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Dwarf Perennial Phlox


Dwarf Perennial Phlox

This grows to no more than 6-8 inches tall but spreads rapidly to form a clump 2-3 feet wide. It is spectacular in full flower. It is easy to keep in check. Just chop off as much as you want around the edges with vertical cuts with a spade. It doesn't seem to mind a bit!

I 've not tried growing this from cuttings but it is one of those plants a bit like aubretia that can be quite wide but is only rooted in the middle so I have to spread a thin layer of soil over the plant and water it in and the plant then layers itself quite easily. Once layered you can chop good sized plants off the parent plant, each with plenty of roots.



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So pretty :o)

11 Oct, 2010

 

Beautiful close up...

12 Oct, 2010

 

I've done that this year with plants like Phlox and Erodium Bishops form. I also use hair grips to pin down some of my penstemons so they root into individual plants. Give me more ideas on what can be propogated this way Anchorman. I know you are selling but it does save a fortune if you can do it yourself + my neighbours love me :-)))))

12 Oct, 2010

 

Almost anything is worth a try via layering. Plants that I know layer easily include clematis,honeysuckle and most climbers.Many perennials propagate very easily via mound layering( basically build an inch or two of soil around the base of the plant and the stems root into it) The stems can then be pulled away very easily with roots attached . I know penstemmon,leucanthamum,coreopsis and tradescantia root very easily this way.

12 Oct, 2010

 

also thymes,campanula,dianthus,osteospermum

Infact thinking about it almost anything which will root from a cutting will layer easily.

12 Oct, 2010

 

Thanks Anchorman the Coreopsis is not one I would have thought about layering :-))

12 Oct, 2010

 

You got the second comment in before I could reply, lots I can try then :-))

12 Oct, 2010

 

coreopsis naturally divides very easily but using mound layering increases the number of roots on each stem. A decent 2 litre pot from a garden centre with a clump of growth wuill produce perhaps 10- 15 healthy divisions in year one. Each of these will be a saleable size in a 1 litre pot a year later. Bigger if grown in the ground.

Just ease the stems apart a bit and drop about an inch of compost between them and mound it up an inch or two around the edges. The best time to do this in May when they're growing strongly and they should have rooted into the compost in a few weeks and can be divided either in late summer or the following spring

12 Oct, 2010

 

I will be out there tomoz!!!

12 Oct, 2010

 

You might find this a useful tip. Whenever you visit a garden centre and look at plants which have clumps gently ease back a stem or two from the surrounding soil. If it has a root growing from the shoot into the soil it will layer very easily and almost certainly will take easily from cuttings.

Verbena bonariensis which for some reason is expensive in garden centres layers and roots easily from cuttings

12 Oct, 2010

 

Thank you again :-)))

12 Oct, 2010

 

:)

12 Oct, 2010



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