For many gardeners and landscape designers, Astilba enjoys well-deserved attention and love. Unpretentious and beautifully blooming, it can diversify any corner of the site and add bright colors both in itself and in various original mixborders.
Beautiful bloom of astilba
Astilba inflorescences do not leave indifferent anyone who has ever seen it, and even more so grown it. This chic perennial varies depending on the cultivar in height from 9 to 150cm. Planted as a green curb or even a small hedge during flowering, it is a gorgeous sight. There are varieties that bloom for about a month, and there are those who please with inflorescences throughout the summer season.
Some varieties bloom with delicate flowers, and some are fluffy, as if filled with air and are lighter in weight than a feather. In total, astilba has four variants of inflorescences - pyramidal, diamond-shaped, paniculate and drooping. Some varieties can be with several shades at once.
There are more than three dozen varieties of astilba, but only a dozen of them are cultivated in our country. A third of this dozen are quite tolerant of bright sunlight, the rest are grown in partial shade and even tolerate shade well.
Photogallery of astilba varieties
Astilba Chinese grade "Pumila" Astilba Arends grade "Amethyst" Astilba Japanese hybrid variety"Deutschland" Astilba Arends grade "Sister Teresa"
How to propagate astilba
The plant can be propagated in three ways - by seed, by dividing the root, or by using germinated buds. Astilba does not resist transplants and rather quickly takes root in a new place, then starting its rapid spread.
Reproduction of astilba seeds can only be afforded by a person with incredible patience or honing the skill of breeding garden flower crops. The thing is that astilba seeds are small and grow for a long time. They are harvested in September and sown in boxes in early spring. Even with proper care, they will only germinate three to four weeks after planting. Now they will need to be grown for another year in order to be planted in open ground. And the plants will bloom only in the third year. So if you want to appreciate the beauty blooming astilba as soon as possible, you will have to use other breeding methods.
Namely, by dividing the root or dividing the bush, as this process is also called. This is the most common and affordable option reproduction of astilba. The bush is dug up, its root is divided into parts, each of which has at least two or three buds and a root of at least 5-7 cm. When dividing in this way in early spring You can enjoy the flowering of astilba already in the fall.
It must be remembered that the roots of astilba are hard, almost wooden, and sometimes you have to separate them with a hacksaw for wood.
The third method is something in between the previous two in terms of difficulty. It will take patience for him, too. In the spring, one regeneration bud is cut off from an adult plant and transplanted into a prepared substrate in a greenhouse. Here the astilba will take root for a year until next spring. After planting in open ground, it will bloom in July-August. This way faster than the first brings results, but it also requires a lot of patience.
Disembarkation time and place
Regarding the time for planting astilbe, there are different opinions, but they all agree on one thing - the best period is spring. It's a time of awakening warmth and large stock moisture in the soil, which is very necessary when planting astilba. Of course, you can plant it both in summer and autumn, providing abundant watering in the first days after planting.
Astilba works best on loams and soils with a high level of groundwater
If you have decided on the time of planting the plant, then now it's time to find appropriate place... Proceed from the fact that Astilba is very fond of moisture. V wildlife it settles near water bodies, and in areas grows well on soils with a high level of groundwater.
When choosing a place, take into account the position of the sun throughout the day - choosing an open place illuminated by the sun all day is strongly discouraged.
The best place to plant would be a point shaded by tall shrubs or trees. If you do not find such places, you can plant astilba on the shady side near the house, where the sun's rays will reach only for part of the day.
The best place to plant astilba is a shaded area with tall shrubs and trees.
If the plant is exposed to sunlight all day, the flowering period will be greatly reduced and its quality will drop. The flowers will shrink and lose their inherent brightness, as will the leaves, which, instead of a rich juicy green color, will have a pale green appearance. Mid-flowering varieties of astilba generally show their best bloom only in the shade.
Soil preparation and planting (video)
For planting astilbe, they dig holes with a diameter of 25-35 cm, between which they maintain a distance of at least 30 cm. Flower complex fertilizer, bone meal, ash and humus are introduced into the pits. Fertilizers are mixed with each other, while the proportion of nitrogen should not exceed 10% so that the plant does not suffer.
Do not skimp on water when watering holes, since Astilba is very fond of moisture and high groundwater levels. So excess water it certainly wouldn't hurt her.
Before planting, the roots of the plant are straightened, after which they are placed in the hole, sprinkled with a layer of mulch 3-5 cm thick. The hole is spilled with water, covered with soil, which must be tamped. Dry leaves and sawdust placed under the bush help to better retain moisture for the roots.
In the future, you only need to maintain moisture at the roots of the astilba by regular watering. In addition to watering, it will periodically be necessary to apply fertilizers to the soil and mulch the root zone. Since the soil must always be moist, this creates favorable conditions for bacteria, so to avoid problems, sometimes add potassium permanganate to the water to disinfect the soil.
Astilba is quite good about transplanting even in a flowering state.
Further care for astilba is not so difficult, but important. Since it is the maintenance favorable conditions for astilba allows her to show her best and longest flowering. If you do not live in the southern regions, and the soil on your site is close to loam, this is best opportunity plant astilba in your garden, which will delight you with its beautiful flowering for 10-15 years.
This perennial culture grows beautifully and beautifies with its unusual colors shady garden. Within the framework of this article, we will figure out how to plant and care for astilba in open ground... Observing simple rules of agricultural technology, you can achieve great result in growing this plant.
Description of the plant - varieties and varieties
Astilba is a rhizome perennial of the saxifrage family. In summer, curly bushes with lovely inflorescences are very decorative, in winter it is grassy aerial part the plants die off. Different varieties plants have different heights - from 8 cm to 2 m. Astilba leaves are feathery, complexly dissected, green or brownish in color. There are varieties with white, pink and lilac flowers.
Astilba has many shades
Astilba bloom begins in early summer and lasts for about a month. During this period, the plant is most decorative. Astilbe with curly inflorescences - panicles - serve wonderful decoration park zones, gardens, squares and are often used to design territories in landscape design.
The culture is highly resistant to winter period: rhizomes withstand wintering at temperatures down to -37 ° C without the threat of freezing.
Important! When grown outdoors, Astilba prefers moist, nutritious soil and even watering from time to time. Subject to this condition, caring for a flower culture does not present any particular difficulties.
Areas of distribution of natural species of astilba
In nature, the plant is found in Japan, America and East Asia... In Russia, the area of the plant is Far East, where there are 2 types of natural astilba varieties.
All modern cultivated varieties flower culture belong to the species - Astilba Arends. Medium and tall plant forms bloom bright inflorescences pink or white flowers with numerous transitions and shades.
Astilba in landscape design
Astilba hybrid cultivars are widely used in landscape design. During flowering, the bushes form airy curtains of pink or purple hues. Plants are characterized by compact size and abundant flowering... Planting hybrid astilba in groups with other species allows you to perfectly shade lawns and conifers during flowering. The combination of plants with different color tones enlivens the parkland areas.
An interesting type of astilba Thunberg, which has not typical for the species, drooping brushes of yellowish or pink flowers.
Early flowering astilbe of a wide range of colors of white and pink tone belong to the species "Japanese astilba". This type of astilba is highly decorative.
Astilba: planting and care
When planting plants great importance has the quality of planting material. In order for the plant survival rate to be one hundred percent, it is worth considering some of the requirements for the rhizomes intended for planting.
Landing astilba
Important! Astilba rhizomes should not have dead, rotten parts. Overdrying or excessive moisture of the planting material is not allowed during storage. Young shoots should not be elongated, curved or wrinkled.
Of course, specimens with elongated sprouts can also take root, but then the plant can lose its decorative effect and hurt for a long time.
Choosing a comfortable place for a flower
It should be remembered that astilba is a plant for partial shade, bright sunlight is destructive for it. Planting a flower culture in open, unprotected spaces from sunlight is undesirable.
In addition, flowers do not respond well to areas with high groundwater levels and stagnant water. This leads to the soaking and damping of the rhizomes. Cultivation of a crop in such areas will not do without a reliable drainage device. And if it is not possible to equip it, you need to choose a higher place for planting plants.
Planting astilba in the open field: determine the size of the holes
The depth of the planting pit is required to be provided individually for each plant, taking into account the size of the rhizome. Root system astilba should be freely placed in the planting pit, while deepening the bush or filling the growth point with soil is not allowed. A hydrogel can be added to the bottom of the pits, it will help maintain soil moisture; as well as bone meal, ash and mineral fertilizers- 1 matchbox each.
Astilba should be planted in a well-moistened soil.
The surface of the earth can be mulched with bark or peat chips, which will keep the soil evenly moist, and in the future, will protect the roots of the plant from drying out.
Plant care
Astilbe bushes grow by about 3-5 cm in height per year. Plant care measures are reduced to adding soil under the bare parts of the rhizome. Fertile soil is added in a layer of 2-3 cm.
Planting maintenance requires maintaining soil moisture. To do this, add a mulching layer (peat, bark, expanded clay or landscape crushed stone) on top planting soil... In winter, mulch on the surface of the soil helps to protect delicate rhizomes from freezing.
The combination and preservation of the soil in a wet state is the key to plant health and lush bloom.
Caring for astilbe is very simple
The decorativeness of the plant is supported by periodic pruning of dead stems. It is necessary to regularly remove faded inflorescences from the bushes, this is especially true when using astilba in landscape design when decorating territories.
Fertilization and feeding
The introduction of fertilizers under the bushes of astilba during planting has already been mentioned above.
For the full development of the plant, regular fertilizing with complex fertilizers is required. Considering that astilba can grow in one place without transplanting and dividing rhizomes for more than 5 years, it is necessary to feed the plants from the beginning of spring nitrogen fertilizers... This helps new foliage grow quickly on overwintered bushes.
Do not forget to feed Astilba with mineral fertilizers
During flowering, the culture must be fertilized with phosphorus, and by the end of flowering - potash fertilizers... This will help to increase the timing and splendor of flowering, and also stimulates the formation of full-fledged seeds.
Plant propagation
Seed propagation
To preserve the decorative and varietal characteristics of the plant, propagation of perennials by seeds is not accepted. Crops grown from seeds often do not correspond to the declared varietal characteristics:
- have a changed color;
- sparse flower tassels;
- low decorative effect;
- short flowering times.
For seed reproduction only high quality seeds of varietal selection can be used.
Astilba seed sprouts
The seeds of the plant are sown on the surface of the moistened soil without covering them up. For accelerated germination support high humidity(you can cover crops with glass or keep them in a greenhouse). Growing astilbe seedlings is reduced to the timely watering of 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 when performing preliminary seed stratification. This agronomic technique consists of placing the seeds in a cold place (+ 4 ° C to - 4 ° C) for 3 weeks. The hardened seeds are sown in greenhouses and kept at a temperature of + 20 ° C. Young plants can be planted in a permanent place in the open field already 2-3 months after sowing. Seedlings obtained from stratified seeds are distinguished by excellent survival rate and fast growth.
Reproduction of astilba by dividing the bush
The vegetative method of reproduction of astilba (dividing the bush) is the most reliable and habitual for flower growers. The mother plant is dug up with care, taking care not to damage the delicate rhizome. With a sharp knife, the rhizome is divided into parts with 2-3 buds. The slices are sprinkled with crushed coal.
Dividing the astilbe bush
Lay out in the prepared furrow planting material and moisten the earth. 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.
Planting of astilbe cuttings can be carried out in early spring, already in March. With this method of propagation, the first flowering of young plants will begin in early autumn.
Division by the kidneys
Reproduction of a perennial is carried out in another way, which is considered the fastest - by dividing by buds. In the spring, with the beginning of the growing season of the plant, sharp knife detach renewal buds. Cuttings are planted in a greenhouse with wet soil mixed with coarse sand or gravel, after dusting the cut with ash. With this method of reproduction, a very high survival rate of young plants is noted. The only drawback is that getting a full-fledged plant takes almost a year.
Diseases and pests
Keep your plants healthy. If pests appear, start fighting them right away.
Astilba attracts not only with its decorative effect, the plant is practically not damaged by pests and diseases. Rhizomes of some crops may occasionally be affected by rootworm nematodes. The pest does not respond to the use of drugs, therefore, the fight against the nematode is reduced to the destruction of diseased bushes. In this case, it is required to remove part of the soil that came into contact with the roots of the diseased plant. It is advisable not to plant a crop at this place for several years.
Another pest that can threaten a plant outdoors is a drooling penny. The affected plant feels depressed, the development of the leaf mass slows down. Preventive measures - manual collection of the pest from the leaves of the plant.
Astilba: combination with other plants
Growing astilba in group plantings with other plants is quite justified. Decorative plant panicles look great near conifers with their monotonous greenery. Such a neighborhood is very preferable for astilba: conifers provide shrubs with protection from the sun.
Astilba combination different colors in landscape design
Astilbe bushes are in perfect harmony with late ones, irises, hosts, periwinkle. Single plantings of astilba on a green lawn in the shade are very decorative.
In landscape design, when planting in the shade, astilbe bushes fit perfectly. The plant is used for single and group plantings, creating complex landscape solutions for shady and semi-shady places. Care ornamental plants does not constitute absolutely any difficulties and consists in timely watering.
How to plant astilba correctly: video
Astilba: photo
- Choose a landing site
- Select pick up time
- Prepare the soil
In the wild, astilbe grows under the canopy of foliage near water bodies, therefore, the best place for planting the plant is partial shade and moist soil.
Astilba thrives in the shade of trees and shrubs, however shading should not be strong.
It should be noted that at present, astilba varieties have appeared, allowing it to be planted in sunny areas, subject to abundant watering and thorough mulching of the soil in order to preserve moisture. At the same time, flowering is abundant, but short-lived.
For planting astilba, the end of March - the beginning of May or the beginning of autumn is suitable.
Astilbe grows well in moist and light soil.
A garden bed about a meter long must be dug to a depth of no more than 30 cm, after which two handfuls of bone meal and about 30 grams of complex fertilizers are added to the soil.
Removing the remnants of weed roots and adding peat, humus or compost to the soil is the final stage in preparing the garden for planting.
Now that the soil is ready, you can go directly to planting the plant. Astilba planting rules vary depending on the material that is supposed to be used for planting.
The name Astilba means "very brilliant", derived from the Greek words "a" - very and "stilbe" - brilliant.
First, consider a method suitable for flower growers who take special pleasure in watching a luxurious bush grow from a small seed. The most favorable time for planting seedlings is mid-March - early April
Read about the bush.
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Step-by-step instructions for planting astilba seeds
- To improve the germination of seeds, place them in a place with a temperature of -4 ° to + 4 °, and after twenty days, transfer them to a warm, bright room with a temperature above 18 °.
- Fill planting containers with a 3: 1 mixture of peat and sand.
- Given that astilba seeds are tiny, they must be mixed with sand before planting in the soil.
- Spread the seeds evenly and neatly over the soil surface.
- Using a spray bottle, water the seeds well.
- Do not allow the soil to dry out for 3-4 weeks.
- Saplings should be opened after the appearance of the first leaf:
remove each seedling from the soil; pinch off the root one third of the length; - Plant the sprout in a separate container with well-moistened soil.
- In early June, plant the seedlings in the ground.
If you intend to plant a ready-made seedling obtained from an adult plant, it will come in handy for you next way landing astilba.
Planting a split bush
It is advisable to mulch the soil around the bush after planting.
This method is very popular among fans of ornamental plants.
For planting, a part of an adult astilba bush with 1-3 buds and a root from 3 to 5 cm long is used.
Planting a plant in spring will allow you to observe the lush flowering of a new bush in the fall of the same year.
For planting a seedling, a one-meter bed is allocated, in which holes are formed with a depth and width of about 20-30 cm, at a distance of about 25-35 cm from each other. Each of them is filled with a mixture of 25-30 grams of mineral fertilizers and 1-2 handfuls of bone meal with ash. All this is mixed and filled with water. The place for planting astilba is ready. It remains only to cover the planted bush with a layer of mulch, consisting of needles, bark, foliage or sawdust.
This method of transplanting astilba allows you to plant it even during the flowering period, subject to abundant and regular watering for two to three weeks.
Experienced gardeners use another method of planting a plant.
Planting cuttings with a "heel"
In early spring, a renewal bud is cut out from the bush, which is a bud of an overwintered plant, from which the shoot began to develop, along with a piece of root. This part of the rhizome is called the heel.
Such cuttings are planted in greenhouses using a fertilizer mixture formulated in the same way as when planting in the ground. This substrate is poured onto the soil in a layer 5-7 cm high.
To plant astilba on a garden bed, you will have to wait a whole year, but flowering will begin within a few months after planting.
Transfer
At the age of five, astilba needs a transplant, which is carried out in the spring or early fall.
A transplant can be carried out without digging up the plant completely: it is enough to separate part of it, fill the pruning site with ash and add fresh soil to the resulting hole, and transplant the resulting seedling to a new place. After such a division, astilbe will delight with its flowering next year.
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Care
In order for a planted plant to remain healthy for as long as possible and to please with its lush flowering, you need to provide it with proper care. Caring for astilba includes a number of actions that take into account characteristics plants.
- Watering
- Top dressing
- Pruning
- Preparing for winter
Astilba roots grow upward, releasing young roots, as a result of which it is very important to prevent moisture loss in the upper soil layer.
On hot days, it is necessary to water the plant twice a day: in the morning and evening hours, accompanying watering with mulching of the soil, which will prevent the soil from drying out. Insufficient soil moisture threatens the death of young plants and is the reason for the appearance of withered, twisted leaves and crushing of inflorescences in adults. On the other hand, abundant watering in August-September promotes the elongation of the inflorescences.
To keep the lush and long flowering it is necessary to feed Astilba twice a year.
The first is carried out when young shoots appear in early spring. Complex fertilizers with a high nitrogen content are suitable.
The turn of the next top dressing comes in the fall, after the astilbe has faded. This time, preference is given to phosphorus and potassium compositions, mainly in liquid form, in order to avoid burns on the stem. After fertilizing, the soil needs loosening and mulching.
Astilba pruning, during which the aerial part of the plant is cut at soil level, is done in late autumn.
After flowering, you can cut off all faded inflorescences, which will soon be replaced by new leaves.
Astilba will tolerate the most severe frosts well, if you remember that the plant roots growing upward come out onto the soil. Mulching will help save bare roots from freezing. In late autumn, you should fill the gaps between the bushes with needles or sawdust and cover the bush with two layers of spruce branches or bark.
Protection from pests and diseases
Slobbering penny
Astilba is quite resistant to diseases and pests.
But it happens that she suffers from a slobbering penny and a pair of nematodes: strawberry and gall.
Pennitsa affects foliage, as a result of which the leaves turn yellow and curl, and the plant begins to wilt.
Cicadas living in salivary formations suck out the leaf tissue. In addition, they are known as carriers of phytoplasmic and viral diseases. In the fight against them, karbofos, mospilan, aktara, rogor and confidor are used.
Affects foliage and strawberry nematode, the effect of which is the deformation of the leaves and brown and yellow spots on them. All this has a depressing effect on the plant, and its growth slows down.
Gall nematode damages the roots, living in the growths formed on them. Sick astilbe grow and bloom poorly, and die if severely damaged. It is possible to stop the spread of pests by destroying an infected plant or using a phytoverm preparation.
Astilba photo
A selection of photos of this beautiful plant, some varieties are marked
Astilba- very beautiful and unpretentious plant... Scientific name Astilbe... Belongs to the saxifrage family. From some sources, Japan is considered the birthplace of astilba, from others - Asia or North America... Astilba is not a very common plant, and in vain. It is an incredibly spectacular perennial. Those who got to know him better appreciate him for the splendor and duration of flowering and relative shade tolerance. It can be used to successfully mask unsightly areas in the garden. The spreading bush adorns the garden not only during flowering, but throughout the growing season.
Astilba flowers are collected in panicles from 10 to 60 cm long. The color is: white, pink, red and purple. The leaves are also very effective - openwork, rich in color. Blooms from June to August. After flowering, a fruit is formed - a box with small seeds. Stems are erect. Depending on the variety, the height can reach over 1 meter.
Landing astilba
The ideal place to plant in the garden is an area with little shade. Although there are several varieties that thrive in the open sun.
Before planting, you need to dig up the soil, remove the roots of the weeds. Astilba loves good fertile soil. Therefore, it is advisable to fertilize it with compost or rotted manure.
Astilba tolerates landing well, even during flowering. In this case, she will need to ensure regular watering. She is hygrophilous. And the rate of its growth directly depends on the presence of moisture and heat. To ensure these conditions, it is best to prepare a soil that retains moisture well.
The planting hole should be of such a size that the roots feel free in it. It is desirable that the soil when planting contains: a handful of ash, a handful of bone meal, a little humus and 2 tbsp. l. mineral fertilizers. This mixture must be mixed thoroughly. When planting, the plant must not be buried. Post-plant watering will show you if you have deeply buried the plant. The distance between the holes must be at least 30 cm.
In order to protect the plant from drying out, the soil is mulched.
Reproduction of astilba
Astilba is propagated both by seeds and by dividing the bush. preferably from February to March in moist soil. Then the pots are covered plastic wrap... Seeds usually germinate in 2-3 weeks. Delicate seedlings of astilba need to be regularly watered. If the soil dries out, young seedlings may die.
Astilba reproduces well division of rhizomes... For this, the rhizomes are cut into small pieces, each of which must have a replacement bud on the stem at the base.
It is noticed that astilba grows well in one place for no more than 5 years.
Astilba care
Leaving is not particularly difficult. The main requirement is regular watering... This plant is in dire need of moisture during the formation of inflorescences and does not tolerate drought at all. In an especially hot summer astilba should be watered in the morning and evening.
For lush flowering, the plant must be fed. In early spring, nitrogen fertilizers are applied, at the beginning of flowering - potash, and at the end of flowering or in autumn - phosphorus.
Soil mulching - also important requirement... Helps to retain moisture, protects the plant from overheating and slows down weed growth. Also, Astilba has some peculiarity - its rhizome grows up over time. Bare rhizomes must be sprinkled with earth every year to provide them with nutrition and not to dry out.
Astilba varieties
Today there are more than 200 varieties. The most common of them are 40-50.
Astilba is classified:
- By the height of the bushes - from dwarf (up to 30 cm) to high (over 90 cm).
- By the shape of the inflorescences. There are species with pyramidal, paniculate, hanging and rhombic inflorescences.
Astilba photo
This perennial culture grows beautifully and adorns the shady garden with its unusual flowers. Within the framework of this article, we will figure out how to plant and care for astilbe in the open field. Observing the simple rules of agricultural technology, you can achieve an excellent result in growing this plant.
Description of the plant - varieties and varieties
Astilba is a rhizome perennial of the saxifrage family. In summer, curly bushes with lovely inflorescences are very decorative, in winter the herbaceous aboveground part of the plant dies off. Different plant varieties have different heights - from 8 cm to 2 m. Astilbe leaves are feathery, complexly dissected, green or brownish in color. There are varieties with white, pink and lilac flowers.
Astilba has many shades
Astilba bloom begins in early summer and lasts for about a month. During this period, the plant is most decorative. Astilbe with curly inflorescences - panicles - serve as an excellent decoration for park areas, gardens, squares and are often used to decorate territories in landscape design.
The culture is characterized by high resistance in winter: the rhizomes withstand wintering at temperatures down to -37 ° C without the threat of freezing.
Important! When grown outdoors, Astilba prefers moist, nutritious soil and even watering from time to time. Subject to this condition, caring for a flower culture does not present any particular difficulties.
Areas of distribution of natural species of astilba
The plant is found naturally in Japan, America and East Asia. In Russia, the area of the plant is the Far East, where there are 2 types of astilba natural varieties.
All modern cultivated varieties of flower culture belong to the species - Astilba Arends. Medium and tall forms of the plant bloom with bright inflorescences of pink or white flowers with numerous transitions and shades.
Astilba in landscape design
Astilba hybrid cultivars are widely used in landscape design. During flowering, the bushes form airy curtains of pink or purple hues. Plants are characterized by compact size and abundant flowering. Planting hybrid astilba in groups with other species allows you to perfectly shade lawns and conifers during flowering. The combination of plants with different color tones enlivens the parkland areas.
An interesting type of astilba Thunberg, which has not typical for the species, drooping brushes of yellowish or pink flowers.
Early flowering astilbe of a wide range of colors of white and pink tones belong to the species "Japanese Astilba". This type of astilba is highly decorative.
Astilba: planting and care
When planting plants, the quality of the planting material is of great importance. In order for the plant survival rate to be one hundred percent, it is worth considering some of the requirements for the rhizomes intended for planting.
Landing astilba
Important! Astilba rhizomes should not have dead, rotten parts. Overdrying or excessive moisture of the planting material is not allowed during storage. Young shoots should not be elongated, curved or wrinkled.
Of course, specimens with elongated sprouts can also take root, but then the plant can lose its decorative effect and hurt for a long time.
Choosing a comfortable place for a flower
It should be remembered that astilba is a plant for partial shade, bright sunlight is destructive for it. Planting a flower culture in open, unprotected spaces from sunlight is undesirable.
In addition, flowers do not respond well to areas with high groundwater levels and stagnant water. This leads to the soaking and damping of the rhizomes. Cultivation of a crop in such areas will not do without a reliable drainage device. And if it is not possible to equip it, you need to choose a higher place for planting plants.
Planting astilba in the open field: determine the size of the holes
The depth of the planting pit is required to be provided individually for each plant, taking into account the size of the rhizome. The root system of the astilba should be freely placed in the planting pit, while deepening the bush or filling the growth point with soil is not allowed. A hydrogel can be added to the bottom of the pits, it will help maintain soil moisture; as well as bone meal, ash and mineral fertilizers - 1 matchbox each.
Astilba should be planted in a well-moistened soil.
The surface of the earth can be mulched with bark or peat chips, which will keep the soil evenly moist, and in the future, will protect the roots of the plant from drying out.
Plant care
Astilbe bushes grow by about 3-5 cm in height per year. Plant care measures are reduced to adding soil under the bare parts of the rhizome. Fertile soil is added in a layer of 2-3 cm.
Planting maintenance requires maintaining soil moisture. To do this, add a mulching layer (peat, bark, expanded clay or landscape crushed stone) on top of the planting soil. In winter, mulch on the surface of the soil helps to protect delicate 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 decorativeness of the plant is supported by periodic pruning of dead stems. It is necessary to regularly remove faded inflorescences from the bushes, this is especially true when using astilba in landscape design when decorating territories.
Fertilization and feeding
The introduction of fertilizers under the bushes of astilba during planting has already been mentioned above.
For the full development of the plant, regular fertilizing with complex fertilizers is required. Considering that astilba can grow in one place without transplanting and dividing rhizomes for more than 5 years, it is necessary to feed the plants with nitrogen fertilizers from the beginning of spring. This helps new foliage grow quickly on overwintered bushes.
Do not forget to feed Astilba with mineral fertilizers
During flowering, the crop must be fertilized with phosphorus fertilizers, and by the end of flowering with potash fertilizers. This will help to increase the timing and splendor of flowering, and also stimulates the formation of full-fledged seeds.
Plant propagation
Seed propagation
To preserve the decorative and varietal characteristics of the plant, propagation of perennials by seeds is not accepted. Crops grown from seeds often do not correspond to the declared varietal characteristics:
- have a changed color;
- sparse flower tassels;
- low decorative effect;
- short flowering times.
For seed propagation, only high-quality seeds of varietal selection can be used.
Astilba seed sprouts
The seeds of the plant are sown on the surface of the moistened soil without covering them up. For accelerated germination, high humidity is maintained (you can cover the crops with glass or keep them in a greenhouse). Growing astilbe seedlings is reduced to the timely watering of 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 in increasing germination are achieved by performing preliminary seed stratification. This agronomic technique consists of placing the seeds in a cold place (+ 4 ° C to - 4 ° C) for 3 weeks. The hardened seeds are sown in greenhouses and kept at a temperature of + 20 ° C. Young plants can be planted in a permanent place in the open field already 2-3 months after sowing. Seedlings obtained from stratified seeds are distinguished by excellent survival rate and fast growth.
Reproduction of astilba by dividing the bush
The vegetative method of reproduction of astilba (dividing the bush) is the most reliable and habitual for flower growers. The mother plant is dug up with care, taking care not to damage the delicate rhizome. With a sharp knife, the rhizome is divided into parts with 2-3 buds. The slices are sprinkled with crushed coal.
Dividing the 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.
Planting of astilbe cuttings can be carried out in early spring, already in March. With this method of propagation, the first flowering of young plants will begin in early autumn.
Division by the kidneys
Reproduction of a perennial is carried out in another way, which is considered the fastest - by dividing by buds. In the spring, with the beginning of the growing season of the plant, the buds of renewal are separated with a sharp knife. Cuttings are planted in a greenhouse with wet soil mixed with coarse sand or gravel, after dusting the cut with ash. With this method of reproduction, a very high survival rate of young plants is noted. The only drawback is that getting a full-fledged plant takes almost a year.
Diseases and pests
Keep your plants healthy. If pests appear, start fighting them right away.
Astilba attracts not only with its decorative effect, the plant is practically not damaged by pests and diseases. Rhizomes of some crops may occasionally be affected by rootworm nematodes. The pest does not respond to the use of drugs, therefore, the fight against the nematode is reduced to the destruction of diseased bushes. In this case, it is required to remove part of the soil that came into contact with the roots of the diseased plant. It is advisable not to plant a crop at this place for several years.
Another pest that can threaten a plant outdoors is a drooling penny. The affected plant feels depressed, the development of the leaf mass slows down. Preventive measures - manual collection of the pest from the leaves of the plant.
Astilba: combination with other plants
Growing astilba in group plantings with other plants is quite justified. Decorative plant panicles look great near conifers with their monotonous greenery. Such a neighborhood is very preferable for astilba: conifers provide shrubs with protection from the sun.
The combination of astilba of different colors in landscape design
Astilbe bushes are in perfect harmony with late tulips, irises, hosts, periwinkle. Single plantings of astilba on a green lawn in the shade are very decorative.
In landscape design, when planting in the shade, astilbe bushes fit perfectly. The plant is used for single and group plantings, creating complex landscape solutions for shady and semi-shady places. Caring for ornamental plants is absolutely no difficulty and consists in timely watering.
How to plant astilba correctly: video
Astilba: photo