A good plant for a sunny border

General growing info
Phlox paniculata prefers a sunny spot, but will do well in partial shade. Too much shade, however, will reduce the number of flowers.
The best performance is achieved in moist, fertile soil. Phlox will appreciate a generous amount of fertilizer in spring.

If you need to water the plants, you should try to do it without getting water on the leaves, as this encourages powdery mildew. 

Protection from strong winds or staking can be considered if there is a possibility that the flowering stems may be blown over.

Pinching
Phlox ‘Pleasant Feelings’ can be pinched in spring to give more, but shorter flowering stems and later flowering.

Pinching can be used to give a succession of flowering times and heights if you have a number of plants growing together.

Pinching is not recommended for plants that have grown for a few years without being divided, because they already will produce many flowering stems.

Take the tops out of 2’’ young shoots, leaving 2 or 3 leaf pairs. More than one shoot per stem will grow out, giving a more compact and richer flowering habit.

Divide old plants
After a few years plants will produce a dense clump of stems, not all of which will produce flowers. Once it gets to this stage, division is advised to encourage the production of flowers.
Division is also a good way to discourage mildew, as there is little room for air to circulate in a dense clump of stems. For mildew sensitive Phloxes therefore, dividing may also stimulate a better health. 

The best time to divide plants is in Spring, when the shoots have just started to grow. Carefully dig up the roots and break them into a few large pieces, using  a knife if you prefer. The parts from the outside of the plant will show better growth than those from the inside of the original clump.

Mildew
Powdery mildew is a fungus that is characterised by a white powdery coating on leaves and stems and can be a problem in perennial Phlox. Phlox ‘Pleasant Feelings’ is less susceptible to powdery mildew then other cultivars, but it may still occur at the end of the summer when the plants are no longer in active growth.

The simplest way to avoid mildew is to ensure there is good air circulation in and around the plant. However, it is also important that the soil around the roots doesn't get too dry. A bark mulch is one good way to keep moisture in the soil.

If your Phlox is infected by mildew, it is unlikely to die, but will grow afresh the following spring without mildew. To reduce or avoid infection in the next season, a mulch and/or transplantation to a spot with more air circulation could be considered, before using a fungicide.

>>Your opinion

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