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does anyone pinch back or cut back phlox

15 years ago

I have seven phlox David plants in one of my garden beds. A friend advised me to cut them back so they grow bushier and not as tall. Does anyone do that? And if so, is it too late? I am in zone 5; no buds forming on the phlox yet. They are already pretty healthy and lush looking.

Thanks!

Rachel

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Comments (12)

Kat SE Wisconsin z5
15 years ago
I cut the stems down that are in the front part. I did that a couple of weeks ago. They do bloom a little later, but it prolongs the blooming time of them all together. Some get bushier, some don't. I usually cut off about 1/3 of the front ones and a little less off the ones behind them. The back ones I don't cut at all. I've been doing this for about 4 yrs now. I like the effect.

Kat
primgal36
15 years ago
Yes, I do, I just did in fact because of all the rain we've been having. My foilage looked awful. It doesn't harm them, they will bloom, a little delay, but I'd rather have that than rust on my leaves.
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Does anyone here whack them back a little?
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I think it would take too long in our climate for any new growth tips to form if I 'whacked them back' too far. I disbud and disbranch at least one node down, usually two; and then later I'll cut back the huge stalk once the flower is cut off, as Jroot said. Did you pinch out the center growth when the plants were about 12-18 inches tall or with 4-5 leaf pairs? That helps bushiness and lateral development, but some are just born to get tall and bushy. We had a heavy rain yesterday, an inch in a short amount of time, I only found 2/150 or so that were leaning with the weight of all the water. Even if your stake is too short, it pays to cinch up the taller stems and stalks with panty hose, fabric strips, whatever flexible tie you can find- so they aren't so apt to break. Some still will give way to the weight of the rain, especially with wind of any significance. I can tell the season is waning here: was 45 degrees this a.m. and the blooms are getting smaller.
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anyone freaking out/cutting back mid build ?
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We too are in the middle of building and I think it is impossible NOT to feel anxious about borrowing and spending money when the economic news is so bad. It is downright terrifying to be building a home when almost no one else is. It always FEELS safer to be traveling with the herd. But I was taught - as I'm sure you were - that the only way to really make money on the stock market was to buy when everyone else was selling and sell when everyone else was buying. In other words, economically, it is BETTER not to follow the herd. I think the same thing holds true here. As all the economists and pundits keep telling us, part of the reason the economic news is so gloomy is that, after years of Americans having a "spend, spend, spend" mindset, so many people have gotten scared and have suddenly started to hold onto every penny they can. While the decision to start saving is great on an individual level, having the entire country start trying to do it all at once has helped to lock up dollars and contributed to the economic mess. DH and I saved frugally through all the years when "spend, spend, spend" was the order of the day. Now, even with the economic downturn and our investments taking a huge hit, we still have enough saved to purchase what we want. And, we getting better deals when we buy things for our house than we would have had we built a few years ago. So no, I don't feel guilty about spending the money we saved over all those years. Besides, as other posters have already pointed out, every penny we spend helps someone else keep a job! Besides, since the government has decided to print and pump more dollars into the economy in an attempt to get money circulating again, I figure double-digit inflation is bound to hit us very soon. Whatever dollars one manages to save right now are going to become worth a whole lot less in the very near future. Better to invest my dollars in durable goods that won't devalue when inflation hits. So rather than cutting back, DH and I have actually decided to borrow more than we otherwise would have...especially since we are able to qualify for very low interest rates on a thirty year mortgage. Rather than wait to do some upgrades later (as we had originally planned), we're doing them now because we're confident we'll be paying back the borrowed money with much cheaper dollars down the road. But, does all my logic insulate me from feeling anxious sometimes? Nope! I still have my anxious moments. Guess herd mentality is hard-wired in. LOL. Just my 2 cents.
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I certainly agree with the advice of NHBabs re garden phlox. Personally, apart from maintaining healthy growing conditions for garden phlox ( = less powdery mildew), I cut out stems beginning to show powdery mildew during bloom time (latter, most cultivars mid July to mid August here). When any garden phlox has just about finished blooming, I also cut the plant down to ground level and pick up any of the few dead phlox leaves seen on the ground. As others say, the style of gardening, but also the time and energy available for garden maintenance, are relevant factors. For our mixed perennial beds, with close plantings that provide flower colour from late March to the end of October (here) (= many different plants), year-to-year, I find cutting all perennials down to ground level by earliest November works well. Not least, dead foliage and plant litter detract from the view of the spring bulbs and low spring perennials which carry flower colour from late March to the end of May. Picture: last July 28.
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dirtdiver
15 years ago
I pinch them sometimes, but they're so far back in the bed, I don't really notice if that accomplishes anything by the time they bloom. More importantly, where in Chicago do you get your sushi deluxe? :)
aliska12000
15 years ago
Yes or they get top heavy and might flop. I pinch the growing tips out and don't cut them. It delays the blooms some and may reduce their size that you'd get with one bloom per stalk. I wait until the plants are about 2' tall.
sushi_deluxe
Original Author
15 years ago
I get my sushi at Kamehachi :-)

I just did a little judicious phlox pruning. Mine are already two feet tall.

Thanks!
Rachel
oldroser
15 years ago
I too cut the David phlox back working from front to back so the back ones are left tall. When they flower, they are deadheaded and the ones in front start flowering. It prolongs the display and keeps that area looking fresh.
And I use the same tachnique on echinops.
tiffy_z5_6_can
15 years ago
The deers prune mine... :O)
SandL
15 years ago
I only deadhead my 'David' phlox after the blooms have faded. This is thier third year growing. Already they are about 5 feet high and rather full.

Heather
nadya_2007
15 years ago
My phlox has been in bloom now for a month. i was wondering if it will last until late september? We have a garden tour coming on Sept 20th and i am afraid i will loose all the pretty blooms. What can i do to promote the plant to bloom more. I have been cutting back the black eyed susans, the coreospis and daisies in hopes of new blooms. It is working with the daisies, but i am afraid to do it with the phlox. Any ideas??
Kat SE Wisconsin z5
15 years ago
Nadya, I doubt that the phlox will be blooming well at that time. Mine are have been blooming for a month now too, but by early to mid Sept., they are just about done. I have several different kinds and there's only one that still has some blooms on in late Sept. That one is 'Miss Ellie'.

Kat
schoolhouse_gw
15 years ago
Normally, I have great success with Phlox reblooming after deadheading. This year, not so much. I blame it on dry hot weather; but yesterday and today the temps are a bit cooler so I'm wondering if they'll perk up. So, I think it depends alot on your conditions how long the phlox will bloom.
DYH
15 years ago
This year, for the first time, I had great reblooms after deadheading...we've been getting good rainfall compared to last year's LONG drought.

I have 'Robert Poore' and one of the dark pink ones (can't remember that name).

Cameron

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