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Many gardeners, wanting to decorate their flower garden or personal plot, most often plant unpretentious perennials. With a minimum of effort, you can enjoy bright, colorful flowers every year without much hassle. Astilbe is one of these picky plants. Its delicate, delicate foliage and inimitable, airy inflorescences will not leave any gardener indifferent. Therefore, astilbe, planting and caring for which in open ground is so easy that even a beginner can cope with it, is gaining more and more recognition.
Description of the plant
Astilbe belongs to the genus of perennial plants and the Saxifraga family. This flower received its name because both the leaves and inflorescences do not have shine. “Astilbe” translated from Latin means “a” - “without”, and “stilbe” - “brilliance”. This feature was noticed and described by the Scottish biologist Hamilton.
In the wild, astilbe primarily grows in North America, Japan, and East Asia.In the vast territory of Russia, these beautiful flowers can be found in the Far East.
Astilbe is a herbaceous plant, the above-ground part of which dies off with the onset of winter. The stem, on which there is usually one inflorescence, is erect. The height of flowers can vary from 8 cm to 200 cm depending on the variety and type.
The leaves of astilbe, planting and caring for which were carried out on time and according to the rules, are basal. Numerous foliage is formed on long petioles, the leaves are most often pinnate, dissected, and the edges are jagged. Simple ones are extremely rare. The leaf color is dark green, sometimes reddish green or burgundy.
Astilbe flowers are small, collected in voluminous apical inflorescences. The length of the flower panicles depends on the type of flower. Astilbes bloom from early June to late July. Some varieties can decorate the garden until mid-September. The flowering period depends on the variety of flowers and climatic conditions of growth.
In general, the plant is not picky about the composition of the soil. After planting in open ground, astilbe requires minimal care. The only thing worth considering is that flowers love moisture. Even a short dry period affects the abundance and brightness of flowering.
Often, planting and caring for astilbe in open ground (see photo) is carried out near artificial and natural reservoirs. In this case, very lush, long-lasting and bright flowering was noted. Astilbe covers the ground with a colorful, rich, airy carpet that will not leave anyone indifferent.
The color range of astilbe flowers is represented by a wide variety of shades - snow-white, pink, purple, soft lilac, bright red, crimson and even purple.
With a minimum of effort when growing and caring for astilbe, you can enjoy gorgeous and lush flowering from June to August. This is one of the few plants that grows and blooms well in partial shade. Astilbe has very few enemies in the garden, and it is very rarely affected by any diseases.
Flower propagation methods
There are not many ways to propagate astilbe. Amateurs and professionals often use two methods of flower propagation: dividing the bush and cuttings. These are the most accessible and easy-to-do activities that even a beginner can easily handle.
Astilbe is propagated by seeds extremely rarely. Often the seeds simply do not have time to ripen. In some varietal and hybrid flowers, the seed material is simply not capable of preserving and transmitting the characteristics of belonging to a particular variety.
Most often, astilbe is grown from seeds by breeders when creating new varieties and hybrids.
Dividing the bush
Dividing an astilbe bush is the easiest way to propagate flowers. This can be done both in spring and autumn. To divide the bush, you have to perform the following steps:
- Carefully dig out the old bush with a pitchfork, trying not to damage the rhizome;
- remove dead areas of the root system, old, yellowed leaves;
- Divide the astilbe bush so that each part has 4-5 renewal buds and a good root system. It is advisable to do this with a perfectly clean and sharp knife.
- Be sure to treat the cut areas with crushed charcoal.
Planting astilbe with rhizomes in the spring is practically no different from planting activities for other plants. The only difference is that after planting, you need to water the flowers daily and abundantly. If you manage to plant astilbe in the spring, before the growing season begins, and are not late, then in a couple of months you will be able to enjoy charming and inimitable flowers.
How to separate renewal buds
Since astilbe also reproduces using root cuttings, it is important to correctly separate the renewal buds from the main bush.
Carefully examine the astilbe bush. On the side where there are good, promising young buds, which are guaranteed to become shoots next year, you need to carefully remove a small layer of soil. Using a clean, disinfected knife, separate part of the bush. Please note that in addition to 2-3 full-fledged, well-developed buds, each part also had a piece of the root system.
Plant future flowers in a separate bed before replanting them in a permanent place. It is advisable to create greenhouse conditions for the flowers - a small greenhouse or film shelter will come in handy. Subsequent care after planting astilbe in open ground comes down to regular watering and ventilation.
If you separated the buds in the spring, then in the fall the young, rooted bush can be transplanted into a flower garden.If the procedure for dividing astilbe is carried out in the fall, the flowers can only be replanted in the spring.
The only disadvantage of this method of propagating astilbe by cuttings is that you will only be able to see the first inflorescences after a year.
When can you replant and plant?
Before propagating astilbe, it is important to decide when you can plant flowers, what time of year and what timing is most appropriate.
In spring, astilbe flowers wake up after hibernation a couple of weeks later than other perennials. To begin a stable growing season, the thermometer should not fall below +10˚С +12˚С.
In regions with a mild climate and relatively warm winters, the first green leaves of astilbe appear no earlier than the end of April or the beginning of May. In areas with a more severe climate, the first signs of flower development appear only at the end of May or even at the beginning of June.
Therefore, there is no need to rush into planting astilbe and subsequently caring for the flowers, as the plants may freeze during the spring frosts. However, you shouldn’t delay this event either, otherwise in the heat it will be more difficult for the flowers to endure the transplanting process.
The optimal time to propagate astilbe in the spring by dividing the bush is the beginning of the growing season, as soon as the first green shoots appear.
In the fall, you need to plant astilbe in open ground, taking into account the fact that for successful rooting and full preparation for the upcoming cold weather, the flowers will need at least 1.5-2 months.
Choosing a suitable place
Before planting astilbe, it is important to decide which places the plant prefers and what it needs for lush and lush flowering and active growth.
When growing astilbe in open ground, it is important to comply with a number of requirements:
- the plant prefers soft, diffused lighting;
- Astilbe grows well and blooms wildly in the shade of buildings or trees;
- the flower is unpretentious regarding the composition of the soil, the main condition is that it should be light and retain moisture well;
- is critical of moisture stagnation, which can threaten rotting of the root system.
To prevent flowers from suffering from dry air, it is advisable to locate astilbe in open ground near small bodies of water.
Preparing the site
Preparing a site for growing astilbe in open ground does not require special efforts. A couple of days before the proposed work, water it thoroughly and then dig up the soil in the flower garden where you will plant the astilbe. If necessary, apply complex mineral fertilizers if the soil is poor, or sand if the soil is heavy.
Leave the area alone for several days. After this time, you can safely transplant astilbe flowers into open ground.
Planting plants in the ground
When growing astilbe, the distance between planting holes should be from 15 to 30 cm, depending on the variety and height of the plant. The holes are prepared in such a way that the root system of the flowers is located in the hole quite freely. The approximate size of the holes is 30 cm X 30 cm.
To the bottom of each planting hole you need to add:
- humus or compost - 2 handfuls;
- bone meal or ash – 1 cup.
Place the astilbe rhizome in the hole so that the renewal buds slightly “peek out” from under the surface of the earth. After planting, the flowers are watered abundantly and given proper care.
How demanding are plants in terms of care?
Caring for the incomparable astilbe after planting is not burdensome. Both a busy and a novice florist can cope with ordinary activities:
- regular hilling;
- abundant watering;
- timely feeding;
- pruning after flowering;
- weeding and mulching.
Hilling
A feature of astilbe is the superficial growth of the root system. During the period of formation and active growth, the roots of flowers do not deepen, but seem to grow on top of the soil layer.
For this reason, after a year you can notice a slight elevation under the astilbe bushes. In a couple of years, the root hill will increase in size. Therefore, the main procedure for caring for astilbe after planting in open ground is regular hilling of the root zone.
The bigger, the better
Astilbe needs watering according to the “the more, the better” scheme. Do not allow the soil in the flower garden to become covered with a dry crust, even for a short time. The plant immediately reacts to a lack of moisture with lethargic foliage, shedding of flowers, a decrease in the splendor of flowering, poor color of flowers and large holes in the inflorescences.
During drought and during flowering, plants should be watered at least twice a day. It is best to perform this procedure early in the morning and after sunset to avoid causing sunburn.
However, you shouldn’t fill astilbe with water either. Stagnation of moisture is no less destructive for flowers. Keep the soil in the flower garden moist, and this will be enough for the plants.
When and what to feed
The next stage of caring for perennial astilbe after planting (photo) is regular feeding. The first time you fertilized the plant was during planting. Subsequently, you will have to feed the flowers according to the following scheme:
- in the spring, feed the flowers with nitrogen fertilizers;
- after wilting - potassium and phosphorus fertilizing.
This will help the plant regain its strength after flowering and fully prepare for winter frosts. Astilbe will not require more from you.
Plant shelter
Astilbe is quite resistant to cold, so a good layer of mulch is often enough for it to withstand winter frosts down to – 35˚С – 37˚С. Residents of regions with harsh climates should take more careful care of covering perennial astilbe.
When the temperature drops in spring, young, fragile shoots of the plant may freeze. Therefore, in the spring, take care to cover the flowers when there is a threat of frost and renew the mulch layer. It will help protect weak shoots from frost and help simplify the care of astilbe after planting in open ground.
When to prune
Pruning of fading inflorescences after abundant flowering must be carried out in the first years after propagation of astilbe by division or by cuttings.This operation will allow the flowers to direct all their energy to the formation and growth of the root system, as well as the formation of new renewal buds, which will bloom profusely next year.
However, some gardeners do not prune astilbe, leaving branches with dried inflorescences on the bushes, which gives the garden a special, enchanting look. Before the onset of winter, flowers will still need to be cut to a height of 5-10 cm above the ground.
To mulch or not
In order to simplify the care of astilbe after planting (see photo), it is advisable to mulch the soil in the flower garden. This simple procedure will help retain moisture and reduce the growth rate and number of weed in the garden.
The following materials can be used as suitable mulch for flowers:
- pieces of bark, large wood chips;
- chopped straw;
- peat;
- pebbles, expanded clay.
When growing and caring for astilbe in the garden, you need to regularly update the mulch layer. It will help the flowers calmly endure winter frosts.
Flowers need to be replanted and replanted at least once every 4-5 years. Otherwise, the root system weakens, the period of astilbe flowering decreases and the abundance decreases. The optimal time to divide an old bush into several young ones is the beginning of autumn or the end of spring.
Who or what could threaten the flowers?
The reason for the growing popularity of astilbe lies not only in its decorativeness and unpretentiousness. This plant is avoided by diseases and most insect pests.
It is extremely rare that the root system of flowers is affected by root-knot nematodes. These parasites practically do not respond to the treatment of plants even with the most powerful drugs.Therefore, pest control comes down to removing and destroying affected bushes. It is also advisable to remove part of the soil in which the flowers grew from the area.
Astilbe cannot be grown in the same place for 4-5 years.
The slobbering frog also poses a danger to flowers. The appearance of the astilbe and small, white lumps of foam will tell you that the plant has become a haven for the bib.
In general, flowers become sluggish, astilbe grows poorly, and the growth of green mass slows down. And insect larvae develop in foamy lumps that appear on the leaves. The only method of combating pennies is to collect insects and larvae by hand from the foliage of the plant.
The author of the video will tell you and show you how to properly plant astilbe in open ground.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for astilbe in open ground, as you can see, is not particularly difficult. But these picky and shade-loving flowers can decorate any corner of your garden. Just imagine these delicate, weightless clouds of various colors! Luxurious and inimitable astilbes deserve to take their place in any garden plot. During the period of lush flowering, they bloom with bright colors and will give you true pleasure.
