With its brilliant spring flowers, creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) is a familiar ground cover. It is very hardy and versatile shrub that can turn around your garden into colorful patch of landscape. But if you want to keep it looking its best, knowing when and how ro plant creeping phlox is key. Read the article below to know about when to plant creeping phlox?
What is the best month to plant phlox?
As with all gardening, timing is everything for planting creeping phlox. When to Plant Phlox Generally, the best time of year to plant phlox is early spring or fall. Both are excellent characteristic as spring planting gives the plants enough time to get set up before summers warmness and develop, while fall planting allows them to settle in earlier than winter.
- When to Set: Creeping phlox is ideally planted in the spring, usually March or April as soon as you can work soil. Spring cool and moist makes it for these roots to establish quickly.
- Planting in Fall: If planting guides instruct to put down the plant during fall, do it so anytime between September and October — this will give time for underground rootscapes of plants.
Creeping Phlox Planting Identifier for Different USDA Zones
Creeping phlox is frost hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9, though the best time to plant creeping phlox may differ depending upon your zone.
- when to plant creeping phlox Zone 7: From late March in early April, the ideal time of planting by zone. October for fall planting
- when to plant creeping phlox Zone 5 Creeping Phlox Planting Times: In Zone 5, the winters are more harsh so you need to plant either in late April or early May otherwhile get planting done by September.
- when to plant creeping phlox Zone 6 Creeping Phlox Planting Time: In Zone 6 you can plant creeping phlox as early in the spring after all threat of frost has passed, which is typically anywhere from mid April and beyond or late September into October for fall planting.
How long does it take creeping phlox to spread?
Leaving enough room for creeping phlox to grow creates a lush carpet of blooms that can spread across your garden. Space creeping phlox about 12 to 18 inches apart when planting. The wide spacing provides ample room for plants to grow and establish; when theyre too close together, such issues as poor air circulation or disease are more likely.
Alternatively, if you are establishing a large area and desire quicker coverage space them 12 inches apart. But if you need them to spread slowly, the 18 inches is plenty. It is important to note that creeping phlox can be slow to establish and may need a couple of growing seasons before it will cover an area.
A general answer to the question, “How quickly does creeping phlox spread?” is it multiplies at around 1-2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm.) per year but that number will depend on an assortment of factors including location and sunlight availability.
If you garden long enough, it will take over the world: creeps. After planting, give it until year 2 before this plant gets busy reproducing. In most growing conditions, creeping phlox spreads from 1 to2 feet per year.
- Year 1: Develop the root system You may not see to much spread during this time which can worry some but don’t be. It is focusing on building up its root before sending out runners.
- Year 2 and beyond: You will begin to see creeping phlox spread more aggressively than it does in its first year, really packing the space between plants with blooms!
What does creeping phlox look like when not in bloom?
Creeping phlox still looks lovely even when not in bloom with its dense evergreen folage. It matures into a groundcovering mat of needle-like foliage. It blooms, but it is so amazingly green that even when not in blossom this plant provides visual interest.
During the winter, its foliage may turn bronzy or purple slightly in color particularly if you live in a colder zone which is also attractive to your garden’s palette hostage. Spring is when the blooms really shine, but that foliage means creeping phlox can be enjoyed in your garden all year long.
Creeping Phlox Bloom Time
Flowering Time — Creeping phlox blooms in the mid-to-late spring, but bloom time can vary slightly depending on your climate and growing conditions. Flowering typically takes three to four weeks, during which the entire plant is covered by numerous small star-shaped flowers.
- Zones 3-5: Bloom starts near late April and extends into May.
- Growing Zones 6 to 9: Possible beyond this month and into late March
Creeping Phlox Colors
Creeping phlox has the added bonus of coming in several different colors. These include:
- Pink — Soft to vivid pinks are very popular coloring, adding a bright place of color outside the yard.
- Purple — ANY COLOR in the range of lavender to deep violet Adds a cool effect against warm hues.
- White: Crisp white flowers for a bright, clean and classic appearance to illuminate shaded areas.
- Blue –There are few plants with true blue or any faint shade of blue-violet flowers and they very popular because they give a calming effect.
These colors can provide a beautiful carpet in the garden, especially when they are planted throughout extensive groups.
What is the problem with creeping phlox?
Creeping phlox, while easy-care for the most part, has its share of issues. Here are the most common issues:
- Lack of Air: Whey planting too closely or in overly humid environment creeping phlox can develop a form fungal diseases like powdery mildew. Good spacing and air movement is important to help prevent this.
- Getting it Too Wet: Creeping phlox grows best in soil that drains well. Heavy clay soils in particular can cause root rot when overwatered. Keep the soil lightly moist, but not soggy by watering periodically to soaked depths.
- Pests: Can suffer from spider mites and aphids sometimes. Inspection on a regular basis and the application of insecticidal soap will help keep these pests manageable.
Does creeping phlox come back every year?
Creeping phlox is a perennial garden flower, meaning that it returns year after year. Once it is established, Succisa pratensis requires little maintenance and will come back each spring with another flush of much needed color.
The evergreen nature of the plants will mean your garden retains its coverage even during winter, making for an attractive and long-lasting ground cover solution.
Creeping phlox for sale
Buying Creeping Phlox we would recommend you buy this plant in spring.
So when buying creeping phlox, it’s a good idea to save your shopping for early spring or the fall and these two times are ideal as they compliment well with top performing periods in which planting is recommended. Creeping phlox is usually available for purchase at garden centers and nurseries during these times, as well online.
Buy plants with healthy foliage that is not diseased and well filled out. Buying plants this small means they will have little trouble adapting to you conditions and establishing quickly.
- when to plant creeping phlox zone 7: Plant in Late March- Early April or October
- when to plant creeping phlox zone 5: Plant in late April to early May or September
- when to plant creeping phlox zone 6: April to first week of October.
After-Planting Care of Creeping Phlox
Creeping Phlox Care After planting your creeping phlox, regular care is important. Here’s what you should do:
How to Grow Creeping Phlox: Water newly planted creeping phlox regularly so as not to dry up, helping the plants develop strong roots. Once established, activa enjoys some drought tolerance but performs best with occasional deep watering during dry spells.
- Mulch: Put some mulching on the soil around plants to conserve moisture and prevent weed. Make sure to not pile mulch up on top so that it overlays the leaves, as this can cause rot.
- Fertilizing: A light feeding of a balanced fertilizer in early spring can help to bolster healthy growth and more colorful blooms. Be careful not to over-fertilize, as this could cause overly lush growth at the expense of flowers.
- Pruning: After the blooms wane you can cut the plants back a bit to keep them neater and even produce another smaller flowering in late summer.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs):-
1. When is the best time to plant creeping phlox?
Creeping phlox should be planted in early spring (March, April) or fall (September, October). This allows the plant time to root before heat or cold temperatures of summer or winter.
2. Creeping Phlox Spreading Speed
Most often, creeping phlox will not spread much in the first year, but after 2 years it should really start spreading and working on its purpose of ground covering. When well rooted it can grow a foot or two per year depending on location.
3. What’s the problem with creeping phlox?
Common issues with creeping phlox include fungal diseases due to insufficient air circulation, root rot after overwatering and occasional attacks from aphids or spider mites. Adequate spacing, watering, and monitoring can forestall proliferation of these pests as they attack in numbers.
4. Do you have some perennials that return to you yard year after year?
Creeping phlox, for instance, is a perennial plant and will return annually. One of the hardiest and performed with little fuss bulbs in the garden blooming every spring is…
5. How To Space Ancreeping phlox?
Space you creeping phlox 12-18 inches apart to promote best growth and spreading. The plants can be placed 2 feet apart, allowing for good air flow and reduced risk of diseases due to crowding.
