A lush but neat shrub came to us from Japan, this plant belongs to the Saxifrage order. The height of an adult stem varies greatly depending on the variety: a miniature view may not exceed the bar of 15 cm, while the tallest will easily grow up to 2 m. The length of flowering "panicles" also varies - from 8 to 60 cm. The color of the inflorescences is most often expressed in red, white, pink or purple hues. Astilba blooms beautifully and for a long time for almost a full summer.
Basic landing rules
Astilba is unpretentious, but some important conditions must be observed when planting. First of all, you should correctly determine the place for the future flower bed. For our Japanese guest, an area with a little shade is ideal. The composition of the soil does not really matter, since its moisture content is more important for the shrub than nutrient moisture - astilba does not tolerate dryness. Loamy soils with an average acidity of 5.5 pH and a high location of underground aquifers are well suited.
I note that early and late varieties feel great in the open sun, but the flowering time in this arrangement may be reduced.
Planting dates fall in the spring months, a more accurate time is determined by the degree of soil heating (from +10 ° C at night). Immediately before planting, the soil in the beds should be dug up and mixed with organic matter (compost, stale manure or rotten peat). For 1 sq.m. soil, I usually spend up to 2 medium buckets of fertilizer.
Step by step boarding process:
- prepare a bed, level the ground;
- draw a schematic layout (depending on the height of future bushes, the distance between the holes should be 30 - 50 cm);
- dig holes 25-30 cm deep;
- for each well, mix 30 g of complex fertilizer, 100 g of wood ash and 100 g of humus;
- put the resulting nutrient mixture on the bottom and pour abundantly;
- place the seedling in the hole, sprinkle with soil and again thoroughly moisten the soil;
- mulch the planted flower bed with an organic mixture (pebbles, sawdust, chopped bark, straw) with a layer of at least 3 cm.
Nuances of care
Among the most important agrotechnical measures, I can single out the following procedures:
- timely and plentiful watering (the shrub cannot stand even a short-term drought, the soil should always be slightly damp - in hot weather, the flower bed needs daily irrigation);
- loosening the soil (as accurate as possible due to the close location of the roots);
- hilling (over time, the root system of the plant rises and it is necessary to cover its lower part with an earthen hill);
- standard three-stage top dressing (in spring - nitrogen, before flowering - potassium, towards the end of summer - phosphorus);
- autumn pruning of dry stems;
- mulching and sheltered young plants for the winter.
Another important advantage of this garden dweller is the absence of the need for regular replanting. In one area, this perennial plant grows without problems up to 7 years in a row, and with regular fertilization, this period can stretch up to 20 years.
In conclusion, I will say that, subject to the minimum rules for the care and care of the shrub, a beautiful and delicate astilbe will bloom on your site every season.
What flowering shrubs grow in your area?
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