Astilbe is a fantastic flowering plant for hard to fill parts of the garden. It prefers shade and moist, loamy soil, meaning it can go in those areas where other plants often languish. Unlike the ferns and mosses you might normally plant there, however, astilbe also produces vibrant, beautiful fronds of flowers, bringing color to those dark areas. What’s more, the fronds will dry and last into the winter, making for an even more welcome splash of color. How can you make sure you’re getting the most out of your astilbe blooms though? Keep reading to learn more about how to fertilize astilbe plants.
Fertilizer for Astilbe Plants
Feeding astilbe is a very low impact process. Astilbe is a perennial and it really only needs a yearly application of a basic slow release flowering perennial fertilizer. Flowering plants need phosphorus to bloom, so look for a fertilizer for astilbe plants with a middle number that’s at least as high as the other two numbers, like 5-10-5 or 10-10-10. Simply sprinkle a handful of granules on the soil. If you’re planting for the first time, rake your fertilizer for astilbe plants into the soil a couple weeks ahead of time. Once your astilbe are planted, mulch them heavily to help retain soil moisture.
How to Fertilize Astilbe Once Established
Once they’re established, you should be fertilizing astilbe plants with the same perennial fertilizer once every spring. Push aside the mulch and rake your fertilizer into the soil. Try to do it when the soil is moist but the leaves of the plant aren’t. If the plant is wet, the fertilizer is more likely to stick to it, which can be harmful to the plant and cause chemical burns. That’s pretty much all there is to it. Astilbe fertilizing doesn’t get much simpler than this!
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Troubleshooting Astilbe Diseases: Overcoming Problems Growing Astilbe PlantsAstilbe plants are as tough as they are lovely. This doesn?t mean that they are completely pest free, however. For information on astilbe plant diseases, the following article will help. Click here to learn more.
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Astilbe Bare Roots – Learn About Bare Root Planting Of AstilbeAstilbe plants are usually propagated by root division in spring. Sometimes, however, they are sold bare root at that time. For more information about growing astilbe from bare roots, you should click on the following article.
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Dividing Astilbe Plants: How To Transplant Astilbe In The GardenMost perennial plants can be divided and transplanted, and astilbe is no exception. You don't need to transplant or divide astilbe plants every year, but every two to four years. For more information on dividing astilbe plants, click this article.
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Astilbe Won’t Bloom: Reasons For Astilbe Not BloomingAstilbe is one of America's most loved ornamental plants, and with good reason. This hardy perennial produces masses of blooms. It is generally a reliable bloomer, but if your astilbe won't bloom, there are several possible causes. This article will help.
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Astilbe Winter Care: How To Winterize Astilbe PlantsWhile it should survive for years, there are a few steps you can take to give astilbe a serious leg up and make sure it survives the cold. Find out how to care for astilbe plants in winter in the article that follows.
