Welcome.
OK, now that we have that out of the way … deep breath … and we’re off.
I love Phlox paniculata ‘David’ with the phenomenal blooms, but for two years running now, the foliage slowly “browns up” in the heat of summer. Do I hide the declining foliage with other low lying plants and be done with it? Do I relocate them to true full sun? Do I just focus on the problem and take appropriate precaution?
I love my ‘Little Grapette’ daylillies but so does somebody else. Fight it out with the enemy, because I like their current location, or give in?
I need to get more creative with my containers and realize I can squeeze more in than appears possible. Remember … thriller, filler, spiller … say it again … thriller, filler, spiller.
Is this Carex ‘Cappuccino’ ugly or unique? Do I really like it as much as I think I do? Can it really be combined with others?
Do I dare now prune any of my Weigela ‘Wine and Roses’ shrubs knowing I will be cutting off the potential blooms? The blooms are beautiful but I really love these shrubs for the foliage. And they appear to need some rejuvenation. Maybe experiment a bit and prune one dramatically, selectively prune another and leave one alone? Like an experiment where I can share the before and after. Hmmmm … I am a genius aren’t I? That is good blog fodder … but maybe no one will care?
Hot damn, I love this stuff!
ONG
You need to throw in “Enthusiastic” into your ONG… LOVE those deer! I’d plant whatever they liked…
Given how wet the soil is, move the Phlox to full sun but don’t hide the foliage, it needs air space to breathe and dry off. Camouflage it instead by planting something attractive nearby like Astrantia, Platycodon or Perovskia, to draw the eye away from the browning foliage.
The very subtle difference between hiding and camouflaging makes a difference.
I
My phlox does that, too … I thought it was some type of mildew problem.
Go for the 3-in-1 experiment on the Weigela. Accumulating gardening experience through trial and error is half the fun. Be adventurous. Whatever robs you of your joy – deal with it, replace it, or eliminate it. Life is too short.
Have you checked your phlox for mildew? In the past mine turned brown and upon inspection, I found it was mildew causing it. Last year it did much better, but the summer was horribly hot and dry.
Personally I would prune until after blooming. Thats just me. I want all the blooms I can get. Good Luck!
Gardens are never perfect, you just have to accept the good with the bad…all of these plants have excellent qualities. Maybe some might do better in other situations.
I don’t have brown leaves on my David phlox but I have an awful problem with powdery mildew. I was thinking moving it to full sun would help. I have the same issue with containers too. I always buy too little and they seem a bit skimpy.
I go through the same thing. Look around the garden and think “this might look better over there” or “why doesn’t this look better here? Doesn’t it know I really want it to be here?” etc, etc, etc. I guess that’s why gardens are ever-changing.
We have friendly deer that like my lilies too. I successfully kept them from eating my flowers last year, by using ‘Liquid Fence’ deer repellent. It has a strong garlicky smell that really works.
Yes I did say it again… thriller, filler, spiller! Nowadays I am always on a lookout for fillers 😉 Nice white phlox!
The ‘Wine and Roses’ shrubs are pretty. I would wait to prune them, the flowers are nice! I’ve never seen that shrub before.
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Ha ha, I did indeed laugh out loud at the part about the Wiegela.
Is part of your David dying off? Sometimes that just seems to happen. Not real helpful but I just pull out the brown foliage and the plant keeps going.
Interesting blog! I’ve the same prob with phlox so have learned from the comments above. The carex looks way too lonely; definitely needs some planting to make it more interesting. Maybe experiment. I’ve mine mixed in with perennials, even looks good with sedums etc. Maybe mix carex with black mondo grass? Thanks for joining my blog. All the best, Kelli.
Oh yes, I know such thoughts too. They are terrible and tend to steal my sleep at night. Why the hell must I think about caterpillars at my roses at night and what I should do against it… why not just dreaming of the wonderful rose scent :o). Why replanting borders in mind at night and not dreaming of lying in a hammock…
Wonderful photos from your garden!
Kind regards from Switzerland
alex
The foliage on my phlox sometimes turns brown. I look right to the gorgeous blooms and ignore the brown. One summer I did have some kind of phlox bug that devoured the foliage. That was ugly. I see purple Scaevola aemula in one of your containers….one of my favorites. It never fails to do well.
donna
Very interesting post! You have many lovely flowers in your garden.
Looks spring is just around the corner!
From Japan.
I LOVE it here. You are a hoot to read and I like it.
Every gardener has his/her day of frustrations. If it’s too wet for the phlox, and you don’t particularly want to move it, you might try aerating the soil by adding sand or break down and move it into a sunnier location…I know, back breaking work that has to be done in the fall. On that note, I’d aerate. Good luck with this beauty of a phlox. Ya gotta love their scent. Mine are planted at the south end of the deck, but get shade from the pine and spruce grove all afternoon. Maybe the wind tunnel is their friend.
Thanks for stopping by.
BlessYourHearts
Looks like you are doing pretty well to me.
texwisgirl – the deer are definitely a love/hate thang!
allan – I did divide some phlox last year and move to full sun and those didn’t bloom but foliage remained OK. Thanks for the tips!
s etole – From what I read, the browning could be from lack of water since we had a drought last year.
JW – I am going to try all three pruning options. The fun is in the experimenting.
Bonnie – I have given them a lot of room so hoped to avoid mildew. Will try it as is one more year and then decide.
La vie – I honestly enjoy the good and the bad, a labor of love and never dull!
Marguerite – this is the year I swear I will fit more into my containers. A guarantee!
Holley – it is like a big puzzle trying to mix and match and a fun one at that!
Wanda – I have used liquid fence successfully, just need to remember to apply more often. Thanks for the tip!
Stephanie – glad you could repeat it with me!
Meems – I think I’ll keep two and prune one, tough to not keep the blooms in spring.
Sweetbay – the blooms aren’t impacted by the browning foliage so I do just pull it off. That’s why i think I need something fuller to hide the “legs”.
Why I Garden – I do have the carex mixed with some other perennials and shrubs so you’re right, it may be better to assess again once everything has grown in.
Alex – it can be a love/hate thing can’t it? Either way, it consumes our every thought.
Donna – the Scaevola is my go to “spiller” as it never disappoints.
Redrose – Hello from Japan and thank you for the nice comments!
Dar – you are too kind! I have divided the phlox and relocated some so this will ne the year to analyze all of the results. Thanks for stopping by!