How to Transplant Creeping Phlox

Overview

If you're looking for the perfect spring bloom to cascade over walls or crawl around your rock garden, look no further than the easy-to-grow creeping phlox (Phlox subulata.) Hardy in zones 3 through 9, creeping phlox spreads in a thick, green mat with small-petaled clusters of pink, red, lavender, white and variegated flowers in early spring. Creeping phlox transplants easily in early spring.

Step 1

Loosen soil by cutting through the thick mat of phlox. Keep the section you wish to transplant plug-sized--around a couple of inches in diameter. Phlox grows quickly by spreading its roots. Creeping phlox propagates best from non-woody stems.

Step 2

Prepare your transplant location by loosening the soil. Mix in humus or compost to improve the nutrient content. Creeping phlox propagates by spreading new roots and "creeping" its way in open soil.

Step 3

Pull your phlox plug, gently, lifting the roots out of most of the dirt. It's important to have bare root but some dirt is fine.

Step 4

Replant your plug by just covering the roots in the loose soil of the new area, and water immediately. Keep soil moist until plant starts to re-root itself.