Creeping phlox is one of those “set it and forget it” garden favorites that doesn’t strictly *need* a haircut to survive or put on a show. However, if you want your garden beds to look their absolute best, a little routine maintenance goes a long way. Trust me, your plants will thank you!
Benefit #1: Encouraging a Second Bloom
As far as low-maintenance perennials go, creeping phlox is a dream—especially if you’ve tucked it into a sunny spot. But here’s a pro tip: with a little luck and the right timing, you can actually stretch out that gorgeous carpet of color.
Once the main flowering phase starts to wind down, try trimming the stems back by about a third. Depending on your local weather and how happy the plant is, this can coax extra blooms out of the remaining stems for an additional two weeks.
And hey, if the stars align and the weather stays perfect, you might even get a rare second flush of flowers later in the season!
Benefit #2: Rejuvenation Through a Hard Prune
While many phlox varieties can cruise along for a few years without any help, skipping the shears indefinitely isn’t great for the plant’s long-term health. Like many rock garden plants, creeping phlox tends to get “leggy” or go bald in the center over time. Not only does that look a bit messy, but it can actually shorten the lifespan of your groundcover.
To keep things looking lush and youthful, I recommend giving your phlox a “tough love” pruning every two or three years. Cut the whole cushion back to about a hand’s width from the ground. If you want to give the new growth an extra boost, a light dose of liquid fertilizer afterward works wonders.
When to Take Cuttings
If you want to spread the love (and the flowers!), propagating through cuttings is super easy—as long as your timing is right. The sweet spot is usually between May and July. Just snip off some tip cuttings about 2 inches long.
Take those sturdy little cuttings and tuck them into some loose potting soil in small clusters. Keep the soil consistently moist for the first few weeks while they find their footing. These guys are fast growers and usually develop a solid root system quickly enough to be moved to their permanent home by autumn.
