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Many flower growers, wanting to decorate their flower garden or garden plot, most often plant unpretentious perennials. With a minimum of effort, you can enjoy bright colorful flowers every year without much hassle. Astilbe belongs to such picky plants. Its openwork, delicate foliage, and inimitable, airy inflorescences will not leave indifferent any grower. Therefore, astilba, planting and caring for which in the open field is so easy that even a beginner can handle it, is gaining more and more recognition.
Description of the plant
Astilba belongs to the genus of perennial plants, and the Saxifrage family. This flower got its name because both the leaves and the inflorescences do not have a shine. “Astilbe” in Latin means “a” – “without”, and “stilbe” – “shine”. This feature was noticed and described by the Scottish biologist Hamilton.
In the wild, astilba mainly grows in North America, Japan, and East Asia. On the territory of boundless Our Country, these beautiful flowers can be found in the Far East.
Astilba is a herbaceous plant, the aerial part of which dies off with the onset of winter. The stem, on which, as a rule, one inflorescence is located, is erect. The height of the flowers can vary from 8 cm to 200 cm, depending on the variety and species.
Astilbe leaves, planting and caring for which were carried out on time and in accordance with the rules, are basal. Numerous foliage is formed on long petioles, the leaves are most often pinnate, dissected, the edges are serrated. Simple ones are extremely rare. The color of the leaves is dark green, sometimes reddish green or burgundy.
Astilba flowers are small, collected in voluminous apical inflorescences. The length of flower panicles depends on the variety of flowers. 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 picky about the composition of the soil. After planting in open ground, astilba requires minimal care. The only thing worth considering is that flowers are very fond of moisture. Even a short dry period is reflected in the abundance and brightness of flowering.
Often, planting and caring for astilba in the open field (see photo) is carried out near artificial and natural reservoirs. In this case, very lush, long and bright flowering is noted. Astilba covers the earth with a colorful, rich, airy carpet that will not leave anyone indifferent.
The color scheme of astilbe flowers is represented by a wide variety of shades – snow-white, pink, purple, pale lilac, bright red, raspberry and even purple.
With a minimum of effort in growing and caring for astilba, you can enjoy gorgeous and lush flowering from June to August. This is one of the few plants that grow and bloom excellently in partial shade. Astilba has very few enemies in the garden, and it is very rarely affected by any diseases.
Flower propagation methods
There are not so many ways to propagate astilba. Amateurs and professionals often use two methods of propagating flowers: dividing the bush and cuttings. These are the most affordable and easy-to-do activities that even a beginner can easily handle.
Reproduction of astilbe by seeds is extremely rare. Often the seeds simply do not have time to ripen. In some varietal and hybrid flowers, the seed material is simply not able to preserve and transmit the signs of belonging to a particular variety.
Most often, astilba seeds are grown by breeders when creating new varieties and hybrids.
Division of the bush
Dividing an astilba bush is the easiest way to propagate flowers. This can be done both in spring and autumn. To split a bush, you have to do the following:
- carefully, with a pitchfork, dig out the old bush, trying not to damage the rhizome;
- remove dead parts of the root system, old, yellowed leaves;
- divide the astilba bush so that each part has 4-5 renewal buds and a good root system. It is desirable to do this with a perfectly clean and sharp knife.
- Be sure to treat the cut points with crushed charcoal.
Planting astilba with a rhizome in spring is practically no different from planting other plants. The only difference is that you need to water the flowers after planting daily and plentifully. If you have time to plant astilba in the spring, before the growing season begins, and are not late with the deadlines, then in a couple of months you will be able to enjoy charming and inimitable flowers.
How to separate the kidneys of renewal
Since astilbe also propagates with the help of basal cuttings, it is important to correctly separate the renewal buds from the main bush.
Carefully inspect the astilba bush. On the side where there are good, promising young buds, which are guaranteed to become shoots next year, you need to carefully move a small layer of soil. With a clean, disinfected knife, part of the bush is separated. 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 on a separate bed before transplanting to a permanent place. It is advisable to create greenhouse conditions for flowers – a small greenhouse or film shelter will come in handy. Subsequent care after planting astilba in open ground comes down to regular watering and airing.
If you separated the buds in the spring, then in the fall a young, rooted bush can be transplanted into a flower garden. If the astilba division procedure is carried out in the fall, flowers can only be transplanted in the spring.
The only disadvantage of this method of propagation of astilba by cuttings is that you can see the first inflorescences only after a year.
When can you transplant and plant
Before propagating astilbe, it is important to decide when flowers can be planted, what time of the year and what terms are most acceptable.
In spring, astilba flowers wake up a couple of weeks later after hibernation than other perennials. To start a stable vegetation process, 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 astilba 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, you should not rush with planting astilba and subsequent care for the flowers, as the plants can freeze slightly during the spring frosts. However, it is also not worth delaying with this event, otherwise it will be more difficult for flowers to transfer the transplant process in the heat.
The best time to propagate astilbe in the spring by dividing the bush will be the beginning of the growing season, as soon as the first green shoots appear.
In autumn, astilba should be planted in open ground, taking into account the fact that it will take at least 1,5-2 months for flowers to take root safely and fully prepare for the upcoming cold weather.
Choosing the right place
Before planting astilba, it is important to decide which places the plant prefers, and what it needs for lush and lush flowering and active growth.
When growing astilba in open ground, it is important to comply with a number of requirements:
- the plant prefers soft, diffused lighting;
- astilbe grows beautifully and blooms luxuriantly in the shade of buildings or trees;
- the flower is unpretentious in relation to 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 to rot the root system.
So that the flowers do not suffer from dry air, it is advisable to determine a place near small reservoirs for planting astilba in open ground.
We are preparing the site
Preparation of a site for growing astilba in open ground does not require special efforts. A couple of days before the proposed work, water abundantly, and then dig up the soil in the flower garden where you will plant astilba. If necessary, apply complex mineral fertilizers if the soil is poor, or sand if the soil is heavy.
Leave the area alone for a few days. After this time, you can safely transplant astilbe flowers into open ground.
Planting plants in the ground
When growing astilba, the distance between planting pits should be from 15 to 30 cm, depending on the variety and height of the plant. The wells are prepared in such a way that the root system of flowers is located freely enough in the pit. The approximate size of the holes is 30 cm X 30 cm.
At the bottom of each landing hole you need to add:
- humus or compost – 2 handfuls;
- bone meal or ash – 1 cup.
Place the astilba rhizome in the hole so that the renewal buds slightly “peep out” from under the surface of the earth. After planting, the flowers are watered abundantly and provide them with proper care.
How demanding are plants in terms of care
Caring for the incomparable astilba after planting is not burdensome. Both a busy and a novice florist will be able to cope with the usual activities:
- regular hilling;
- plentiful watering;
- timely feeding;
- pruning after flowering;
- weeding and mulching.
Hilling
A feature of astilbe is the superficial growth of the root system. The roots of flowers during the period of formation and active growth do not deepen, but, as it were, grow on top of the soil layer.
For this reason, after a year, a slight elevation can be seen under the astilba bushes. After a couple of years, the root hill will increase in size. Therefore, the main procedure in caring for astilba after planting in open ground is regular hilling of the root zone.
The bigger, the better
Astilba needs watering according to the “the more the better” scheme. Do not allow the soil in the flower garden to become even briefly covered with a dry crust. The plant immediately reacts to a lack of moisture with lethargic foliage, shedding of flowers, a decrease in the splendor of flowering, scarcity of coloring of flowers and large holes in the inflorescences.
In drought and during the flowering period, plants should be watered at least twice a day. It is best to perform this procedure early in the morning and after sunset, so as not to provoke sunburn.
However, pouring astilba with water is also not worth it. Stagnation of moisture is no less detrimental to flowers. Keep the soil in the flower garden moist, and this will be enough for the plants.
When and how to feed
The next step in caring for long-term astilba after planting (photo) is regular feeding. The first time you fertilized a plant was during planting. Subsequently, you have to feed the flowers according to the following scheme:
- in the spring, feed the flowers with nitrogen fertilizers;
- after withering – potash and phosphorus top dressing.
This will help the plant regain strength after flowering and fully prepare for winter frosts. Astilba will not require more from you.
plant shelter
Astilba is quite resistant to cold, so a good layer of mulch is often enough for it to endure winter frosts down to -35˚С – 37˚С. Residents of regions with a harsh climate should take more care of sheltering perennial astilba.
With spring temperature drops, young, immature shoots of plants can freeze out. Therefore, in the spring, take care of sheltering the flowers when there is a threat of frost and renew the mulch layer. It will help to protect weak shoots from frost and will help to simplify the care of astilba after planting in open ground.
When to crop
Pruning of fading inflorescences after abundant flowering should be carried out in the first years after astilba propagation by division or cuttings. This operation will allow the flowers to direct all their efforts to the formation and growth of the root system, as well as the formation of new renewal buds that will bloom profusely next year.
However, some flower growers do not cut the astilba, leaving branches with dried inflorescences on the bushes, which gives the garden a special, charming look. Before the onset of winter, the flowers will still need to be cut to a height of 5-10 cm above the ground.
Mulch or not
In order to simplify the care of astilba 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 weeds in the garden.
The following materials can be used as a suitable mulch for flowers:
- pieces of bark, large chips;
- chopped straw;
- peat;
- pebbles, expanded clay.
When growing and caring for astilba in the garden, you need to regularly update the mulch layer. It will help the flowers to calmly endure the winter frosts.
It is necessary to transplant and plant flowers at least once every 4-5 years. Otherwise, the root system weakens, the period decreases and the abundance of astilba flowering decreases. The optimal time to divide the old bush into several young ones is the beginning of autumn or the end of spring.
Who or what can threaten flowers
The reason for the growing popularity of astilba lies not only in its decorativeness and unpretentiousness. This plant is bypassed by diseases and most insect pests.
It is extremely rare that the root system of flowers is affected by the gall nematode. These parasites practically do not react to the treatment of plants with even the most powerful preparations. Therefore, pest control is reduced to the removal and destruction of the affected bushes. At the same time, it is advisable to remove from the site part of the soil in which the flowers grew.
It is impossible to grow astilbe in the same place for 4-5 years.
Drooling pennitsa is also a danger to flowers. The fact that the plant has become a haven for the saliva will tell you the appearance of the astilbe and small, white lumps of foam.
In general, flowers become lethargic, astilba grows poorly, and the growth of green mass slows down. And in the foamy lumps that appear on the leaves, insect larvae develop. The only method of dealing with penny is to collect insects and larvae by hand from the foliage of the plant.
The author of the video will tell and show you how to properly plant astilba in open ground.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for astilba in the open field, 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 gentle, weightless clouds of various colors! Luxurious and inimitable astilbes deserve to take their place on any personal plot. During the period of violent flowering, they bloom with bright colors and will give you real pleasure.