image from outsidepride.com Isn't this cooler weather just great to be outside and work. It makes you appreciate it more after last week of 90 degrees, and it makes all of us feel better with it being cooler. It looks like all week will be seasonable. We could use rain, but that doesn't look like in the forecast. Harvest is starting so all be safe.
How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Astilbe by Catherine Boeckmann Astilbes are small flowering plants with feathery plumes in pink or white atop fern-like foliage. They add color and texture to a shady garden. Planted in the fall or spring, these deer-resistant perennials will flower from late spring into late summer. Learn how to grow and care for astilbe. About Astilbe Deceptively delicate in appearance, this moisture- and semi-shade-loving perennial is hardy to Zone 4. Astilbe will provide blooms from late spring to late summer, depending on the variety. A few selections are even fall flowering. With proper moisture, the foliage remains attractive throughout its blooming period. They prefer a soil pH of slightly acidic to neutral. Astilbes (Astilbe spp.) are clump-forming perennials that belong to the saxifrage family and arise from a stout rootstock. The upright stems bear fern-like green foliage and feathery plumes extending above the foliage in shades of pink, red, purple, or white. The flower clusters vary in size from 6 inches to 2 feet, and the plant height ranges from 6 inches to 5 feet, depending on the variety. They’ll add a splash of color to perennial borders, wet sites, containers, and groundcovers. The plant attracts butterflies and is resistant to rabbits and deer. The showy flowers are excellent for floral cuttings or use in a dried arrangement. PLANTING Where to Plant Astilbe Astilbes prefer light to moderate shade, but deep shade will result in few and/or poor flowers; full sun will burn the tender foliage. These plants demand moist, damp soil, but also it must drain well and not puddle, which would ensure their failure. Amend the soil with compost or aged manure (especially in clay types) to increase fertility; astilbe is a heavy feeder. Add perlite and coarse sand to improve drainage. When to Plant Astilbe Astilbe is usually planted as small plants purchased from garden stores in spring or fall. Starting from seed is very difficult for the home gardener; astilbe can be difficult to germinate, and resulting plants tend to be short-lived. Division is recommended to create new plants at home. Divide existing astilbe plants in early spring as soon as you see new growth. How to Plant Astilbe Plant purchased plants about 1 to 3 feet apart, depending on the type. Dig the hole and loosen the soil to about 10 to 12 inches deep. Mix in a handful of compost. Set the crown (where roots and plant connect) just below the soil line. Backfill with the soil removed from the hole. Water well after planting. If setting bare-root plants, dig holes twice as wide as the plants’ roots and 4 to 6 inches deep. Place the plants so the roots are fanned slightly and pointing downwards, with the crown planted 1 to 2 inches below the ground level. Cover the roots with soil and press firmly. Water well and keep consistently moist (not soaked). GROWING Check that astilbes are moist. If rain does not occur, water deeply and regularly. Do not sprinkle frequently. Astilbes are heavy feeders. Fertilize twice a year. Apply a balanced organic compound in spring and a high nitrogen fertilizer in fall. (Learn more about soil amendments here.) Astilbes are a bit slow to establish but then spread quickly, forming broad clumps with crowns that rise about the soil as they grow. Cover the crowns with compost-rich soil—or, lift and replant. Divide overgrown clumps every 3 to 4 years in the spring. Either replant the divisions immediately or put them in pots to be planted out in the early summer. After the bloom period, clip off any spent flower stems. The foliage will hold visual appeal until fall. After the first frost, the leaves may be yellow. Trim them, if desired. Fresh growth will return in spring. RECOMMENDED VARIETIES Popular astilbe hybrids include … ‘Fanal’, for its dark green foliage and dark crimson flowers; about 1-1/2 feet tall. ‘Irrlicht’, for its dark green foliage and elegant white flowers; up to 2 feet tall. ‘Venus’, for its bright green foliage and bright pink flowers; up to 3 feet tall. ‘Visions’ has strong stems, green leaves, thick raspberry flowers, and is more drought tolerant. HARVESTING Cut astilbe flowers and leaves for beautiful arrangements. Vase life is 4 to 12 days. Or, astilbe flowers can be dried. Note: Removing flower heads (deadheading) will NOT promote continued flowering. Taken from https://www.almanac.com/plant/astilbe Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net 641-794-3337 cell 641-903-9365
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AuthorHi! My name is Becky and I am a Master Gardener. I own Becky's Greenhouse in Dougherty, Iowa. Archives
September 2023
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