Contents
Under natural conditions, astilbe grows in a monsoon climate, so it is hardy to adverse conditions. The plant feels comfortable in cold regions. Comprehensive preparation of astilba for winter will help minimize the impact of adverse weather and provide conditions for normal development next year.
Features of astilba wintering in the open field
The plant is highly frost resistant. Because of this, many flower growers make a serious mistake by not taking any action. In fact, you need comprehensive care for astilba in the fall in preparation for winter.
The main reason this procedure is required is that the plant is not meant to be grown in flowerbeds and gardens. Astilba is a perennial found in mountainous regions at an altitude of up to 5 thousand meters. The bush is resistant to such conditions, but may suffer due to factors to which it has not previously been adapted.
Preparing for winter involves a set of activities. It is necessary to consider the main stages of this procedure.
What to do with astilba in autumn
In order for a young plant to endure the winter well, flower stalks are removed from it as soon as they begin to form. Then the nutrients will not be spent on the formation of seeds, but on strengthening the root system. Thanks to this, the young astilba will take root better before the onset of cold weather.
Astilba is very hardy and frost-resistant
In September and early October, before the onset of the first frost, you need to maintain an abundant watering regime for the bush. Astilbe does not tolerate drought. If it is grown in areas well-lit by the sun, then it is necessary to provide it with water daily, until regular precipitation occurs.
How to care for astilba in autumn
Care is reduced to a few simple procedures. But they need to be carried out in a timely manner, otherwise the bush will not have time to adapt to new conditions.
Do I need to cut astilba for the winter
Usually the buds are cut off immediately after flowering. But they can be saved so as not to spoil the appearance of the flower bed. In autumn, at the onset of the first frost, remove the entire aerial part of the bush. The optimal time is the first half of November.
In the first year of life after planting, the plant needs special care.
Plant pruning method:
Flower garden cleaning
Such a procedure is required if astilba is grown next to other plants. Simultaneously with pruning, you need to remove the remnants of other colors. It is also necessary to remove all debris: fallen leaves, branches, weeds.
When the bush grows, it can crowd out all the weeds.
Loosening and mulching the soil
Astilba is demanding on the composition of the soil. Lack of sufficient nutrients in the soil can be detrimental to the plant. Therefore, when preparing astilba for winter in the Moscow region or other regions, attention should be paid to the soil.
The soil for astilba must pass the liquid well to prevent stagnation. For this, loosening is carried out.
The soil must be loosened to a depth of at least 8 cm. When preparing bushes older than 5 years, care must be taken. Their roots grow strongly and can break out. In the process of loosening, they can be accidentally damaged. This is followed by mulching. This preparation helps to improve soil properties.
Recommended organic types of mulch:
- leaf humus;
- dry manure or droppings;
- straw;
- garden compost;
- pine needles;
- peat;
- sawdust, shavings.
Cropped bushes need to be covered with a layer of mulch: coniferous litter, peat, compost
The layer of mulch for astilba should be 2-3 cm. Such preparation will keep liquid in the soil, prevent freezing, erosion and make the soil loose.
How to fertilize astilbe in the fall
In preparation for winter, top dressing is necessary. It is carried out twice. The first time astilba is fertilized after flowering. Use compounds containing phosphorus and potassium, which quickly absorb the roots and enrich the plant with valuable substances. For each bush, 1-2 spoons are required, no more. Also in the fall, you can fertilize astilba with ash.
In autumn, you need to make fertilizers rich in potassium and phosphorus.
Organic fertilizers are applied before the onset of frost. They are needed to provide the bush with useful substances in early spring. Organic residues are subject to long-term decomposition, therefore, if applied in late autumn, they will fertilize the bush only after a few months. In addition, at low temperatures, this process slows down.
How to prepare astilba for winter
The main procedures are performed in the fall. The final stages of preparation are carried out in early to mid-November. After cutting the stems from the bush, it is recommended to spud it to a height of 4-5 cm. This is necessary so that the young buds are not exposed and not exposed to frost. A layer of organic mulch is also added on top.
In the Moscow region, for preparation, it is enough to carefully loosen and fertilize the soil. However, this rule only applies if a not too cold winter is predicted. Astilba is cut, fertilized, and the soil is mulched with spruce branches, straw or other organic matter that passes air well.
In the Urals and Siberia, astilbes spend the winter sheltered. This is necessary to protect them from the harmful effects of the wind. The soil in these regions freezes by 80-100 cm. Therefore, soil mulching alone is not enough to prepare astilba for winter in Siberia.
Other preparation steps:
- Gradual reduction in the frequency of watering (starting from the end of October).
- Treatment with fungicides against diseases and pests.
- Removal of weakened shoots.
So that the root system does not suffer from frost, you need to cover the plant with spanbond or spruce branches
It should be borne in mind that astilbes need careful preparation in the first year of life, as well as bushes that have been depleted in a dry summer. Before the onset of cold weather, you need to completely restore the plant, otherwise it may die.
When and how to cover astilba for the winter
In some regions of Our Country, the plant needs reliable protection from frost. To do this, you need to cover the astilbe for the winter.
Main steps:
- Stick 4 wooden blocks into the ground at a distance of 15-20 cm from the bush on each side.
- Connect them with thin planks.
- Pour dry foliage inside the frame.
- Cover the top with a porous material and a dense plastic film.
- Press the material with bricks or stones, sprinkle with earth so that it does not blow away with the wind.
Before covering the astilbe for the winter, you need to make sure that the selected plastic film is breathable. Otherwise, the flow of oxygen to the soil will be disturbed, which can lead to the death of the bush.
In outskirts of Moscow
It is not necessary to cover astilba in central Our Country. Such preparation is needed if a cold winter is expected.
It is desirable to cover the plant with a material that allows air to pass through and does not create a greenhouse effect.
In early November, soil mulching, hilling and fertilization are carried out. You can cover the plant without using a wooden frame with the help of foliage, needles and a breathable film.
In the Urals
Due to the harsh climate, the plant must be protected from the cold. Moreover, the preparation of astilba for winter in the Urals should be carried out earlier than in the Moscow region.
Roots that are closer to the surface of the earth can freeze, so they need to be covered with coniferous spruce branches.
Shelter is carried out at the onset of a persistent drop in temperature. This usually happens in mid-late October. At this point, the bush should already be cut and fertilized.
In Siberia
Astilba normally tolerates temperatures down to -15 degrees. However, in winter in Siberia, the temperature often drops below this mark. Therefore, a frame shelter is required.
The root system of astilba is able to withstand temperatures of -25 degrees
In this case, it is necessary to cover the trimmed bush with a layer of foliage, straw or sawdust to maintain the temperature. This is especially important if the plant has roots close to the surface.
Advice of professionals
The main task of shelter for the winter is to protect not from frost, but from sudden changes in temperature. That is why the plant is covered with dry plant materials: foliage, sawdust, straw. At the same time, an airtight film is required to supply the sheltered astilba with oxygen and protection from pests.
If the astilbe is not covered for the winter, then next year the plant will grow worse and flowering will be weak.
When snow falls, it is recommended to sketch it over the film. This will create an additional protective layer for the sheltered astilba. To prevent the snow from spreading, you can put spruce branches on it.
Conclusion
Preparing astilba for winter is a set of measures necessary to protect the plant from the influence of adverse climatic conditions. Most of the procedures are carried out in the middle and end of autumn, before the onset of a persistent drop in temperature. Pruning, feeding the plant, fertilizing the soil and shelter for the winter are provided.