When and how do I prune phlox in the fall?
After watching all the videos on the channel, we were surprised that we didn't have a video on fall pruning of phlox. I thought we'd already covered everything about phlox, but it turns out we haven't. So today's video is about how and when to prune phlox, a question that often concerns our gardeners.
I used to prune phlox in late September - early October because we had a cold house, the water in the gardening community was turned off early, and no one went to the dacha in the fall. So I had to prune the phlox this early. This always worked well for the phlox; they bloomed beautifully and profusely the following year.
Some people prune phlox earlier, in early September, but I think this is wrong, as phlox are still vegetating at this time. It's now mid-October, and many of the phlox are still blooming and have buds, meaning it's too early to prune them. I'm also breeding phlox and need seeds.
But I prune the phlox that aren't being bred in mid-October.
Of course, it all depends on your region. If it's already cold and all the phlox have finished blooming, you can prune them.
Some people like to prune phlox immediately after flowering in August, leaving a stem 30-40 cm long. I always ask: Why do you prune them like that? Phlox should be pruned just below the inflorescence immediately after flowering, and I talk about this in this video: • Уход за флоксами после цветения Обрезка, ...
New flowers can form from the leaf axils. Why deprive your phlox of blooms and prevent the phlox leaves from receiving sunlight? By leaving such a stem, usually completely leafless, you deprive it of nutrition for the rest of the year. Therefore, I don't recommend pruning phlox in August.
Next question: How do I prune phlox? There are many opinions on this matter, too. Some leave stumps of varying sizes from 10 to 20 cm, citing that old stems trap snow. I don't quite understand this position; I don't think several stems will do anything to trap snow above the phlox. We don't live in the bare steppes, where winds blow, and if snow falls, it settles everywhere, including on the phlox.
I prune phlox in the fall at ground level. Firstly, it's an aesthetic pleasure, and secondly, it's easier to work with next year, whether weeding, tying, or cutting back; you'll never prick yourself on old, dry stems. To prune phlox, I use a regular section and cut the stems at ground level.
After pruning, some gardeners cover their pruned phlox bushes with old, cut stems and leaves, protecting them from the cold. However, I strongly advise against this, firstly because phlox don't need protection, and secondly, various diseases, such as rust, spotting, and powdery mildew, accumulate on phlox leaves over the course of a year. This is normal for autumn, and all these diseases migrate from the leaves to the soil, potentially causing your phlox to become diseased the following year. Therefore, the best way to dispose of old, cut stems is to burn them in a fire.
You can view my complete collection of phlox, hostas, and other perennials at sadfloxov.ru
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