Luminary® Ultraviolet Tall Garden Phlox

Plant in moist, well-drained soil. Space 18–24 inches apart. Water thoroughly after planting and mulch lightly. Good air circulation is important for mildew prevention.

Water deeply once a week in dry spells, about an inch at a time, at the base of the plant and in the morning so the leaves dry quickly.
Space plants 18 to 30 inches apart depending on mature width, and keep neighbors from crowding the stems. Moving air is the best defense against powdery mildew.
On tall garden phlox, thin each plant to its strongest 4 to 6 stems in late spring, when shoots are 6 to 8 inches tall. This opens the plant to air and gives larger flower heads.
Mulch lightly to hold moisture, keeping it a few inches back from the crown.
Feed once in spring with compost or a balanced slow-release fertilizer. Extra nitrogen makes soft growth that mildews more easily.
Remove spent flower heads to bring on side shoots and a second round of bloom, and to stop self-seeding. Seedlings do not come true to the parent.
Mildew that shows up in late summer is mostly cosmetic. Cut off the worst leaves and give the plant more room next year.
Spider mites can appear in hot, dry weather; regular watering keeps them down.
Cut stems to the ground after frost or in early spring.
Divide every 3 to 4 years in spring, when the center of the plant thins out.
Deer and rabbits browse phlox; protect new growth where they are a problem.