Good afternoon, my reader. A spectacular shrub with beautiful carved foliage and lush multi-colored panicles of inflorescences can be grown even by novice gardeners. However, the plant needs to be paid attention to in the fall so that it does not lose its attractiveness in the next season.
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Preparing Astilba for winter
For a safe wintering, it is necessary to carry out a number of mandatory measures:
- pruning;
- fertilization;
- protective treatment against diseases, pests.
And besides, it is important to decide: cover the plant for the winter or limit it to mulching.
Pruning
Astilba needs an annual shearing, because if the wilted inflorescences are not removed, numerous seeds will begin to ripen in them. This process will weaken the plant by taking away the nutrients it needs.
In addition to inflorescences, dry shoots damaged by disease and pests are removed, while forming the crown of young plants. Autumn seedlings are subject to delicate shearing. Their branches are shortened by one third - this will facilitate the shelter procedure.
Adult shrubs over 4-5 years old need cardinal pruning. This event will rejuvenate the bush and facilitate the shelter procedure for the winter with special insulation materials.
Top dressing, water-charging irrigation
A plant depleted by the flowering process must be fed before the beginning of winter and the root system must be provided with the necessary amount of moisture. To do this, in dry weather, prepare a solution of 40 g of potassium sulfate and 50 g of double superphosphate per 10 l of water.
Under adult bushes, 1-2 buckets of liquid are poured with the addition of 1 liter of top dressing. In the rainy season, the dry mixture of complex fertilizer can be simply scattered in the trunk circle.
The moisture reserve protects the root system from freezing. Complex feeding strengthens the plant's immunity, promotes the formation of vegetative buds and helps to winter safely.
Treatment against diseases, pests
Astilba is rarely affected by pests. However, it will not be superfluous to provide her with reliable protection from this scourge. For this, the trimmed bushes and the soil around them are treated with a safe biological product "Fitoverm".
In a winter shelter, there is always a risk of fungal infection. To protect the plant from disease, the bushes are treated with fungicides: "Stark", "Quadris", "Fundazol", "Hom" or others.
Shelter for the winter
Young saplings that have not had time to thoroughly root themselves need winter insulation. In addition, adult bushes over 5 years old are sheltered, since their overgrown root system protrudes above the soil surface.
Before the shelter, the soil in the trunk circle is mulched with dry humus, sawdust, needles, bark. The layer thickness should be at least 10-15 cm. Then a frame is made from available tools: boards or metal rods.
In a harsh climate, dry fallen leaves not damaged by disease or pests are poured inside the structure. Lutrasil, spunbond or burlap in several layers is pulled over the structure. The edges of the protective material are sprinkled with earth or pressed against the ground with stones or bricks.
Astilba is an unpretentious shrub that can grow in one place for 15-20 years. To prolong the life of an ornamental plant, you need to pay a little attention to it in the fall.
Do you know how we prepare Astilba for wintering?
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