Creeping Phlox ground cover
By Cynthia
Michigan,
United States 
I have creeping phlox planted under 3 large white pine trees. The phlox is brown and dying under two of the trees that are doing well and the one one pine that is also dying the phlox is doing great. I can only assume that something in the white pine is taking away from the phlox?
23 Sep, 2009
Answers
It'll be drought - the reason the one under the dying tree is doing well is because the tree's not taking all the water away. You need either to keep the phlox watered regularly, during dry spells, or move them.
23 Sep, 2009
Even the needle leafed alpine phlox need water.
23 Sep, 2009
Lack of nourishment in the soil due to the trees taking it all, what soil there is choked with tree roots, plus it is usually very dry under trees. Move your phlox if you want them to survive.
23 Sep, 2009