When to transplant phlox to another place is better
Content:
Phlox are perennial plants that delight the eye for a long time. They can be of different colors and are not very whimsical. Of course, they have their own characteristics. The article will talk about transplanting these wonderful plants. The focus will be on when is the best time to replant phlox.
Transplant goals
Phlox transplant is a mandatory procedure for their best flowering. Garden plants cannot grow in the same place for several years. Flowers are getting smaller and paler every year, and the soil on which they grow is depleted and even fertilizers may not always help. Also, long-term growth of flowers in the same place leads to the appearance of harmful insects there.
Phlox
Another reason is the prevention of various dangerous infections, having become infected, the flowers will die. Plants do not have enough useful elements, so every few years it is necessary to divide large bushes into several small ones and replant them in new places. Considering that these plants can easily be transplanted, there are no problems even for novice flower lovers.
When is it better to plant phlox - in spring or autumn
Many gardeners are interested in the survey: when can phlox be transplanted and how to do it? There is no definite answer to this question. Phlox transplantation is carried out when the plant can better take root in the new land.
When exactly can you divide phlox and plant them? Is it possible to transplant phlox in June or is it better to do it in September? Phlox can be planted in spring, autumn and even summer. A summer transplant can be done in June, July or August, as the summer months are all equally hot.
A transplant in the fall is acceptable for phlox, but in this case it will be better if it takes place in the first month. September is a warm enough month for the roots to take root. However, in central Russia, it is spring that is considered the best time for planting phlox, since at this time the most favorable climatic conditions.
In the spring, you need to transplant in the warmest time - the end of April or May. The root system of phlox is quite frost-resistant, but still it is better not to risk it.
Selection and calculation of phlox planting material
The choice of plant variety depends on the desired color of the flowers, the height of the bush and the duration of flowering. The number of purchased seedlings depends on the area of the soil on which they will grow. So, there are about 90 seedlings per 10 square meters.
You should also determine the planting density. To understand how to plant phlox, you need to determine the height of the plants and the duration of flowering. For small bushes, the distance between plants should be 30-40 cm, and between rows about 35-45 cm.For large plants, this is, respectively, 50-60 and 40-50 cm.
Distance between beds
Preparing and carrying out the transplant
The more successful the location is chosen, the better the result will be. Phloxes love moisture, so the soil should be loose, rich in organic elements and sufficiently moist. You should not be afraid of moisture, because there will not be much of it anyway.
For this reason, it is necessary to avoid places where trees or shrubs grow, especially with a shallow root system, because they consume a lot of moisture. Phloxes love shade, and the sun's rays are dangerous for them. You can see that in the shaded areas in winter there is a lot of snow, and the snow covers the plants and protects them from freezing.
The best time for a transplant is in the evening, as there is no scorching sun at this time. Overcast weather during the day is also great. The soil must first be freed of debris and plant roots, if they are present there, water it well. It is advisable to soak it with water to a depth of at least 20 cm so that the phlox have enough moisture.
Then you need to feed the soil with various minerals so that it is suitable for the growth of flowers, because it depends on how the plant will look and how healthy it will be.
Top dressing recipe for 1 square meter:
- Take a bucket of manure or compost and mix with 200 g of chopped wood ash.
- Add 30 g each of ammonium nitrate and potassium salts, as well as 50 g of superphosphate.
- Mix all this with the dug-up soil so that it is mixed with top dressing to a depth of at least 15 cm.
Plants should be planted at a distance of 40-50 cm from each other. It is necessary to extract phloxes from old soil. It is better to dig with a pitchfork, since the roots are the least susceptible to damage.
Root division during transplantation
If there is no pitchfork, then a shovel will do, but in this case, you need to be careful not to damage anything. The roots should be about 10 cm long. If they are too large, they can be shortened. Also, in adult plants, the stems are cut. The rhizome is divided into several small parts, removing the earth from it.
Next, it is worth digging a bed, depending on the size of the plant, and immersing the root in it, covering it with 5 cm of earth. The hole must be deep so that the root can enter it completely, the roots must be below the soil level. Then the ground will need to be thoroughly watered.
Trimming the tops
Follow-up care after transplant
Care must be taken to ensure that the soil is free of weeds and that the soil is always loose. Watering plants is constantly needed. This is especially important on hot days.
The soil also needs mulching. This can be done using a mixture of humus, peat and manure. It is useful to periodically feed the land with liquid fertilizers.
If suddenly some shoots wilted, they must be removed immediately so that the plant does not waste resources on their preservation. If necessary, the shoots are pinched.
Separately, it is worth talking about the winter period. Plants are not very afraid of the cold, but still they may not survive the winter. Therefore, you need to make sure that during the winter they are in the most comfortable conditions for them.
Shelter for the winter
The first step is to prune the shoots to 10-15 cm. This is done so that harmful insects cannot overwinter on the shoots.
Next, the soil around the phlox is processed. Processing is done so that the plant does not become infected with various infections.
After 10-14 days, the soil is mulched and only then the shelter is made. It is made from peat, spruce branches, foliage, etc. The film is stretched from above and pressed along the edges with stones or something heavy.
The film keeps the plants warm and dry throughout the winter. On warm days, the plants must be freed immediately, otherwise they will rot under cover and die.
The main mistakes when transplanting phlox
There are a number of mistakes due to which plants do not take root well.
Plant with withered shoots
- This may be late removal of the shelter during the spring transplant, which leads to the fact that the plant cannot withstand the warm and humid climate that forms under the shelter.People are afraid that the plant will freeze, but in fact, it is not afraid of small frosts.
- If phlox is planted too late, then this can lead to the fact that they simply do not have enough time to adapt and bloom this year - this is the second mistake.
- The third problem is too tight fit. When plants are too close, they become cramped, they lack moisture and nutrients, which affects their flowering.
Also, the plant can get sick if you do not fertilize the soil and do not treat phlox with chemicals for preventive purposes. Liquid faecal dressing is a good option, but should not be used on plants transplanted this year.
If the gardener does everything right, then his flowers can grow in one place for up to 6 years. You cannot be lazy when it comes to improving your home or garden, because this is a temple for every person, and he must look dignified.
