Old Phlox

I have some phlox plants grown from seed last year, and to my surprise they just kept going and refuse to give up even now despite the weather.

Flowers still on it, but looking sad now of course, Can't make up my mind whether to put it out of it's misery or chop it off about say 3 inches above the ground. ok nothing to lose, but am I wasting my time and expectations for nothing. This was one of my favourites last year, what would you do?

 

I think it depends on variety, I have little alpine type ones which are perennial. If yours are still trying to flower they might be too. Cut the flowers off and see!

 

Thanks Liz, no it's not an alpine type, and it's not trying to flower, it just won't die!
In the season last year it was well supported by the surrounding plants, which have long gone. So its leaning over at the moment, thought it would die in November but seems determined to survive. I think it needs cutting hard back, but at say 3 inches from the ground it wouldn't leave any leaves, just a stem. Won't that kill it anyway or will it reshoot?

 

Whilst phlox can be annual or perrenial, you really have nothing to lose. If its annual, it will die anyway - unlikely from your description. If its perrenial, as I would conclude from your description - cut it back to ground level. It will shoot again in late spring, early summer.

I have an american phlox - flowers late in the autumn here, I cut it back after the flowers have disappeared - and up it comes next year, no problem.

 

Ground level! Will do, thanks again.