Why does astilbe grow in the garden? Astilbe: cultivation and care, photo. Choosing a comfortable place for the flower

If you want the beautiful astilbe to live in your dacha, planting and caring for it in the open ground will not be particularly difficult. It is quite unpretentious, but very decorative. This perennial blooms lushly and feels good even in constant shade. Astilbe comfortably tolerates cold Russian winters (down to -37°C), practically does not get sick, and garden pests not particularly interested in her.

Photo of blooming astilbe:

For its originality and lush beauty, everyone loves it, professional, novice gardeners, and just amateurs.

Astilbe - description, appearance and features

What is astilbe? This perennial from the Saxifragaceae family, with lacy foliage and beautiful fluffy panicle inflorescences.

When does astilbe bloom? It blooms starting from the first days of summer. How long does astilbe bloom? The plant blooms most actively for about a month. The flowering process itself continues until August. Not only the flowers are decorative, but also the long-petioled dark green leaves growing on erect stems. The color range of lush panicles is rich in a variety of shades: white, cream, pink, lilac, red. The delicate aroma of astilbe is somewhat reminiscent of the fragrance of bird cherry.

The birthplace of the flower is Japan and Asia. The number of varieties reaches 200 varieties. Eat dwarf varieties, for example, Lilliput. There are tall varieties, for example, Arens hybrids. Compliance with simple agrotechnical rules allows even a novice gardener to grow a lush, eye-catching plant - which is why this crop is so loved by many. For ideal growth and development, astilbe needs shade, but not too strong. The so-called “lace” shadow from the tree crowns is what you need.

Photo of astilbe:

With the onset of cold weather aboveground part dies, and the overwintered root produces new shoots in the spring. A remarkable feature of astilbe is that its rhizomes grow from above. Thus, buds form on the upper part of the root system, which are exposed, and therefore require annual addition of soil. Every year their size increases, forming new roots, while Bottom part gradually dies off. Panicle flowers reach from 10 to 50 cm in length; when the flowering period ends, boxes with seeds inside remain in their place.

The height of an astilbe plant depends on the variety. There are tall varieties, and there are dwarf varieties. For comfortable cultivation, it is preferable to choose tall varieties - those that grow up to 50-80 cm. They are more resilient and tolerate climate changes and temperature changes well.

As mentioned above, there are many various types this plant, but most summer residents liked the Japanese astilbe. This variety is also called Montgomery - a hybrid bred by German breeder Georg Arends in 1837.

Arends hybrids are the brightest, most beautiful, unpretentious, they grow well on any soil, are resistant to cold, and bloom for a long time (about 40 days). In addition to "Montgomery", "Gloria", "Deutschland", "Europe", and "Rheinland" are popular among gardeners.

Japanese astilbe grows up to 80 cm in height, has ornamental leaves, and its flowers bloom early. After the flowers fade, they do not lose their decorative qualities, do not spoil the overall picture of the garden, and are often used to make dry bouquets.

Where to plant astilbe

Where to plant astilbe at the dacha, in the garden? The best place- in the northern part of the site. This is the most comfortable place for her. Where to plant astilbe in the sun or in the shade? Choose shady places or an area near a pool or pond (if you have one). Only some varieties of astilbe prefer sunny areas. When planting, be sure to take into account the proximity of the plants; for example, hostas growing nearby will not only harmonize with the leaves or flowers of astilbe, but will protect it from overheating in the hot summer. For those varieties that bloom in midsummer, you need to select only shaded areas.

It is best to start the planting process at the beginning of May/early June.

What kind of soil does astilbe like? It can grow on almost any soil. But he especially loves loams, fertile soil, and soil saturated with potassium and phosphorus additives.

If near the ground increased acidity, before planting it is recommended to add a little wood ash To lower the pH level, dolomite flour can also be used for these purposes.

You also need to pay attention to the variety and its flowering time. Early and late varieties will feel equally comfortable in a sunny or shaded place. High groundwater levels, as well as periodic stagnation of water in the area, are extremely undesirable for astilbe. To prevent the root system from getting wet, you will need to arrange drainage or plant plants on a hill.

Make sure that planting material(roots) had no rotten or dead parts. The roots should not be too wet or dry.

Please watch a video selection of photos of astilbe.

Astilbe - care and planting

How to plant astilbe? How to plant astilbe correctly? The area on the site should be prepared before planting: dig up, uproot the roots of bushes (if any), remove weeds, fertilize the ground with manure or add additional peat (about 2 buckets per 1 square meter). The holes for the bushes should be approximately 30 cm deep. It is recommended to add a little ash (a handful) deep into them, mineral fertilizing, then add water generously. Now you can start planting. Make sure that at least 5 cm of soil is poured over the roots of the plant, which should be carefully compacted and then covered with a layer of mulch (also 5 cm). Peat or humus is suitable for mulching.

Astilbe - photo of flowers in a flowerbed:

How does astilbe propagate?

Astilbe can be propagated by seed or vegetative methods. In the second case, fragments of rhizomes or buds are used. After the plant fades, the seeds ripen in the boxes; they are sown in early March, but before that they are “hardened” with cold.

To do this, take a suitable container, pour a mixture of peat and sand ( equal proportions), scatter the seeds on top, lay a 2 cm layer of snow on top of them. By the way, you can use snow from the freezer. The snow will melt naturally, burying the seeds inside the soil. After the snow has melted, cover the container with glass or plastic wrap and then place it in the refrigerator for 3 weeks. The bottom compartment, where vegetables are usually stored, is perfect for these purposes. During this period, already hardened seedlings will sprout, which will eventually turn into strong plants, not afraid of cold and frost.

After the sprouts appear, move the container to a bright place where the air temperature is at least +20°C. You should water the seedlings very carefully; for this it is better to use a syringe to direct the stream of water to the root. After the first 3 full leaves appear, small seedlings can be planted in individual pots. It must be taken into account that varietal crops are not propagated by seeds - hybrids do not retain their individual characteristics.

How to grow astilbe from rhizomes? Dividing the rhizome is the easiest, effective way reproduction. To do this, a full-fledged plant should be dug up, removed from the soil along with the roots, with a lump of earth. Then carefully shake off the soil, expose the root system, take a knife, divide the root into fragments, and each piece should have at least 4 buds. After this, you need to plant the roots at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other, water them daily (not too much).

Astilbe - cultivation and care, photo:

Reproduction by buds gives the fastest results. It is best to select seed material in the spring, when the growth of new shoots is activated. The buds are carefully cut off along with a piece of rhizome. The cut area is sprinkled with ash or a tablet crushed in a mortar. activated carbon. After this, take a container and fill it with a mixture of peat and gravel. Take 1 part gravel to 3 parts peat. Then the buds are buried there and covered with glass or film. When the plant germinates and gets stronger, it can be planted on the site using the method described above.

How to care for astilbe? The main thing to remember is unusual feature its root system, make sure that the roots are covered with soil. Provide regular watering (according to the variety). Mulching is advisable. Both overheating and waterlogging are equally harmful to all plants, and a layer of mulch will help keep the roots healthy. Remove weeds, water more often during the formation of flowers, apply fertilizing according to the time of year: in spring - nitrogen, in mid-summer - potassium, in late summer - phosphorus. Astilbe should be replanted every 8-10 years. With the right approach to business, this plant will transform your summer cottage, give you positive emotions and bright colors of summer. Thus, astilbe is aesthetically pleasing and undemanding. in open ground are not difficult.

What year does astilbe bloom after planting? Grown from seeds, blooms in the 3rd year. And those that you planted by dividing the rhizome can bloom in the year of planting.

When to replant astilbe in spring or autumn? Can be replanted in both spring and autumn. If you decide to replant the plant in the fall, then wait until after flowering. But don’t delay replanting: the plant should be replanted about a month before the onset of cold weather(not lower than +5°С). In central Russia this is around September, in Kuban - in October. If you plant or replant astilbe in the spring, you will be able to see flowering already this season. Try to hold this event in April-May if you live in central Russia, and in March-April if you live in Kuban. Astilbe can not be replanted for many years. But sooner or later its flowering will become scarce. Fluffy panicles will become rare and lose their decorative effect. Experts believe that astilbe should be replanted approximately every four years. But, if you see that your plant has not lost its fluffiness and fluffiness, then do not touch it for another year or two.

This perennial crop grows beautifully and decorates with its unusual flowers shady garden. In this article, we will figure out how to plant and care for astilbe in open ground. Observing simple rules agricultural technology, you can achieve excellent results in growing this plant.

Description of the plant - varieties and varieties

Astilbe – rhizomatous perennial saxifrage family. In summer, curly bushes with lovely inflorescences are very decorative; in winter, the herbaceous above-ground part of the plant dies off. Different plant varieties have different heights- from 8 cm to 2 m. Astilbe leaves are pinnate, complexly dissected, green or brownish in color. There are varieties with white, pink and lilac flowers.

Astilbe has many shades

Flowering of astilbe begins in early summer and continues for about a month. During this period, the plant is most decorative. Astilbes with curly inflorescences - panicles - serve wonderful decoration park areas, gardens, squares and are often used to decorate areas in landscape design.

The culture is characterized by high resistance in winter: the rhizomes can withstand wintering at temperatures down to – 37°C without the threat of freezing.

Important! When grown in open ground, astilbe prefers moist, nutritious soil and even, periodic watering. If this condition is met, caring for flower crops does not present any particular difficulties.

Distribution areas of natural astilbe species

In nature, the plant is found in Japan, America and East Asia. In Russia, the plant’s habitat is the Far East, where 2 types of natural varieties of astilbe are found.

All modern cultivated varieties flower culture belong to the species - Arends' astilbe. Medium-sized and tall forms of the plant bloom with bright inflorescences of pink or white flowers with numerous transitions and shades.

Astilbe in landscape design

Hybrid astilbe cultivars are widely used in landscape design. During flowering, the bushes form airy clumps of pink or purple shades. Plants are characterized by compact size and abundant flowering. Planting hybrid astilbe in groups with other species allows you to perfectly shade lawns and coniferous crops during flowering. The combination of plants with different tones of color enlivens the areas of park plantings.

An interesting species of astilbe Thunberg, which has drooping clusters of yellowish or pink flowers that are not typical for the species.

Early flowering astilbes in a wide range of colors in white and pink tones belong to the species “Japanese astilbe”. This type of astilbe is highly decorative.

Astilbe: planting and care

When planting plants, the quality of planting material is of great importance. In order for the survival rate of plants to be 100%, it is worth taking into account some requirements for rhizomes intended for planting.

Planting astilbe

Important! Astilbe rhizomes should not have dead, rotten parts. Drying or excessive moisture of planting material during storage is not allowed. Young shoots should not be elongated, bent or wrinkled.

Of course, specimens with elongated sprouts can also take root, but then the plant may lose its decorative effect and become sick for a long time.

Choosing a comfortable place for the flower

It should be remembered that astilbe is a plant for partial shade; bright sunlight is destructive for it. It is undesirable to plant flowers in open spaces unprotected from sunlight.

In addition, flowers react poorly to areas with high level groundwater and stagnation of water. This leads to soaking and damping of the rhizomes. Growing crops in such areas will not be possible without reliable drainage. And if it is not possible to arrange it, you need to choose a higher place for planting.

Planting astilbe in open ground: determining the size of the holes

The depth of the planting hole must be determined individually for each plant, taking into account the size of the rhizome. Root system astilbe should be freely placed in landing pit, in this case, it is not allowed to deepen the bush or cover the growing point with soil. You can add hydrogel to the bottom of the holes; it will help maintain soil moisture; as well as bone meal, ash and mineral fertilizers– 1 matchbox each.

Astilbe should be planted in well-moistened soil.

The surface of the ground can be mulched with bark or peat chips, which will keep the soil evenly moist and, in the future, protect the roots of the plant from drying out.

Plant care

Astilbe bushes grow by about 3-5 cm in height per year. Measures to care for plants come down to adding soil under the exposed parts of the rhizome. Fertile soil added in a layer of 2-3 cm.

Caring for plantings requires maintaining soil moisture. To do this, add a mulch layer (peat, bark, expanded clay or landscape crushed stone) on top of the planting soil. In winter, mulch on the soil surface helps protect tender rhizomes from freezing.

The combination of uniform watering and keeping the soil moist is the key to plant health and lush flowering.

Caring for astilbe is very simple

The decorative appearance of the plant is maintained by periodic pruning of dead stems. It is necessary to regularly remove faded inflorescences from bushes, this is especially true when using astilbe in landscape design when decorating territories.

Fertilizer and feeding

The application of fertilizers to astilbe bushes during planting has already been mentioned above.

For the full development of the plant, regular fertilizing with complex fertilizers is required. Considering that astilbe can grow in one place without transplanting or dividing rhizomes for more than 5 years, you should feed the plants from the beginning of spring nitrogen fertilizers. This helps the rapid growth of new foliage on overwintered bushes.

Do not forget to feed astilbe with mineral fertilizers

During flowering, the crop needs to be fertilized with phosphorus fertilizers, and towards the end of flowering - with potassium fertilizers. This will help increase the timing and splendor of flowering, and also stimulate the formation of full-fledged seeds.

Plant propagation

Propagation by seeds

To preserve the decorative and varietal characteristics of the plant, propagation of the perennial by seeds is not accepted. Crops grown from seeds often do not correspond to the declared varietal characteristics:

• have a changed color;
• sparse flower brushes;
• low decorativeness;
• short flowering periods.

For seed propagation Only high-quality seeds of varietal selection can be used.

Sprouts from astilbe seeds

The seeds of the plant are sown on the surface of the moistened soil, without covering. For accelerated germination support high humidity(you can cover the crops with glass or keep them in a greenhouse). Growing astilbe seedlings comes down to timely watering of the seedlings. At this time, it is especially dangerous to dry out young plants. They need to be protected from direct sunlight, providing a bright place without access to scorching rays.

Excellent results to increase germination are achieved by performing preliminary stratification of seeds. This agrotechnical technique consists of placing the seeds in a cold place (from +4°C to – 4°C) for 3 weeks. Hardened seeds are sown in greenhouses and kept at a temperature of + 20°C. Young plants can be planted already 2-3 months after sowing. permanent place in open ground. Seedlings obtained from stratified seeds are characterized by excellent survival rate and rapid growth.

Reproduction of astilbe by dividing the bush

The vegetative method of propagating astilbe (dividing the bush) is the most reliable and familiar for gardeners. The mother plant is dug up with care, trying not to damage the delicate rhizome. Using a sharp knife, divide the rhizome into parts with 2-3 buds. The sections are sprinkled with crushed coal.

Dividing an astilbe bush

Planting material is laid out in the prepared furrow and the soil is moistened. Excellent results when planting cuttings are achieved with the use of root formation stimulants. Caring for young plants includes regular watering and loosening the soil.

Astilbe cuttings can be planted in early spring, already in March. With this method of propagation, the first flowering of young plants will begin in early autumn.

Division by buds

Perennial propagation is carried out in another way, which is considered the fastest - division by buds. In the spring, with the beginning of the plant's growing season, sharp knife Renewal buds are separated. The cuttings are planted in a greenhouse with moist soil mixed with coarse sand or gravel, having previously dusted the cut areas with ash. With this method of propagation, a very high survival rate of young plants is observed. The only drawback is that obtaining a full-fledged plant takes almost a year.

Diseases and pests

Keep your plants healthy. If pests appear, start fighting them immediately

Astilbe is attractive not only for its decorative properties; the plant is practically not damaged by pests and diseases. The rhizomes of some crops may occasionally be affected by root-knot nematodes. The pest does not respond to the use of drugs, so the fight against the nematode comes down to the destruction of diseased bushes. In this case, it is also necessary to remove part of the soil that was in contact with the roots of the diseased plant. It is advisable not to plant a crop in this place for several years.

Another pest that can threaten a plant in open ground is the slobbering frog. The affected plant feels depressed, and the development of leaf mass slows down. Prevention measures include collecting the pest from the leaves of the plant by hand.

Astilbe: combination with other plants

Growing astilbe in group plantings with other plants is quite justified. Decorative panicles of the plant look great next to coniferous plants with their monotonous greenery. Such a neighborhood is very preferable for astilbe: conifers provide the bushes with protection from the sun.

Astilbe combination different colors in landscape design

Astilbe bushes harmonize perfectly with late tulips, irises, hostas, and periwinkle. Single landings astilbes on a green lawn in the shade are very decorative.

Astilbe bushes fit perfectly into landscape design, when planting in the shade. The plant is used for single and group plantings, creating complex landscape solutions for shady and semi-shady places. Care ornamental plants There is absolutely no difficulty and consists of timely watering.

How to plant astilbe correctly: video

Astilbe: photo

Over the years at the dacha fruit trees grow and create permanent shade. What to say in anyone, even sunny garden There is always some shady corner. The shadow can be from buildings, from fences and from bushes.

Not every flower will grow in such conditions. Many summer residents give up and refuse to grow flowers. After all, the garden was once sunny and open. But is this a reason to reject the beauty of flowers?

You just have to say “no” and save the dacha from sad desolation. What can be done to ensure that the shady garden remains blooming? The solution is very simple - plant shade-tolerant and shade-loving plants. There are many of them. I’ll only tell you about my favorite ones, beautiful and time-tested. These are buzulnik, astilbe and hosta.

Shade-loving and shade-tolerant: what's the difference?

We call shade-loving and shade-tolerant plants that grow in the shade. Both flowers love the shade and feel great there. The difference is that shade-loving plants only like shade, while shade-tolerant varieties can grow in full sun. Shade-loving flowers can do without bright sunlight. I would classify such perennials as hostas and buzulnik as shade-loving, and astilbe as shade-tolerant.

Specifics of caring for perennials in the shade

• Soil moisture: under the treetops it can either be too dry, since precipitation is difficult to enter, or, conversely, the moisture lasts for a very long time due to the lack of sun. Therefore, it is humidity that determines additional care shade-loving plants.
• Soil preparation: application of organic fertilizers (compost and rotted manure). This is a prerequisite for landing.
• Spray leaves during dry periods. This need is caused by their rapid withering and drying out at such times.

Buzulnik

Buzulnik, or Ligularia, is such a strange name for one of my favorite flowers. Ligula is translated from Latin as “tongue”. Thus, the name is derived from the shape of the flowers, or rather the petals. It was not possible to find out why it is called that in Russian.

I note that on garden plots I very rarely see this flower. I really want to say a good word about him. It looks very joyful, unusual both in inflorescences and leaves. I read that he comes from Asia. In total there are over 150 species of Ligularia. In Russia, several types are the most common. Among them are Przhevalsky’s jagged and buzulnik. Only the jagged one grows for me.

At my dacha he feels at home, comfortable. The fact is that it belongs to shade-loving plants and loves moisture very much. This is exactly what I have in full in my garden.

At first I tried to grow it in the sun and in partial shade, because I did not know either its name or its characteristics. I immediately noticed that under these conditions its leaves began to droop. Only Once under the apple tree, in the shade, he showed himself in all his glory.

It doesn’t let me down with its flowering either. Imagine, from the end of June to the end of September I enjoy it continuous flowering and the beauty of the huge, beautifully shaped leaves that resemble a heart. By the way, from the reverse side, when the wind blows and they sway, you can see that the leaves are an unusual bluish color.

The height of the buzulnik grows more than 1 meter. I love watching its leaves bloom in the spring. First, a nice little pouch is formed, from which they then “hatch.”

Yellow-orange flowers are collected in inflorescences as if in bouquets. They look very impressive. In the evening, it seems that they are illuminated from the inside, so they stand out brightly on dark background garden

If your flower garden is in the shade and in moist soil, then the buzulnik can be combined with any flowers that are satisfied with the same conditions. Hostas and astilbe can be called his inseparable friends.

Features of care

• Ligularia is not whimsical if planted in right place, i.e. into the shade. True, it requires constant hydration.
• I reproduce by root division, although they say it can be done with seeds. There's simply no need for it. I divide it approximately once every 4 years, as it grows.

Advice: It is best to do this in the spring so that it can recover over the summer. If you do this in the fall, you can damage the root system, and the plant will be sick for a long time.

• Our winter middle zone Buzulnik is not afraid, even the frostiest.
• It is practically not affected by pests. So, it is extremely rare in the spring to find slugs on it, and sometimes it happens powdery mildew, where would we be without her?
• I feed it with 10% infusion of bird droppings. I buy it inexpensively in vacuum packaging in garden center in dry form.

Astilbe

Astilbe goes well with hosta and buzulnik. That's why they often grow together with me. She has beautiful multi-colored panicles and carved leaves.

Specificity of astilbe

• Hardy and unpretentious plant.
• It is not subject to invasion by weeds because it has a powerful root system.
• Propagated by dividing the rhizome.

Minimal care

• To prevent astilbe panicles from becoming smaller, they need to be periodically planted as the bush grows.
• As the plant matures, old roots begin to protrude from the ground. This is fraught with freezing of astilbe cold winter. What to do?

Advice: Cover the rhizomes with peat or humus, and be sure to plant them in the fall.

• Grows well in the shade with a high groundwater level on acidified soils.
• Flowers become much brighter after fertilizing with organic and mineral fertilizers.
• Overdrying the soil is death for astilbe. Its leaves immediately curl and flowering stops.

Khosta

I can call hosts my “lifesavers.” Even when they are not blooming, they are the leaves are so beautiful and decorative that they decorate any part of the garden. In addition, they are shade-loving plants, so I try to plant them in all shaded places: in the shade of a fence, under apple trees, behind the house.

No wonder the hosta is called the queen landscape design. It is a ground cover plant. Sometimes its “adults” look like huge hats made of beautiful leaves.

Variety host

• White-edged. They are very hardy and reproduce quickly. It is these hostas that take root well in clay soils.

• Wavy. They are called this because of the wavy appearance of the green and white leaves that form a huge ball.

• Bloated. They have very specific round leaves. Due to the fact that their leaves are lined with stripes, they seem to be swollen. They have very attractive white inflorescences.

• Hybrid. There are a great many such varieties. It is believed that they remain decorative for a long time, they have a persistent character in the sense of unpretentiousness to soils and care.

• Plantains. The bush of such hostas is very large with delicate white flowers, and the leaves look like a heart.

The uniqueness of hosts and their care

• Does not require special care. They grow well along fences, on the shady side of gazebos, in flower beds and lawns.
• The most best soil for hosta - sandy-clayey. It is noteworthy that the bright color of the hosta depends on the sand content in the soil: the more there is, the brighter it is.
• Another interesting feature is that the more white the leaves contain, the more light they require. Therefore, we do not plant all hostas in the shade. Some - only in partial shade.
• Hostas have their own pests - slugs that adore the succulent leaves of plants.

Advice: break into large pieces eggshells and scatter hostas around. It looks, frankly, ugly. But due to the sharp edges of the shell, slugs will not be able to crawl to the leaves.

• Yellowing of the bush. This occurs due to the roots being flooded with water during watering or rotting. What to do?

Advice: If the hosta bush has turned yellow, you need to loosen the soil, fertilize it a little and cut off the yellowed leaves. Hosta will gradually recover.

• Frost-resistant.
• I water them only in dry weather. They do not require special watering, like, for example, buzulnik.
• I feed with complex fertilizer according to the instructions.

Shade-loving and shade-tolerant plants can be a real reward for those who truly love them, plant them correctly and care for them. Country cottage area will sparkle with new colors if you use all the places in the shade for flowers.

Ease of care is probably one of the main criteria that can make a plant a favorite of gardeners. For example, astilbe grows well in shady garden, decorating them with unusual inflorescences of different shades. They do not require special attention and if you follow the basic rules of agricultural technology, you can get lush and spreading bushes.

Basics of proper planting of astilbe

In order for the plant to quickly take root and grow well, you should choose the right place for planting, otherwise how quickly it grows depends on sufficient moisture and warmth.

Choosing a suitable landing site

Despite the need large quantity heat, Open sunny areas with maximum sun should be avoided. Growing astilbe in open ground should be done in areas with sparse shade, because only in this case will it bloom profusely and for a long time.

The exception is light varieties, which feel great in the open sun, but are a little less pleasing with flowers. Under sun rays early and early ones grow well late varieties, and those species whose flowering period occurs in July should be planted in the shade.

Did you know? Astilbe - decorative perennial, which belongs to the saxifrage family. Depending on the variety, the height of the plant ranges from 15 to 200 cm. The leaves are collected in an openwork bush, which can have a bronze, burgundy or dark green color. The flowers also come in a variety of colors, from white to purple. They are paniculate inflorescences that grow up to 60 cm in length. They bloom all summer and have a powerful branched rhizome.

Astilbe can be planted in any soil, but for best results it is worth choosing areas where groundwater pass closer to the soil surface.

How to properly prepare the site

Before planting astilbe in the selected area, it must be dug up, removing the rhizomes of other plants. Then the soil should be fertilized with rotted manure or peat at the rate of 2 buckets of fertilizer per square meter. Make sure the top layer of soil is sufficiently rich in potassium and phosphorus. Bone meal (2 handfuls per meter) or complex fertilizers (30 grams per meter) are also added to the beds. Try not to plant the plant near trees with a shallow root system. They may have competition for moisture, in which the flower will probably lose.

Landing technology

Plants are planted in the fall, during a period when the average daily temperature remains at least 5°C for 2–3 weeks. When choosing the distance between bushes, focus on the plant variety. So, low varieties are planted at a distance of 30 cm from each other, and high ones - 50 cm.

Holes up to 30 cm deep are prepared for planting. Fertilizers are placed at the bottom and filled with water. Delenki (part of a bush with a rhizome) are placed in a hole and covered with mulch to about three centimeters.

Important! It is not recommended to keep the plant without replanting for more than five years. Replanting astilbe is necessary, even if you plan to leave it same place. The fact is that the plant’s rhizome grows upward, so the buds are located on the surface of the earth. In winter, this feature can destroy the flower.

Basics of proper plant care

Proper care of the plant is not so difficult, but in order to grow gorgeous astilbe, you must adhere to the following rules.

Watering: what should it be?

When caring for astilbe, it is important to provide it with a sufficient amount of moisture, with regular watering. Even a slight delay and short-term drying out of the soil lead to the leaves withering, the inflorescences becoming smaller, the flowers losing their richness of color, and the plant itself taking on a somewhat sloppy appearance.

Weeding and loosening the soil

Astilbe perfectly suppresses weeds, as it has very powerful branched rhizomes. But while the plant is young, it simply needs weeding, since it is difficult for immature flowers to fight weeds. After rain and watering, it is advisable to loosen the soil around the astilbe so that a crust does not form. However, if it is mulched, then these manipulations will not be required.

By the way, thanks to mulching with peat and annual hilling, you can slow down the aging of the bush, because the buds will always be underground.

When and with what to fertilize

To preserve the decorative appearance of the plant, feeding astilbe is also necessary. It is carried out every year, but the choice of fertilizer depends on the soil in which the plant was planted. So, if it was planted in moist soil, It is necessary to use complex additives, and potassium and phosphorus fertilizers - after flowering. If the plant was planted in dry soil, then use peat or compost.

Individual fertilizers are used for a specific result. For example, to keep the leaves and petals juicy, use diluted manure or other organic fertilizers. It is added during the period when sap flow begins, that is, in the spring. In order for the plant to develop well, mineral fertilizers are applied. It is important to maintain the correct concentration: 25–35 g per liter of water. This fertilizer is applied in the fall before wintering. Potassium sulfate or urea with superphosphate will help to increase the flowering period and add lushness to the plant. These mixtures should be added to the beds in the summer.

Collecting seeds

It is necessary to collect flower seeds in the fall, when the plant has finished blooming (usually in September). Even though they are quite small, they are not difficult to assemble. Faded and dried inflorescences should be cut off, wrapped in paper and put in a warm place. After two weeks, just shake the inflorescences and the seeds will fall out on their own. Astilbe seeds are stored in a paper bag.

Did you know? Astilbe is ready to flower already in the first year after planting, however, it is advisable not to allowthis, cutting off the flower stalks in advance. The fact is that a fragile plant can die, putting all its energy into the first flowering. If young flowers are removed, all the juices are used for the formation of healthy buds, rooting and growth of the rhizome. At the end of the season, the entire bush is cut off under the rhizome and mulched with peat or soil. This manipulation is carried out every year.

Preparing astilbe for winter

Astilbe winters without problems. She has adapted well to severe frosts, but temperature changes in the spring can be dangerous for her. That's why It is better to mulch it, covering it with two layers of natural materials. This could be sawdust, small pebbles, rotten last year's leaves, straw, bark, spruce branches or other materials. It is worth mulching the soil between the bushes, for which spruce branches are perfect.

In addition to heating the plant in winter, mulching helps maintain soil looseness, its moisture, and also reduce overheating in summer.

Basics of proper transplantation

You can replant the plant both in early spring and in autumn. This is done as follows. A hole is dug in advance, then the bush is carefully taken out and placed in it. The hole should be large enough so that the roots of the bush can be freely spread in it. The plant must be covered with soil, watered and mulched. The last manipulation helps to retain precious moisture and prevent the appearance of crusts, which is very undesirable for a young plant.

Important! Astilbe plantations are not rejuvenated immediately, but in parts, but this is done regularly. How older plant, the more difficult it is to divide its rhizomes, but it easily tolerates transplantation and is ready to bloom already at next year after landing. Replanting can be replaced by adding soil above the buds after autumn pruning.

Combination of astilbe with other plants

In terms of “friendship” with other plants, astilbe is undemanding - it coexists well with the other “residents” of the garden. That's why It is worth choosing neighbors for purely aesthetic reasons. So, openwork leaves Astilbes look great combined with whole leaves of hellebore, podophyllum or bergenia. Of the flowers, the plant can be combined with kupena, irises, late tulips, bitter weed, and lilies of the valley.

As a rule, it is planted on rocky hills, in ridges along lawns, near the banks of reservoirs and in semi-shaded mixborders.

Methods for propagating astilbe at home

Astilbe is propagated in one of three ways: seeds, buds or dividing the bush.

Seeds

The plant is propagated using seeds exclusively for selection. There is no point in collecting seeds of hybrid varieties in your garden, as they quickly degenerate. However, you can purchase high-quality varietal seeds for planting on your site.

To improve seedlings, seed material must be properly prepared for planting. To do this, the seeds are placed for 20 days in a place where the temperature is kept at +/- 4°C. Then transfer to a well-lit area warm room with a temperature of 18-22°C. The seeds are sown on moist soil, and after the procedure the soil is not covered. After a couple of weeks, small seedlings should appear that can be planted in shaded beds. It is important to constantly follow the watering regime.

Cuttings

By cutting astilbe we mean its propagation by buds, which allows the plant to reproduce much faster than with seeds. When the shoots grow back in the spring, they are carefully cut off along with part of the rhizome and the cuts are treated with ash. The resulting cuttings are planted in a mixture of gravel and peat (1:3) and covered with transparent material, for example, plastic film. The planting depth should correspond to the size of the root, but so that the bud is covered with soil by half a centimeter. The cutting takes about a year to take root. That is, drop him off at open ground It will be possible next spring.