Planting astilbes: pruning & care

Astilbes are perfect for partially shaded sites and are therefore eye-catching even in rather dark corners of the garden. Astilbe is easy to plant and care for.

Dazzling astilbe (Astilbe) thrives best in partially shaded corners of the garden. Their feathery inflorescences appear from June to September, depending on the species, and look almost somewhat artificial. Among other things, the choice of location is of great importance to ensure vigorous plant growth.

Planting astilbes

Once you have learned about the needs of astilbes, you can then decide whether you have a suitable place for them in the garden. Once a site has been chosen, the astilbe can be planted.

When can you plant astilbes?

The best time for planting astilbes is autumn. They are sensitive to drought, so it makes sense if the astilbes are already well rooted in the summer. This is best achieved by planting in autumn.

The right location for astilbes

The ideal location in the garden is in partial shade with moist, loose, humusy soil, for example of a loamy-sandy type. Some are well suited for wooded areas or forest borders, others for flower beds and open spaces. The site must not be waterlogged. A skeleton-rich, loose substrate is best. The substrate can be acidic to neutral. As astilbe tolerates strong root pressure, it is well suited for areas under trees that are difficult to inhabit. The requirements of the astilbe varieties and species are very similar. Our Plantura Organic All Purpose Compost helps plants develop a rich flowering habit through the moderate release of nutrients and supports vigorous growth.

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Tip: Astilbes can also be planted in the sun in soil with good water capacity, but this combination of site conditions rarely succeeds. The sunnier the location, the more attention should be paid to adequate soil moisture. If the astilbe is planted in a place that is too dry, this is indicated by curled, rolled leaves that die shortly afterwards.

If you want to cultivate astilbe in a container, you should make sure that there is a sufficient water supply. Otherwise, the small substrate volume will dry out very quickly. Pots with the possibility of storing water are therefore a good idea.

Are astilbes eaten by snails? Astilbes apparently do not taste good to snails and therefore remain unharmed.

Instructions for planting

Astilbes are not usually planted alone, but rather in small groups or even as ground covers – this is the best way to show them off and make them thrive most healthily. Proceed as follows to plant astilbes:

• Select a suitable location
• Planting depth: do not cover the vegetation point of the astilbe with soil
• Maintain a planting distance of 40 – 60 cm
• Use fertiliser for good growth
• Cover with substrate and water

Combine astilbes

Magnificent astilbes can be fabulously combined with other shade-loving perennials. Azaleas, rhododendrons, funkia, monkshood and columbine are all excellent examples. However, astilbes look fantastic with grasses and ferns, as these plants tend to be rather restrained and the almost artificial-looking astilbes are displayed in all their glory here. Astilbes also look beautiful in combination with woody plants. Note that astilbes can sometimes grow rather dominantly, so that delicate plants may be crowded out. It is a good idea here to combine them with robust ferns and taller grasses.

Astilbe care

If the location of the astilbes is chosen well, they will not require much maintenance. The robust astilbe will then thrive almost by itself. However, due to its strong urge to spread, it can crowd out other plants and may need to be kept inside a fence, especially when replanting. More tips on proper care can be found below.

Watering and fertilising

Astilbe has a high water requirement. If the astilbe is in a damp spot, you only need to water it a little. In dry soil, it needs to be watered regularly, preferably with rainwater. A layer of compost prevents additional drying out. Due to its high nutrient requirement, astilbes should be fertilised at the start of spring. The only thing the plant does not tolerate well is too much nitrogen. Our Plantura All Purpose Plant Food supports healthy plant growth through a balanced NPK ratio and thus promotes vigorous root and flower growth as well as maintaining soil quality.

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Pruning astilbes

In principle, astilbes do not require pruning. Simply remove any faded inflorescences by hand. Pruning in spring, however, will keep the inflorescences looking ornamental throughout winter and improve the winter hardiness of the plant.

Astilbes are withered: what to do?

Insufficiently moist soil can cause the foliage to turn brown. In addition, astilbes with poor water supply are more susceptible to powdery mildew infestation. It is best to remove the dry leaves. Limp foliage should be left on the plant, as fresh cuts will only increase water loss. You can tell whether the astilbe is withered if the removed shoot is still greenish inside or not. If it is green inside, the astilbe has not yet dried out too much – a little watering and shade will probably sort it out.

Although it grows in the shade, it is possible for the Astilbe to form beautiful flowers. Other beautiful flowering plants such as aquilegia look great when combined with astilbes.