How to Keep Grass From Phlox
Phlox, a hardy, perennial ground-cover, usually features white, pink, lavender, or red blossoms. Its fine-textured foliage and colorful blooms make it ideal for brightening gardens and creating a colorful border for paths, while its tendency to ramble over stones makes it a picturesque covering for low rock walls. Because phlox is so often used to border lawns, it sometimes gets overrun by grass, and untangling the two can be a problem. There are some things you can do, though, to keep order and restore the separation between phlox and lawn. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Trowel or spade
- Mulch
- Fertilizer (5-0-20 NPK)
- Small logs or rocks
- Grass herbicide (optional)
Instructions
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Choose a time when your phlox are not blooming, and carefully dig up a grass-infested section. Be careful not to damage the roots.
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Remove the grass by hand.
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Divide the section in two, and replant in separate locations in the garden in order to expand your grass-free area.
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Repeat section by section until your phlox is free of grass.
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Create a physical barrier to keep grass out. Borders of rocks, small logs, and stones are both functional and visually interesting. A six-inch trench, well-weeded, can also protect your phlox from grass invasion.
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Mulch your phlox beds an inch or two deep to prevent seeds from grass and grassy weeds from blowing in and taking root.
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Help your phlox stand up to grass by keeping it in tip-top condition. Water and weed regularly, and begin fertilizing no later than early March. According to the University of Florida, the best fertilizer for phlox is one that contains low nitrogen, little to no phosphorus, and high potassium. Either a 5-0-20 NPK mix or a 5-5-20 is effective. By taking care of your phlox, you will be helping them present a united front; grass shouldn't stand a chance if your phlox are thriving.
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If all else fails, use a grass herbicide like Envoy, specifically made to be used with phlox. For best results, use it when the grass has just sprouted.
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Tips & Warnings
Wait until the ground is damp to dig up phlox and pull grass; it's a lot easier.
You should remove flower heads, or "deadhead" the phlox when it is finished blooming.
Read all labels on herbicide and follow directions carefully.
Even an herbicide made especially to kill grass in phlox can damage phlox. Try it out on a small section first.
