How to Grow Astilbe
Determine if you’re in the right growing environment., Decide how to plant., Know when to plant., Choose a location., Amend the soil., Select a plant., Divide the astilbe., Soak the roots., Dig a hole twice as wide as the clump of roots., Place a...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Determine if you’re in the right growing environment.
Astilbe are indigenous to North America and Europe, in the northern areas where weather is cool and wet.
They grow best in these areas, although they can grow a bit nearer to the equator as long as they’re given plenty of shade and water.
If you live in an area that has high temperatures year round or lacks frequent rain, you likely won’t be able to grow astilbe.
Speak to an expert at a local nursery to get detailed information on your specific area’s growing conditions.
If you are in the US, Astilbes grow best in USDA hardiness zones 3-9. -
Step 2: Decide how to plant.
Astilbe comes in three forms for planting: from seed, from bulbs, and from divisions (like cuttings).
Although all three are viable options, gardeners tend to prefer using divisions for planting than the other two options.
Astilbe seeds are difficult to grow and likely to rot before sprouting, and bulbs take much longer and don’t provide as much color as divisions.
Astilbe grow in clumps that have separate root systems called ‘divisions’.
These can (and should) be pulled apart and replanted to form new large plants.You can purchase divisions or full plants from a local gardening centre, or you can divide a pre-existing astilbe plant. , Plant the Astilbe in spring or fall.
Most Astilbe plants are planted directly in the garden during the mid spring, after the threat of severe frost has passed.
The flower usually blooms in June to early July.
Astilbe can also be planted in the early to mid fall, after the intense summer heat, and will usually bloom the following year. , Astilbe plants thrive in partial to full shade; dry, hot soil in full sun is the worst possible condition for an Astilbe plant.
Therefore, look for a spot in your garden that gets shade for at least part of the day, but don’t be afraid of an area that is in deep shade (such as under a tree canopy).
Make sure the location has good drainage, for although astilbe like plenty of water, they don’t like soaking in puddles.
Consider conducting a drainage test.
If your soil has poor drainage, you can amend it with peat moss or finished garden compost. , These flowering plants prefer loamy, earthy soil that is loose but has the ability to retain moisture.
Mix humus or peat moss into the plant bed by digging in several generous handfuls using a garden fork or trowel.
If your selected plot has poor drainage, mix in sand and perlite to help encourage the drain-off of excess water. , Select an Astilbe that is several years old, since Astilbe plants develop large, clumpy roots after a few years.
Astilbe come in multiple attractive colours including white, red, pink, peach, and purple.
Extract the plant from the ground or container it sits in., Cut a large section of roots from the plant using clean gardening shears.
Select a section with a “crown” or heart.
The crown should appear somewhat dried out, but even a crown that is slightly immature should still survive. , Sit the crown in a bucket of lukewarm water for several hours or overnight.
Soaking the roots encourages them to thrive on their own., The hole should be wide enough to prevent accidental damage to the roots as you plant them.
By having a wide hole, you also ensure that the soil directly surrounding the roots is not as compacted, making it easier for the roots to spread.
In addition to being twice as wide as the clump of roots, the hole should also be about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) deep., The roots should be below ground level, and the crown should be around 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) below ground level, as well. , Refill the hole with the soil you initially removed from the plot.
The soil should be of the same loamy consistency as the surrounding soil.
Make sure that the roots are completely covered and firmly pack the soil down in place to remove any gaps of air. , If planting multiple Astilbe divisions at once, the holes should be spaced far enough apart to allow the roots room to spread. , Immediately after planting the root clumps in the ground, you should thoroughly drench the soil with a garden hose or watering can.
New plants absorb a great deal of water before they sprout and produce flowers, and if the roots are allowed to dry out during this time, the growing process may be disrupted. , In rainy climates, additional watering may not be required.
For climates that occasionally go without rain for several days to several weeks, additional watering is almost certainly needed.
Check the condition of the soil on a regular basis.
Once the surface feels dry, you should give the soil a thorough drenching.
Never let the roots stay too dry for too long, even after the plant is established.
Rather than giving small watering every day, give a heavy watering every few days. , Feed the plant with a slow-release fertilizer at the start of spring, and give them an additional dose six to eight weeks later.
You can either use an all-purpose fertilizer that contains equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, or you can opt for a fertilizer that contains higher levels of nitrogen and phosphorus.
Phosphorus helps with root and flower development, while nitrogen aids in the establishment of full, vibrant foliage.
Note that you should only apply fertilizer when the soil is wet.
Water the soil upon application so that the fertilizer washes down below the surface.
Fertilizer should also be applied during the early morning or evening, when the temperatures have cooled.
Following both of these measures will prevent the fertilizer from burning your plant. , Use bark chips or any other type of mulch that retains moisture well.
Scattering a solid layer of mulch around the plant base helps the soil stay moist and also acts as a type of weed control.
Additionally, decomposing mulch can add more nutrients to the surrounding soil., The plants spread quickly, and as they spread, large clumps of root form.
The crowns of these clumps tend to rise above the soil.
You should cover the crowns with loamy soil to keep the roots from drying out. , The most common insects and diseases to attack the Astilbe plant include the tarnished plant bug, powdery mildew, and bacterial leaf spots.
Even so, the plant is not especially prone to pests.
If any of these problems do emerge, you can apply an appropriate insecticide or fungicide then.
Preventative pesticides are not recommended, however. , Every spring, you should take divisions of the Astilbe plant's roots to prevent the roots from choking each other out.
You can replant these divisions to create new plants, give them to gardening friends, or discard them.You can use your divided plants to form a solid bed of color, or line a shaded garden pathway with your beautiful flowers. -
Step 3: Know when to plant.
-
Step 4: Choose a location.
-
Step 5: Amend the soil.
-
Step 6: Select a plant.
-
Step 7: Divide the astilbe.
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Step 8: Soak the roots.
-
Step 9: Dig a hole twice as wide as the clump of roots.
-
Step 10: Place a division into the hole.
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Step 11: Backfill the hole with soil.
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Step 12: Space the divisions 1 to 3 feet (30 cm to 1 m) apart from one another.
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Step 13: Water the divisions thoroughly.
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Step 14: Keep the Astilbe regularly watered.
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Step 15: Apply fertilizer at least twice per season.
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Step 16: Keep a layer of mulch around the plants.
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Step 17: Bury the crowns as they rise above the soil.
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Step 18: Apply pesticide only as needed.
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Step 19: Divide clumps every few years.
Detailed Guide
Astilbe are indigenous to North America and Europe, in the northern areas where weather is cool and wet.
They grow best in these areas, although they can grow a bit nearer to the equator as long as they’re given plenty of shade and water.
If you live in an area that has high temperatures year round or lacks frequent rain, you likely won’t be able to grow astilbe.
Speak to an expert at a local nursery to get detailed information on your specific area’s growing conditions.
If you are in the US, Astilbes grow best in USDA hardiness zones 3-9.
Astilbe comes in three forms for planting: from seed, from bulbs, and from divisions (like cuttings).
Although all three are viable options, gardeners tend to prefer using divisions for planting than the other two options.
Astilbe seeds are difficult to grow and likely to rot before sprouting, and bulbs take much longer and don’t provide as much color as divisions.
Astilbe grow in clumps that have separate root systems called ‘divisions’.
These can (and should) be pulled apart and replanted to form new large plants.You can purchase divisions or full plants from a local gardening centre, or you can divide a pre-existing astilbe plant. , Plant the Astilbe in spring or fall.
Most Astilbe plants are planted directly in the garden during the mid spring, after the threat of severe frost has passed.
The flower usually blooms in June to early July.
Astilbe can also be planted in the early to mid fall, after the intense summer heat, and will usually bloom the following year. , Astilbe plants thrive in partial to full shade; dry, hot soil in full sun is the worst possible condition for an Astilbe plant.
Therefore, look for a spot in your garden that gets shade for at least part of the day, but don’t be afraid of an area that is in deep shade (such as under a tree canopy).
Make sure the location has good drainage, for although astilbe like plenty of water, they don’t like soaking in puddles.
Consider conducting a drainage test.
If your soil has poor drainage, you can amend it with peat moss or finished garden compost. , These flowering plants prefer loamy, earthy soil that is loose but has the ability to retain moisture.
Mix humus or peat moss into the plant bed by digging in several generous handfuls using a garden fork or trowel.
If your selected plot has poor drainage, mix in sand and perlite to help encourage the drain-off of excess water. , Select an Astilbe that is several years old, since Astilbe plants develop large, clumpy roots after a few years.
Astilbe come in multiple attractive colours including white, red, pink, peach, and purple.
Extract the plant from the ground or container it sits in., Cut a large section of roots from the plant using clean gardening shears.
Select a section with a “crown” or heart.
The crown should appear somewhat dried out, but even a crown that is slightly immature should still survive. , Sit the crown in a bucket of lukewarm water for several hours or overnight.
Soaking the roots encourages them to thrive on their own., The hole should be wide enough to prevent accidental damage to the roots as you plant them.
By having a wide hole, you also ensure that the soil directly surrounding the roots is not as compacted, making it easier for the roots to spread.
In addition to being twice as wide as the clump of roots, the hole should also be about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) deep., The roots should be below ground level, and the crown should be around 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) below ground level, as well. , Refill the hole with the soil you initially removed from the plot.
The soil should be of the same loamy consistency as the surrounding soil.
Make sure that the roots are completely covered and firmly pack the soil down in place to remove any gaps of air. , If planting multiple Astilbe divisions at once, the holes should be spaced far enough apart to allow the roots room to spread. , Immediately after planting the root clumps in the ground, you should thoroughly drench the soil with a garden hose or watering can.
New plants absorb a great deal of water before they sprout and produce flowers, and if the roots are allowed to dry out during this time, the growing process may be disrupted. , In rainy climates, additional watering may not be required.
For climates that occasionally go without rain for several days to several weeks, additional watering is almost certainly needed.
Check the condition of the soil on a regular basis.
Once the surface feels dry, you should give the soil a thorough drenching.
Never let the roots stay too dry for too long, even after the plant is established.
Rather than giving small watering every day, give a heavy watering every few days. , Feed the plant with a slow-release fertilizer at the start of spring, and give them an additional dose six to eight weeks later.
You can either use an all-purpose fertilizer that contains equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, or you can opt for a fertilizer that contains higher levels of nitrogen and phosphorus.
Phosphorus helps with root and flower development, while nitrogen aids in the establishment of full, vibrant foliage.
Note that you should only apply fertilizer when the soil is wet.
Water the soil upon application so that the fertilizer washes down below the surface.
Fertilizer should also be applied during the early morning or evening, when the temperatures have cooled.
Following both of these measures will prevent the fertilizer from burning your plant. , Use bark chips or any other type of mulch that retains moisture well.
Scattering a solid layer of mulch around the plant base helps the soil stay moist and also acts as a type of weed control.
Additionally, decomposing mulch can add more nutrients to the surrounding soil., The plants spread quickly, and as they spread, large clumps of root form.
The crowns of these clumps tend to rise above the soil.
You should cover the crowns with loamy soil to keep the roots from drying out. , The most common insects and diseases to attack the Astilbe plant include the tarnished plant bug, powdery mildew, and bacterial leaf spots.
Even so, the plant is not especially prone to pests.
If any of these problems do emerge, you can apply an appropriate insecticide or fungicide then.
Preventative pesticides are not recommended, however. , Every spring, you should take divisions of the Astilbe plant's roots to prevent the roots from choking each other out.
You can replant these divisions to create new plants, give them to gardening friends, or discard them.You can use your divided plants to form a solid bed of color, or line a shaded garden pathway with your beautiful flowers.
About the Author
Heather Martinez
A passionate writer with expertise in crafts topics. Loves sharing practical knowledge.
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