How to prepare for winter ❄ phlox for a wonderful flowering the following year
I love phlox in my garden. What are some large inflorescences-balls with soft gradient transitions! Their subtle smell that gets brighter quiet summer evenings, my childhood is associated with a long-awaited trip to the country.
Phlox need to prepare for winter. This will help the flower through the winter without loss and with the onset of spring warmth immediately go to the growth and give up their forces in the formation of buds. I advise you not to neglect this procedure to increase the decorative phlox and just do not lose them because of the frost.
Now, first things first.
In September and October phlox necessarily cut
You can contradict me: "Do not cut off, and the bloom is not gone ..." "Why invent" and stuff like that. I do not force anyone to take up pruner! Just give 4 facts:
- Remaining after the summer shoots of phlox - the abode of various pests, a hotbed of bacteria and fungi.
- After cutting the nutrients necessary for the successful growth and flowering, accumulate in the roots, rather than go to the expense of maintaining the living barely escapes. The more the stock spring, the more abundant, longer and brighter phlox bloom in summer.
- Dry twigs sticking out of the snow, make a bed untidy.
In any case, it's up to you!
Phlox pruned after flowering. The main condition - the permanent frost still have not come. Therefore, it averaged during the procedure - September and first half of October. Of course, adjusted for the region's climate and weather in the current year.
How to cut the phlox
There are 2 great options, each of which has its own advantages:
1. Prune "the roots". The advantage of an all-out hairstyles plants - almost 100% guarantee to pests and pathogens living in the Phlox will die over the winter. They simply will not withstand frost, and hide themselves, and nowhere. Of course, some of them may be buried deep in the ground, but it a slightly different storyOf which I will mention below more.
2. Gentle pruning phlox. Sense leaving stumps (about 10-15 cm). Their task - to hold the snow, which will protect the roots from severe frosts phlox.
What a way to choose? I can advise to resort to cutting in total if you notice on phlox following diseases and pests. The rest of the bushes, and when grown in regions with harsh winters, I recommend to use the second method.
Processing trimmed bushes
🌸 for "a full set of" caring for the bushes autumn phlox be treated fungicides. These are chemical substances that destroy harmful bacteria and fungi in the soil, on the stumps of stems and roots of garden plants.
If you are confident in the health of their colors, the procedure can be skipped. Otherwise it is recommended to process the - next year with phlox would be less of a problem: reduce the risk of infectious diseases and attack by pests. For this purpose, in my medicine cabinet horticultural always lies "fundazol". It manages not only to the prevention of fungal and bacterial diseases in plants in the country, but also for the treatment of severe cases. You do not trust the chemistry? Spread the good old potassium permanganate and spill the soil solution. Do not make the composition too strong, not to burn the roots.
🌸 Another important caveat - fertilizer the plants before winter. We exclude nitrogen fertilization, including dung and chicken droppings. Suitable for feeding superphosphate. Just an ordinary, rather than a double. 1 tablespoon for each adult bush phlox. Immediately I offer organic alternatives - wood ash - 1-1,5 handfuls. This will help to make the flower supply of nutrients for painless winter and abundant flowering the following year.
Do I have to hide for the winter phlox
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The conditions are not central Russia Climate phlox usually need special shelter and overwinter well. It is enough to cut the bush and sprinkle compost bucket. In the winter the flower bed is recommended to throw snow ❄, which will help to accumulate heat at the roots.
However, even at -20 ° C the plant can be damaged or killed any of it. Can be fatal long thaw alternating with decreasing temperature: first buds and then flower is the struck frost. For the safety of phlox in regions with harsh climates (for example, in Siberia, in the Far East), and if necessary in other parts of Russia cut phlox close spruce branches and nonwoven agrovoloknom.
Phlox sure to thank you for your attention and care. Although autumn work and seem to be optional, it is not necessary to throw care to the flowerbed of spring! As a result, phlox will bloom magnificently, bright and long, because they are already prepared for this process since last year. Thanks for attention! I wish you to enjoy the work, bright and fragrant flowers! Read more: How to propagate roses from cuttings in autumn. High survival rate!