Can Creeping Phlox Be Split?

Reasons

Dividing or splitting creeping phlox into smaller plants is a simple way of propagating new plants for your garden. If your creeping phlox groundcover has bare spots, the divided plants take root and quickly fill the space. Creeping phlox benefits from division every 1 to 3 years. Division prevents the older, inner foliage from becoming messy and unproductive, keeping the plant healthy and vibrant.

The best time to divide creeping phlox is in the late spring after the plant finishes blooming. Dig deeply under the plant with a shovel or garden fork, and then carefully lift the plant from the ground, using care to prevent damaging the roots. Shake excess soil from the roots, and then pull the plant into smaller clumps. Each clump must be large enough to have a few healthy roots.

Prepare a planting spot in full sun or partial shade. Spade the soil and mix in 2 to 3 inches of compost or fertilizer. Use a trowel or a shovel to dig a hole, and then place the creeping phlox in the hole with the plant's crown even with the top of the soil. The crown is the point where the upper part of the plant joins the roots. Don't plant too deeply, as the plant may rot. Return the parent plant to its original planting spot after discarding any old, unsightly shoots.

Creeping phlox benefits from consistently moist soil. Water the new creeping phlox plant immediately after planting, and then water regularly but not so much that the soil becomes soggy. Creeping phlox does best when watering the plant at soil level, keeping the foliage is kept as dry as possible. A 2- to 3-inch layer of natural mulch, such as pine needles or compost, keeps the soil moist and saves water. Sprinkle a handful of a general-purpose garden fertilizer around the plant every spring, and then water the fertilizer into the soil.