Does Phlox Need Deadheading?
Phlox, with their airy foliage and bright blooms, have an added bonus. A sweet, heavenly scent. Phlox will reseed itself so there need never be a year without these lovely flowers. Deadheading phlox blooms will prevent much of that reseeding. Removing phlox flowers that are spent has this benefit and a few others as well. Some gardeners deadhead phlox flowers to confine the spread of the plant. Since phlox is a perennial, the resulting seedlings can become weedy and often do not bloom. Deadheading the plants allows the parent plant to focus on providing blooms and keeping the main crown healthy. You can then divide the plant every two to three years and make more of this lovely bloomer if you wish. These divisions will bloom true to the parent and are a better and quicker way of continuing the species.
What Happens When You Deadhead Phlox Flowers?
Happily, deadheading keeps the plant looking its best, which is a blessing for us neurotic gardeners. It is a tedious process, as the plant is a prolific bloomer and the flowers are not large. Removing phlox flowers actually encourages another bloom. If plants are in a region where cold temperatures arrive late in the season, deadheading early enough can result in a full head of flowers just as summer ends. Additionally, the practice keeps the plant from focusing energy on keeping those old flowers going and can move to fueling root growth, foliar production, and more little flower buds.
How to Remove Spent Phlox Blooms
This is not a chore for an antsy person, as it takes patience. You can use garden pruners, but a better choice are small snips or scissors. The stems aren’t thick and such tools allow better control and access. Once petals begin to drop and fade, remove clusters 1/4 inch (6 mm.) above the new bud that is forming on the stem. Do this as you see blooms fading. Once all the buds have broken and faded, cut the entire flower stem where it emerges from the plant. New growth will form while midseason flower stems continue to produce.
