tall garden phlox question
 

It's been a long, hot, dry summer. My tall phlox (I have LOTS) are pretty much done blooming and what's worse is that that they all are infested with spider mites.

If I cut them down now, and put all the clippings out in the trash, would it be bad for the plants? I think that they will not resprout until spring, even if I did water and feed them. My guess is that they only send up new shoots in spring.

Related question: do you know of any systemic miticides that would work? In addition to the mites being all over the phlox, they seem to have attacked the creeping charlie (ground ivy?) weeds in my lawn. Now, I really don't care about the weeds being harmed. But I do worry that all those weeds are a reservoir for the mites.

Any ideas?

i use tempo on every thing and it gets every thing. When it rains you may have to
do it again once an a while.

I'll send over the deer that are eating mine. Then you won't have a problem.

I usually cut down my tall phlox when they are done blooming.

I have lots of tall phlox all around my property & have sharred with many neighbors. With all my perennials, as soon as they don't look nice, I cut them back. It will not hurt them & they will come back fine next spring. I have so many now that I try to cut them back before they go to seed I use a combination "Insect & Disease" control product - this year was a Spectracide product.

Donnajean, mine have been reseeding themselves too. Which is why I also have too many! Fortunately the seedlings seem to be more resistant to mildew than some of the named-variety plants that I'd purchased. I decided a couple of years ago to just dump the mildewed ones. There's no beauty in mildew...

I also cut mine back. About the mites, you might want to contact your extension service to see about something, preferable something that is organic. That way you are protecting the good bugs and the enviroment.

You can cut them down with no ill effects on them...but spider mites can be pretty well controlled with just a strong spray of water..just spray at them with a hard stream of water from your hose and most of them will be gone.
There are new varieties on the market now that are very mildew resistant...I like them so much that I pulled out all of my older varieties and just have the newer ones now..nothing looks as bad as a plant covered in mildew!

The combination insect & disease control kept the fungus off the phlox this year. I spray about every 2 weeks for the ones planted in the shady areas.

check out something that Jerry Baker uses...I know it involves soap...but can't remember what the other product is...and then spray it on...
I like his stuff because it isn't a chemical...and with a little dog who has her nose everywhere, I try not to use the commercial stuff.

I have this plant too. You can spray them down with a solution of water, dish soap and a splash of Listerine.
Just like Roses. This is pet friendly.

Or, go ahead and cut them back removing all the stock. They will be as pretty as can be when it is time for Spring.

Don't they make some great garden color

I would not cut them until Frost time. Right now it is still warm and the roots will sprout and take even more energy from the plants. Then frost will hit them and there will be more die back.

IF you google organic gardening you will be able to get info on getting rid of the mites without using poisonous sprays.

http://www.ehow.com/how_8326029_grow...all-phlox.html


http://www.ehow.com/about_6297613_or...der-mites.html


My grand father had a hedge of tall phlox that was about six feet wide and at least thirty feet long on the border of his garden. I love that hedge. He had paths that cut through it and all the kids in the neighborhood would play hide & seek in and around it. They smell so good and all the different soft colors in the pink, white and lavendar shades.

Oh! What a memory. Thanks so much!

peace

After they are done blooming, cut the flower heads off. The spider mites won't overwinter. Any plant material left this fall will get cut off next spring anyway.

For spider mites on inside plants, I mix dishwashing soap (Dawn) and water and spray the plants. Takes care of them. Haven't had them in years...but this used to work.