tall garden phlox question
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Orchard Park, NY (near Buffalo, which is near Niagara Falls)
Posts: 3,884
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?
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?
#5
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?
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?
#6
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Orchard Park, NY (near Buffalo, which is near Niagara Falls)
Posts: 3,884
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...
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Clearwater Kansas
Posts: 386
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.
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 1,231
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!
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!
#9
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...
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: chicago, IL
Posts: 9,589
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 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.
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