Will it come up under wood mulch?
You would want to keep the mulch from covering the plant.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/groundcover/creeping-phlox/creeping-phlox-planting.htm
My bright pink phlox has come up but they are not pink this year - but pastel blue. What could have happened? Perhaps the buds were frozen during a recent snowstorm? Will they return to pink next year?? Thx
Creeping Phlox can grow in most soil types and ph does not really effect the plant or flowering.
Many Hybrids can and will see some color changes and the flower colors can even change throughout the same growing season.
Here are some articles with more information.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/groundcover/creeping-phlox/creeping-phlox-planting.htm
https://njaes.rutgers.edu/soiltestinglab/pdfs/ph-Lime-req.pdf
I am looking into building some beds around the three trees I have in my front yard. I saw Creeping Phlox and it looks like something I might want. My question is, can it be contained? How fast does it spread? Would it be the right choice for what I am wanting?
Creeping phlox does spread, but it's not especially hard to contain. The only problem you might run into is sunlight. It does best in full sun and can take at the most partial shade, so the trees above might get in the way. Watch the beds for a day first and see just how much light they get.
You can read more about creeping phlox here:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/groundcover/creeping-phlox/creeping-phlox-planting.htm
how long does creeping phlox bloom?
Bloom time is approximately 6 weeks from spring into early summer.
Can I plant in the spring in New York City area?
Yes, you can certainly plant in Spring.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/groundcover/creeping-phlox/creeping-phlox-planting.htm
Can you plant creeping phlox in july? I live in Utah and it is about 90 to 100 degrees daily. Is that too harsh of an environment to be planting? Should they be planted earlier in the season?
Creeping Phlox have a quite shallow root system and the heat will make it very difficult for them to root and grow. I would wait until a cooler period to plant this ground cover.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/groundcover/creeping-phlox/creeping-phlox-planting.htm
I live in Devon and have a double dry stone wall with planting area at top, it is an open area with lots of light. I am considering planting creeping phlox to cover top of wall and help keep weeds at bay, but as only flowers in spring I wondered if you can suggest something that will grow in harmony for summer colour, ideally evergreen and grow every year,
Periwinkle Vine would be lovely.
Here is an article that has information on care of this blooming vine!
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/groundcover/periwinkle/growing-periwinkle.htm