Is it time to finally enjoy your garden? Is it time to put down your secateurs and pick up a G&T? Is time to be an armchair gardener? The answer is, three times, yes.
Daily landscape chores can wait. Become an armchair gardener for a moment enjoying your gardening toil. Savor the sweet smell of white phlox as evening descends upon your perennial beds.
Phlox is one of the first native perennials Europeans documented when arriving. It is a genus of over 60 varieties ranging from woodland to creeping, tall to short, early to late blooming. For my money, there is nothing like the garden phlox of summer. Gardeners tend to avoid them because of their mildew susceptibility. Have no fear; here are the three top mildew resistant varieties in three heights. Plant them in any sunny location, individually or en masse for a grand display.
First, if you are suffering from mildewed phlox, rip them out and make sure beds are clean of any leaves. You just opened up your garden for vibrant, floriferous, fragrant, mildew free/less maintenance phlox. Try these three varieties.
Phlox paniculata “Jeana” is tops for mildew resistance. This five-foot tall beauty produces an impressive floral display from mid-July through early September. Flowers are much smaller than any other garden phlox yet ‘Jeana’ attracts more butterflies than all other garden phlox.
Phlox paniculata “Delta Snow” is one of the most disease resistant cultivars, growing four feet high. Blooming in July and into August, it produces an incredible number of large inflorescences with white flowers accentuated by a bright lavender center with a slight fragrance.
Phlox paniculata “David” is the most well-known phlox cultivar. Its popularity stems from its reputation for excellent powdery mildew resistance with fragrant, pure white flowers atop three-foot tall stems.
I can tell you are getting antsy in that armchair separated from your plants. If you must garden, but who am I to suggest such a thing, the best time of day is early morning. The lawn is moist with dew, trees are alive with songbirds and streets are empty of cars. Enjoy that peaceful time with your well-cared for floral flock.
Watering during this hot period is especially important. Water early and water the soil not the leaves. Water less often but longer to ensure deep soil penetration. You are outnumbered by weeds. If you delay, they will only multiply. So, get started with shady areas. Then move to areas that were sunny but are now in shade and cooler. The longer you wait the bigger your regret shall be.
NOW is the time to clip tall vegetative hydrangea stalks. Trim them down to a plumb leaf node. This allows you to reshape and reduce their size. Also, once hydrangea flowers fade, cut the stems to a ¼ inch above a plump node. NOW walk away, leave them alone. You are done.
Only water tomatoes if they look a bit peckish. Otherwise, excessive water will lead to burst fruits. Pinch out sucker growths to focus their energy on fruit production. Hoe the garden clean of weeds. Reseed a fresh row of greens, radishes, and bush beans.
Deadhead plants in borders and planters. Most will deliver a second bloom, especially David Phlox. Pinch herbs to hang, dry for winter use. Clip 1/4 inch off the tops of chrysanthemums to reduce floppiness and promote more buds. Same for late fall flowering asters. Keep deadheading butterfly bushes and roses.
Back to your armchair, that is if you left, grab a cool drink to toast to your gardening accomplishments. You did it.