Hello Gardeners, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension and Making It Grow! Gosh, if only my stand of phlox paniculata would bloom all summer. Last year I did have a second bloom because I followed the cultural recommendation to thin clumps to improve air circulation, promote larger blooms, and help ward off that awful powdery mildew. I spent two whole days on my hands and knees pinching off half the stems in each grouping. Well, surprise, surprise towards the end of summer, those small shoots which I thought I’d eliminated, showed me who was boss and rewarded me with a whole new flush of blossoms. Sadly, I didn’t get around to that chore this year, but I am going to try to follow the guidelines that recommend cutting back all the flower heads when they start to fade. This prevents inferior seedlings from coming up and crowding out the superior cultivars – and it’s a chore you can do standing up!
How to Get More Blooms Out of Your Phlox
