grow up to 2 centimeters in length.
• Flowers:
  can be in a variety of shades - from snow-white and all varieties of pink to scarlet and deep purple.

Forum: reviews, growing tips

Experienced gardeners highly appreciate the unpretentiousness and winter hardiness of moss carnation. They note the luxurious appearance of the flowering mat and recommend it for growing even on depleted soils.

Natalya admires the ease of caring for such a beautiful and fragrant representative of garden flora. While dividing the bush, she accidentally damaged several branches. The gardener decided to dig them in and received new planting material, which bloomed the very next year.

Victoria raises Native American in balcony boxes. The gardener claims that you can get a luxurious flowering pillow on a sunny balcony, the main thing is to monitor the condition of the soil and apply fertilizing.

Valeria decided to grow phlox through seedlings. She noted the capriciousness of the seedlings and their susceptibility to various diseases. But the nurtured bushes made excellent queen cells, which made it possible to quickly fill the garden with bright spots.

Nikolay works as a landscape designer. He recommends planting each variety at some distance from its neighbor. The moss carnation grows quickly and its shoots intertwine, forming a not very aesthetic multi-colored spot. Free-standing pillows look much more impressive.

Conclusion

After reading this article with bright photos, you will probably want to add awl-shaped phlox to your garden, especially since planting and caring for it is unlikely to cause any difficulties.

Description of the flower

North America, the states of Virginia and Carolina, is considered the homeland of the awl-shaped phlox. In the USA you can find entire plantations of fields and meadows with different types of phlox. They are unpretentious to the soil, growing on the slopes of mountains and hills, the edge of forests, and along river banks.

In 1737, biologist and researcher Carl Linnaeus, having carefully studied the subulate phlox, first characterized it. In English the word “fluffy” and in German – “flock” is translated as “fluffy”. The lush inflorescences of awl-shaped phlox are also called “moss carnations.” The Greeks compared the flower to a “flame”, because some varieties were similar to bright lights.

Some scientists claim that this plant came to Asia in the 19th century thanks to migratory birds. In Russia, some types of wild phlox can be found on the banks of the Yenisei and Lena, in Transbaikalia, and on the slopes of the Bering Strait. But it is the awl-shaped variety that is found only in gardens, specially grown in certain conditions.

The awl-shaped phlox is a low-growing creeping plant 15-17 cm high, which gardeners like because even after frost its awl-like leaves remain green. It is not for nothing that phlox is called an evergreen, winter-hardy perennial. The diameter of awl-shaped phlox flowers reaches 25 mm.

The first varieties of phlox subulate were obtained by English breeders in 1745 - 1746, and they were grown in the gardens of aristocrats. The first book about an unusual double flower was written in 1948 by Maria Pavlovna Bedinghaus: “Perennial subulate phloxes: planting and care.” It has become a guide for gardeners for several generations.

In Russia, in garden plots you can find awl-shaped phloxes of various colors. The flower can be purple, lilac, white, pink, blue, violet. Our country can only grow complex hybrids of awl-shaped phlox. But this species is a hybrid, and its further reproduction is impossible. Our flower growing companies purchase these seeds from the USA, France, Holland, England, Germany and Japan.