Agrotechnics for growing perennial asters. Astra - perennial flower

What plant to plant in the country, so that it is pleasing to the eye and does not require care efforts? Designers recommend alpine perennial aster. The article outlines recommendations for planting and caring for asters planted in open ground. The varieties of alpine aster, their features and cultivation rules are described in detail. You will learn how to combine aster with other plants and apply in landscape design.

Description: varieties and varieties of alpine aster

Astra is one of the most common colors used in landscape design in open ground, on the summer cottages. These flowers delight the eye from spring to late autumn.

Unpretentious bright asters delight the eye of flower growers with their simplicity and grace.

The first of the asters family blooms at the end of May, the perennial alpine aster is a spring-summer flowering plant, up to 25-30 cm high. Asters usually bloom profusely for more than three to four weeks. Flower rosettes of Alpine aster are medium in size (do not exceed 4-6 cm in diameter), located one at a time on the stem. Alpine aster resembles chamomile in shape and arrangement of petals, which is why it is sometimes called alpine chamomile. This flower is great for decorating the foot of an alpine hill, it is frost-resistant.

The aster looks very nice next to the stones

Diversity colors alpine perennial aster contributes to its active use in landscape design. Breeders have bred many varieties of alpine aster with different colors of flower baskets: there are dark purple, bluish-purple, light and dark pink, bright orange flowers.

The most common varieties of alpine aster:

• "Albus" - a white low aster, blooms in the first two months of summer, the stems are short (no higher than 15-20 cm), densely dotted with leaves;

Variety "Albus"

• "Gloria" - flower rosettes are painted in blue tones, inflorescences do not exceed 3 cm in diameter;

Grade "Gloria"

• "Goliath" is distinguished by light purple flower rosettes about 6 cm in diameter. It blooms for about a month, the beginning of flowering is June;

Variety "Goliath"

• "Rosea" - a flower of a pink hue, flower rosettes up to 4 cm in diameter;

Variety "Rosea"

• "Happy End" is characterized by strong straight stems, abundantly covered with leaves. It blooms in May, the flowering period is quite long - about a month;

Variety "Happy End"

• "Dunkle Schöne" - a spectacular dark purple aster, inflorescences about 3 cm;

Variety "Dunkle Schöne"

• "Ruber" - an unusual aster of a red-pink hue, flower rosettes up to 4 cm;

Sort "Ruber"

• "Superbus" - aster of lilac-blue tones, flower rosettes about 3.5 cm in diameter.

Sort "Superbus"

Planting a plant

Before planting a plant in open ground, you need to choose a suitable location: all perennial asters love well-lit sunny place. It is recommended to fertilize the soil before planting asters (phosphate preparations are used), dig up, select all weeds and moisten.

Astra does not need any special care, only watering, loosening and a well-chosen place for planting

It is advisable to add about 200 g of lime to the soil before digging the soil and planting asters (can be replaced with dolomite flour), about 100 g of superphosphate. Dig up to a depth of 30 cm.

Attention! Raw, flooded soils are categorically not suitable for planting asters. Under such conditions, the plant becomes infected with powdery mildew and simply dies.

plant care

Alpine aster is a perennial, unpretentious in care. It is necessary to ensure timely watering of the plant (infrequently, but plentifully) and loosening the soil, weeding weeds. Lack of moisture can lead to loss decorative look flower baskets and their drying. Before flowering, it is recommended to spud the crop to a height of up to 5-6 cm, thus accelerating the growth of the root system and its strengthening. During the flowering period, dried plants must be removed.

Remove weeds from flower beds in a timely manner so that they do not interfere with the growth and development of asters

The flower is frost-resistant, but for frosty winters it is recommended to mulch the perennial with soil or sand, given that the plant buds must be covered.

Fertilizer and top dressing

For lush flowering, Alpine aster requires alkaline permeable soil containing calcium. As fertilizers for transplanting and pruning plants, phosphorus- and potassium-containing preparations should be applied to the soil.

If the aster is planted in soil with a low humus content, it is imperative to fertilize the soil with organic compounds at the rate of about 10 kg of humus per 1 m 2. In addition, 20 g of mineral nitrogen fertilizers should be applied to light soils.

Plant propagation

Alpine aster is propagated in two ways: by seeds and by dividing a bush that has been growing for a couple of years.

Aster seeds

seeds asters are harvested in late autumn after flowering, planted in fertilized soil and covered with a film to obtain a greenhouse effect. The resulting seedlings dive in March-April, after the first leaves appear. Asters grown from seeds in the open field bloom only in the second year. This propagation method is quite laborious, since seed germination is low.

The division of the aster bush(vegetative method) - simple and fast method propagation and planting new areas with flowers. It is necessary to separate part of the bush along with the rhizome in the spring after the start of rapid growth, remove weak stems and transplant to a new place.

Advice. Astra can grow in one place up to 7 years, but to renew the bush, maintain lush flowering, it is recommended to replant the culture every three years.

Alpine aster tolerates the division of the bush quite well

You can also asters all summer propagate by cuttings. The tops of the shoots are suitable for this, their recommended length is about 6 cm. Cuttings should be planted in beds specially prepared for them with special soil (turf, peat, sand in the ratio of 2 parts of earth to 1 part of peat and 1 part of sand) in partial shade, covered with agrofibre. Rooting time for cuttings is about 1 month. As cuttings, you can use young shoots up to 15 cm tall, cut into several parts, each of which should have 3 leaves. In August-September, such cuttings can be planted on permanent place growth.

Diseases and pests

Alpine perennial aster is ideal for creating landscape design, resistant to many diseases and pests, unpretentious in cultivation. However, in a damp summer, with improper watering or planting asters in damp, waterlogged soil, the likelihood of perennial infection with powdery mildew increases sharply.

The disease is transmitted from plant to plant by air. The affected area depends on the density of growth of asters, the presence of moisture on the leaves. In order to prevent this disease, it is recommended to treat the flowers with Topaz twice before flowering. Topaz should be diluted at the rate of 2 ml of the drug per 10 liters of water.

Powdery mildew control agent

Infected shoots should be cut and burned, as the powdery mildew fungus can be on the leaves and stems of the plant all winter, and in the spring throw out new spores and infect nearby flowers.

For the treatment of asters, biofungicides are used:

1. "Topaz".
2. "Fitosporin".
3. "Alirin" and "Gamair".

Copper sulphate and its solution for plant treatment

There are other ways to protect the plant:

• spraying with an ash solution (in 10 l warm water dilute 1 kg of wood ash, leave to infuse for 6-7 days. The drug is applied by spraying the leaf surface three times);
• solution treatment laundry soap And blue vitriol(Mix 100 g of laundry soap with 5 g of copper sulfate, treat the plants twice).

Besides, in summer period during the phase of active growth of the perennial, it is recommended to carry out three basal feeding of asters with stimulants. At the beginning of budding, asters are treated with Energen (the recommended dose is 1 capsule per half a bucket of water). Then, during flowering, you need to give a second dose: the drug "Agricola for flowering plants» (about 30-35 g per bucket of water). The third time the plant is fed in August with a preparation of potassium sulfate: 30 g per bucket of water.

Alpine aster: combination with other plants

Alpine aster blooms for quite a long time, it is she who can serve as a background for other flowers, gradually replacing each other from spring to autumn.

Asters of different colors can look great in a flower bed

Effectively look against the background of purple asters border irises, cypress spurge, evening primrose, multicolor spurge, spotted loosestrife, which are painted in bright yellow. The combination of bearded irises and alpine asters looks interesting - by planting blue or lilac varieties nearby, you can create a composition that is pleasing to the eye by playing on a smooth change of halftones.

Astra goes well with:

• violets;
• geraniums;
• stonecrop large;
• sedum prominent;
• derain white;
• bergenia;
• thunberg barberries;
• Japanese spiria.

alpine aster in the flowerbed

Experienced gardeners willingly include Julia's primrose, reed grass, spartina, creeping thyme in the composition with the Alpine aster. Successful partners for perennial asters are ornamental cereals.

Alpine aster in landscape design

Since the perennial alpine aster is rather unpretentious in cultivation, it is actively used in landscape design, by gardeners and just lovers of wildlife in flower beds, rock gardens, in the design of flower beds, rocky hills, as a balcony plant.

Astra alpine perennial is equally loved by experienced landscape designers and amateur gardeners. It is easy to care for, does not require special watering conditions, but at the same time it pleases almost the whole summer. bright colors emphasizing the beauty surrounding nature. Give your attention to the alpine aster, and she will thank you with lush flowering.

Planting perennial asters: video

Alpine aster: photo

Astra is a favorite flower of gardeners. This plant is unpretentious, pleases with bright colors of inflorescences until late autumn. Even on cloudy days, she impresses with her amazing beauty. Astra can be grown as an annual or perennial culture. From the latter one can create hedge, as it grows rapidly and instantly covers the area with sparkling stars, it will delight until the first snow. Planting a perennial aster and care are particularly simple. Even an inexperienced gardener will cope if he follows the advice given in this article.

Preparing asters before planting

Asters can grow anywhere. To grow a perennial aster blooming with luxurious buds, the following conditions must be met:

• choose the right place for landing;
• prepare the right soil.

Site selection

Perennial aster loves sunny places. Bushes will be lush and bloom profusely if given enough sunlight. In dry weather, the plant must be watered on time. Asters cannot stand water accumulations, so it is best to plant them in elevated areas. In partial shade, where there is no light, the plant will not bloom. And even if it releases buds, they will be dull and rare.

For planting, it is desirable to select loose soil, which is better to fertilize first. Light, fertile, permeable soil will help the culture feel in its place.

Choice right place depends on the variety and type of asters.

When planting several types of asters in one area, you need to consider the height of the plant and the flowering time. First, we plant a tall variety, in front of it are undersized perennials.

predecessors

The best predecessor for planting asters are saffron, marigolds, calendula. Where tulips, potatoes, tomatoes, asters grew, it is not recommended to plant. Should not be acidic soil.

Soil preparation

For planting perennials, we fertilize the ground with humus or make compost. You can add superphosphate in small quantities: 30 g per 1 sq. m. To reduce acidity, pour into the soil dolomite flour: 200 g per 1 square. m.

So that there is no stagnation of water and the earth passes water, additional drainage from fine gravel is necessary in the soil.

Before planting flowers, it is advisable to bring into the ground river sand. It will help improve the structure of the soil. It is also necessary to get rid of weeds on the site, and then the ground should be well leveled and loosened. The site for planting asters should begin to be prepared in the fall.

Landing technology

Blooming flower beds and lawns will delight with their graceful appearance, if we choose the right aster variety. For rapid reproduction, seed material should be treated with a growth stimulator. Next, you need to sow the seeds in the grooves made in the ground landing box to a depth of about two centimeters. We fall asleep with calcined sand and water it.

Planting boxes should be no higher than 10 cm. In order for the shoots to be friendly, they are covered with glass or film. Thus, greenhouse conditions are created for seedlings. In the room where the seedlings are located, the temperature should be 20 ° C. When the seedlings germinate, remove the glass or film and water.

The best time for sowing seeds and propagating perennial asters is spring.

You can propagate the plant not only from seeds, but also by dividing the bush, as well as cuttings.

Features of care

Perennial aster is an unpretentious flower. It doesn't require much maintenance. For normal, prosperous growth, you just need to water and feed on time, as well as protect the plant from pests and diseases.

Watering and fertilizing

In dry weather, do not forget to water the flowers. With the active growth of the green mass of the plant, the amount of moisture introduced can be increased. Tall stems need enough liquid to form luxurious buds.

Also, do not forget to apply to the soil mineral fertilizers. Phosphorus-potassium mixtures are suitable for top dressing. In order for the bushes to be lush and more inflorescences to start, the plant should be fed by adding a little humus to the soil.

Nitrogen fertilizers should be applied not only in the spring, but also during the flowering period of the bushes.

The frequency of fertilization depends on the composition and content nutrients in the soil. In rainy summers, fertilizing should be done more often than in the dry season.

Loosening and mulching

The plant can grow in one place for several years. This does not mean that you can completely forget about it. Asters love airy and loose soil. Therefore, every season it is necessary to remove all weeds under the bushes and loosen the ground.

It is also necessary to mulch the soil using small sawdust, peat or tree bark. This measure will reduce the growth of weeds around the aster bushes and will allow them to be watered less frequently. Mulching the soil will retain moisture and slow down the drying process of the topsoil.

Pruning and garter

To form beautiful crown, shrub varieties require pruning. With its help, you can create a beautiful hedge of the desired shape. The bushes will be compact and easier to care for. Tall stems without support will lie on the ground. To prevent this from happening, you need to make a garter using pegs or a nearby fence. Flowers that have already faded should be removed periodically.

Trimming the tops of the stems will increase the number of inflorescences.

Preparing for winter

At the first frost, it is necessary to cut the stems of the flower above the ground. For the winter, young bushes should be well covered with foliage and sawdust. This will save the fragile root system young plant. Old perennials can be sprinkled with foliage. Garden aster tolerates persistent frosts well. Therefore, in winter it does not require special care.

reproduction

Perennial aster reproduces by seeds and vegetatively.

Due to the dense shell, the seeds easily tolerate negative atmospheric conditions. They swell well, quickly germinate in the ground.

Seeds can remain viable for up to three years.

Planting and propagation of bush aster is best done in the spring. For planting flowers, you can buy seed material in stores or nurseries. Also, flowers can be grown by cuttings or dividing an adult bush.

seeds

Seeds are collected in late autumn - after the flowers have faded. Seed material should be planted in open ground in early spring. The seeds are deepened into the ground by 2 cm. They are watered with warm water, mulched. Within a week, the first shoots appear. If they are frequent, thin out the sprouts, leaving a distance of up to 15 cm between them. You can sow seeds in winter, covering them with compost. But this method does not give the desired results - weak sprouts are obtained.

Seed propagation is only suitable for alpine perennial aster. After sowing in seedling box the soil is watered, and the container is covered with glass - before shoots appear. After the appearance of friendly shoots on the tenth day, watering is carried out. The grown seedlings are planted in a permanent place in the fall.

cuttings

Cuttings of perennial asters are the most common method of plant propagation. This is done in the spring. When the first young sprouts appear, we cut off the tops no higher than 15 cm. The cut should be made along an oblique line. Remove the lower leaves from the stem. Then set for a few days before planting in the water. We add a growth stimulator. Then, under a slight slope, the shoots are planted in the ground in partial shade. From pests and diseases, the earth must be watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. The bush grows until next spring, and then it is already transplanted to a permanent place.

By dividing the bush

This is the most fast way reproduction, which allows you to quickly get from one plant several flowering bushes. Although the aster grows in one place up to 5-6 years, gardeners begin to divide them earlier, without waiting for this time - the bushes grow strongly, lose their attractive appearance.

A tall aster is planted at a distance of 90 cm from each other. Undersized - at a distance of up to 50 cm.

Hive division rule:

• dig the whole bush and carefully pull it out of the ground, shake off excess soil from the bush;
• cut the bush into pieces with a shovel or knife, each cut piece should have at least 5 strong shoots;
• then it is necessary to make holes in advance: add the missing mineral and potash fertilizers to the soil and pour some water into the hole;
• then carefully lower the plant to the bottom of the hole, sprinkling it with earth, and then slightly compacting the soil; sprinkle with sawdust on top so that it does not dry out quickly upper layer land;
• water the plant with water heated in the sun.

For late varieties, the division of the bush begins in early spring, when strong shoots appear. From summer to winter, they will take root well. If divided in the fall, the root system will not have time to take root. The plant may freeze. Autumn transplant bushes is also possible.

Pests and diseases

The most common diseases of perennial asters are gray rot and powdery mildew.

Reasons for this:

• cloudy rainy weather;
• lack of proper care;
• the location of the plant in the shade or lowland.

Fusarium is an incurable disease for asters. If the plant is sick with this disease, it is destroyed outside the garden.

You can get rid of aphids and onion bugs by dissolving the Iskra tablet in a bucket of water and spraying the diseased bush with this solution. As a preventive measure against diseases, a soapy solution is used to spray the affected plants. A diseased plant should be treated immediately after the symptoms of the disease are detected.

Species and varieties

This perennial never ceases to amaze with its variety of species and varieties. Each variety, species has its own characteristics:

• different flowering time;
• different height of the bush;
• individual color and flower shape.

Distinguish garden asters according to the height of the bushes:

• undersized perennial asters - up to 35 cm;
• tall varieties of asters reach one and a half meters.

According to the timing of the beginning of flowering, asters are divided into groups:

• an early variety of asters begins to bloom in early May and ends in June;
• summer species bloom from July to August;
• autumn, late varieties of asters, bloom from September to October.

Consider the most popular types of flowers.

low growing alpine aster. The most common plant, stretches to a height of 30 cm. It is early variety. Thanks to its bright colors, it finds a place for paths and decorates the edges of flower beds.

Italian shrub aster. Summer flower resembling a chamomile. It grows up to 60 cm. Planted with bushes along the hedge.

New Belgian tall aster. Blue, burgundy flowers stay open in evening time and cloudy days. Used as a living fence.

groundcover heather aster. This plant decorates parks and gardens. Grows in the south and east North America.

With their elegant variety of flowers, perennials delight until the very frost. Asters paint autumn landscapes in all the colors of the rainbow. They will decorate any flower bed, lawn and garden plot with their unique colors. Planting a perennial aster and caring for it is not as difficult as it seems at first glance.

The description of the techniques and problems given in this article will help you not to make mistakes when growing and propagating this beautiful flower.

Astra - beautiful flower. Not at all exotic, but not a single flower bed in our front gardens can do without it. Her beautiful flowers various shades delight us with a long warm autumn until the first snow. Perennial Astra is herbaceous plant with small leaves and flowers blooming at the end of summer. Peonies and chrysanthemums look like her, and therefore they are often confused.

Flowers are:

• White;
• Burgundy;
• Lilac;
• Pink;
• Purple.

Height, depending on the variety, varies from 20 cm to 150 cm.

This plant has many varieties that have different bush heights and coloring of flowers. As a result, by mixing and selecting varieties, you can create the most beautiful flower bed, which will delight us all autumn with its flowering.

A variety of colors allows the aster to occupy a leading position in popularity in landscape design.

perennial stunted

Among the large variety of perennial Asters, a group of dwarf stunted ones stands out well. They grow up to a height of 20 cm, and with their help, rock gardens and the edges of various ridges and flower beds are formed.

When the flowers bloom, the small bush is completely covered with flowers, so that even greenery is almost invisible.

Gardeners appreciate the view for excellent frost resistance, it will be necessary to cover them with spruce branches only in the northern regions of Russia, where there are severe and prolonged frosts.

In contrast, there is a variety of Callistefus Chinese. The variety is also known as an annual, as it blooms from mid-summer to October.

Pink

Pink shades of flowers can also have Alpine, New Belgian and other types of perennial Asters. All of them differ in the period of flowering and the height of the bush.

Bush

Bush - a perennial species, grows in a compact bush about 50 cm in height. The homeland of the species is recognized North America. Flowering occurs in September and lasts until the first frost.

Flower shades:

• White
• purple

White

White perennial is also not the name of the species, since many varieties of Alpine and Italian perennial Astra species bloom with white flowers.

Alpine

A popular variety with early term flowering. Astra is native to the Alps. The height of an adult bush is 30 cm. In sunny areas it can grow about 15 cm. It is often planted at the forefront of the flower bed or along garden paths.

Flowers blooming on a bush have the following parameters:

Italian

This perennial Astra grows to a height of 60 cm and is a representative of this species, which is planted in the middle ground of flower beds. Her inflorescences reminiscent of chamomile flowers and have a diameter of up to 4 cm and a light purple color of the petals.

If not for the purple petals, Italian would be a copy of chamomile

New England: tall view

Tall, grows up to 150 cm in height. Therefore, it is planted with a tapeworm in the center of the flower bed, planting it various varieties. flower buds collected in dense brushes of 25 pieces, the diameter of a single flower reaches 4 cm.

Color shades:

• White;
• Pink;
• Purple.

Landing

To make the flower bed look beautiful and please the eye, it is important choose the right varieties Asters and plant them correctly. All procedures are simple, but they should be followed in order for the perennial to please with its flowering.

How to choose a place to land

In order for the bushes to grow well and not get sick, and in the fall they are completely covered with flower buds, you need to choose the right place in the flower bed. The soil in the area allotted for perennial Asters should be sufficiently loose and nutritious.

Check the quality of the soil BEFORE planting, otherwise the flower may hurt and grow poorly

If the soil is poor in trace elements, then complex fertilizers should be applied before planting.

Before planting the rhizomes of the plant, humus cannot be introduced, since not rotted humus will provoke the development of fusarium.

The place should be sunny, but the flowers easily tolerate penumbra or lacy shade from the foliage of a tree.

If in the garden the groundwater lies very close to the surface of the soil, then when planting, a 10 cm gravel pillow is made to avoid rotting of the root system of the plant.

How to sow seeds

Perennial Astra reproduces well by sowing seeds. To do this, untreated seeds are treated with any growth stimulant and fungicide, after which they are planted in prepared boxes up to 10 cm deep, filled with nutrient soil.

To make the rows even, they can be made with a knife or wooden ruler.

The depth of planting seeds in the ground should be no deeper than 2 cm.

After the seeds have been laid out in the prepared grooves, they are sprinkled with a small layer of disinfected (calcined) sand. After that, the earth should be shed with a pink solution of potassium permanganate - this will prevent infection of the seedlings with the "black leg".

In order for the seedlings to sprout more amicably, the seedling box is covered with glass or placed in a transparent bag to form greenhouse conditions.

The air temperature in the room where seedlings are grown should be +20 degrees. When most of the germinated seedlings appear, the glass is removed and the first watering is done.

What time to grow

The end of March is the best time to start sowing perennial Asters for seedlings. If it is necessary to propagate by seeds by sowing seeds immediately into open ground, then this period depends on the gardener's habitat.

In the southern regions of Russia, they are planted in open ground, depending on weather conditions in early April and covered with foil to create greenhouse conditions. In the Moscow region the beginning of sowing seeds falls on the first days of May, since return frosts can also be at the end of May.

Seeds can be sown in autumn before winter, but then they will need to be covered with peat, which will protect them from freezing.

How seedlings are grown

So that the seedlings do not stretch excessively, it is necessary to take them out to a cooler room, where the air temperature will be about 16 degrees Celsius. The room should be sunny.

Timely rotation of seedlings to the light ensures its proper development.

In order for seedlings to develop evenly from all sides, it is necessary turn around in relation to the sun.

Do not forget to do timely watering, preventing young seedlings from drying out.

Basic rules of care

In order for perennial bushes to please their owner, they must be cared for. Here are some wishes that must be met when cultivating the plant.

Watering

Any Asters and perennials are also fairly drought tolerant plants. But in order for the flowering to be lush during the summer, regular watering of the plant is necessary. But they should not be flooded, and therefore, during the period when there is no rain, they are watered for many years. once every 10 days.

With a lack of moisture, the bush will turn yellow and drop foliage.

Temperature

The temperature does not really matter, but at an average temperature of 28 degrees Celsius, the plant develops well. If the air temperature drops to +5 degrees or rises above 35 degrees, Astra falls into a dormant state.

Naturally, the root system does not develop and flower buds are not laid.

fertilizers

The plant requires three feedings during the growing season. Of course, they can live without additional conditions, but fertilizing the flower will lead to more lush bloom And nice shape bush.

All top dressing should be done only after watering - this will save the root system of the plant.

Diseases and pests

Fusarium - this disease is not treated, all perennial Asters infected with this disease are destroyed outside the site. But disease can be prevented doing prevention:

1. Do not fertilize with manure the soil intended for planting Asters.
2. The soil is limed, thereby lowering its acidity.

Fusarium is dangerous not only for asters - this disease is on the list of the most dangerous for a number of plants. For example, we already wrote about it in the section,.

Incurability makes fusarium one of the most dangerous enemies of asters

Rust on sheet plates are raised parts that are located on the underside of the sheet plate. sick plants are destroyed, and the rest are treated with the drug "Hom".

Sometimes aphids and onion bugs can be seen on the bushes - these pests can be easily destroyed if you dilute one Iskra tablet in a bucket of water.

It is worth starting the treatment of a diseased plant immediately after the discovery of the disease.

Flower propagation methods

In addition to seed propagation of perennial Asters, there are simpler ways:

1. The division of an adult bush.
2. cuttings.

The division of the bush is The easiest way worth breeding perennial. Best time for this spring. The division of an adult bush can be done once every 4 years, this time is enough for the divided bush to acquire big amount roots and twigs on a bush.

Therefore, in order to propagate a bush, you need:

1. Dig up the old bush.
2. With a shovel, divide it into parts in which there will be roots and the vegetative mass of the plant.
3. They are planted in prepared holes and watered so that they take root better.

Don't forget to maintain the temperature - create greenhouse conditions with a simple glass jar

Cuttings are carried out just as easy, as well as the division of the bush. To this end, in June, the apical cuttings are cut and planted in the ground where there is no sun. For greenhouse conditions, it is well worth covering with a three-liter glass jar.

Watering is done as the soil dries out. They spend their first winter under a jar, and in the spring they remove it and transplant young bushes to their permanent place of growth.

Perennial Astra is unpretentious plant , which deserves its place in the garden in the flower beds. Because we can't imagine without it autumn garden. Adhering to simple rules for caring for her, you can observe all her beauty when she blooms against the background of yellowed foliage.

Perennial asters slowly but surely penetrate our gardens. Why are they attractive? Firstly, the cheerful color of flowers, and secondly, the variety of shapes and sizes of plants. And asters are surprisingly unpretentious. The genus Astra (Aster L.) has about 600 species and a huge number of varieties and hybrids, so you can arrange incredibly diverse permanent flowering compositions only from asters.

Autumn flowering asters are widely represented in plant nurseries and garden centers, as they are most in demand by gardeners. In addition, it is the autumn views that attract Special attention breeders, as a result of which varieties and hybrids have already been bred, and work in this direction does not stop.

Astra New Belgian (Virgin)

(Aster novi-belgii)- the largest group of perennial asters with over 1000 varieties. This is not a species as such, but a group of hybrids showing great diversity in height (from 30 to 90 cm) and shape of the bush, as well as the color and size of the flower. The size of the plant directly depends on the type on which it is grown. Asters grown in rich loam sites will be taller than those planted in well-drained sandy soil.

Given the huge variety of sizes and colors, you can choose a plant for any corner of the garden. But their most important advantage is the flowering time. The main season is September and October, some varieties bloom at the very end of October and continue to bloom in November.

Growing features

New Belgian asters grow well in sunny places, prefer slightly acidic to alkaline soils. It is necessary to ensure that the earth is always moderately moist. Especially close attention in this regard requires large overgrown bushes.

As a rule, they are propagated by dividing the bush, although seed propagation and green cuttings. When planting, you need to have a good idea of ​​the size of adult bushes and not crowd them, but on the contrary, achieve free wind blowing of each plant. To maintain high decorativeness, it is necessary to divide every 3-4 years. In some cases, this does not even need to dig out the entire bush. Instead, one or two parts are cut off from the mother plant with a sharp shovel and carefully removed. The remaining hole is covered with fertile soil and watered.

Here are some popular hybrids that have proven themselves from the very best side.

• "Marie Ballard"- plant height 90-100 cm, blooms in August-October with numerous lilac-blue flowers. Winter hardiness is high. Prefers loose rich soils, grown in the sun and partial shade.

Astra New Belgian "Marie Ballard". Photo from vivaipriola.it

• "Patricia Ballard"- a fairly large bush, growing up to 1 m in height. The beginning of flowering is in September. Flowers: double and semi-double, delicate lilac-pink color. Prefers full sun, but can also be grown in partial shade.

New Belgian aster "Patricia Ballard". Photo from vivaipriola.it

• Sarah Ballard- grows in a compact bush up to 100 cm high. Semi-double flowers of purple or deep pink color.

New Belgian aster "Sarah Ballard". Photo from vivaipriola.it

Grown in the sun or in partial shade, blooms in late August.

Aster New England (American)

New England asters ( Aster novae-angliae) currently bred about 50 varieties. The species was brought to Europe as early as 1710, but did not arouse such strong interest as the New Belgian asters.

The birthplace of these asters is Quebec, South Carolina, Kansas. They are ideal for informal landscape gardens. In combination with cereals and other autumn-flowering perennials (especially with), these asters make wonderful compositions. It is also important that they are distinguished by good frost resistance and grow up to the taiga zone.

Growing features

To see the New England aster in all its glory, you need to plant it in an open sunny place. Despite undemanding to the composition and acidity of the soil, it prefers rich in humus, with a slightly alkaline reaction. The root system is shallow, so it is recommended to constantly maintain soil moisture.

Asters of this species are quite resistant to powdery mildew, but under stressful conditions (for example, with a long absence), the lower leaves begin to suffer. As a rule, a single treatment solves this problem.

A feature of this species is the complete or partial exposure of the lower part of the stems. Toward the end of summer, the lower leaves turn brown, dry out and even fall off, so that the aster is “on bare legs”. But this is not a reason to refuse to grow New England asters. The problem can be solved in two ways:

• In the spring, after the shoots grow to a height of no more than 15 cm, pinch those that are located around the circumference of the bush. These shoots slow down growth and noticeably lag behind the central ones, covering their stems. If you pinch all the shoots, the bush will grow lower and bloom later. This procedure can be done only once a season.
• You can do otherwise - create a foreground in front of the aster from undersized annuals or perennials.

Asters can be left without division for a maximum of 5 seasons, but the best result is achieved when dividing every 3-4 years. The plant is dug up in early spring, as soon as the shoots appear above the ground, and with the help of a sharp shovel or knife, cut off divisions of at least 15 cm² in size. To the bottom landing pit lay a small drainage, fill it with humus and immediately plant divisions. With such a planting, the aster will bloom in the same year.

Here are some varieties that are especially loved by gardeners:

• "Purple Dome"- a compact hemispherical plant 60 cm high. Incredibly abundant blooms in September-October with bright purple-lilac flowers. Quite resistant to powdery mildew.

Aster New England "Purple Dome" Photo

• Andenken an Alma Poetschke- the height of the bush is 70-90 cm, lush foliage is preserved all season in the upper part of the bush, the lower part is exposed. The bush can fall apart in the wind, so a garter to a support is required.

Aster New England "Andenken an Alma Poetschke"

It blooms profusely with bright purple-pink flowers in late September - October.

Aster shrub

Aster shrub ( Aster dumosus- frost-resistant species with upright pubescent stems up to 50 cm tall. Homeland - North America. There is some confusion in the classification and what goes in the catalogs under the name dumosus hybrids is the result of crossing the shrub aster and the New Belgian. As a result, a wide variety of flower colors was obtained at the same plant height. In nurseries, these asters can be called New Belgian, shrub, and dwarf New Belgian asters (Dwarf Novi-Belgii Asters).

Growing features

This species of asters prefers fertile alkaline soils. For abundant flowering he needs top dressing throughout the season, timely watering is also important, especially during the budding period. The plant is susceptible to powdery mildew, so prevention is required - the same as for New Belgian asters.

Shrub asters are recommended to be divided every 2-3 years, in early spring. Old bushes thicken greatly (a plant that has not been divided for 5 years can have up to 80 shoots), which has a bad effect on decorativeness. In addition, with age, the bushes stick out above the ground, so they often freeze out, while young strong bushes winter well without shelter even in zone 3.

Here are some varieties that are especially good in the fall garden.

• "Schneekissen"- forms a dense spherical bush with branched shoots and small lanceolate leaves. The diameter of the plant is 50-60 cm. It blooms late, at the end of September, so in the northern regions you can not wait for it to bloom until the frost hits. Blooming, completely covered with small white flowers with a yellow center. Prefers only sunny places.

Aster shrub "Schneekissen". Photo taken October 10

• "starlight"- forms a hemispherical bush with strongly branched shoots 50 cm high. Blooms profusely from late August to November with light lilac non-double flowers.

Aster shrub "Starlight" and Aster shrub "Herbstgruss vom Bresserhof". Photo - a wonderful autumn aster blooming in September. It grows up to 120 cm. The flowers are located very effectively: at the ends of strongly leafy shoots - in the form of a bunch of grapes. The color of the petals is white or pale purple, the center is yellow at the beginning of flowering, later - purple.

• "Prince"- one of the most famous cultivars. It grows up to 120 cm, blooms in September with pastel purple flowers.

Aster lateral. Photo from vivaipriola.it

It will adequately cope with the role of a tapeworm, but it will not get lost in a group planting, it will be in place in mixborders.

Heather aster "Schneetanne"

There are also such types of perennial asters of the autumn flowering time as the splayed aster ( Aster divaricatus), hearty ( Aster cordifolius), Tatar ( Aster tataricus), but they are much less common in nurseries.

Given the variety of varieties and hybrids, as well as winter hardiness, unpretentiousness and ease of cultivation, perennial asters can take a worthy position in our gardens. Do you already have such asters in your garden?

Garden aster is the most recognizable and popular in Russia and neighboring countries. For your unpretentiousness easy care and outdoor cultivation without problems.

Asters are beautiful composite flowers, of which there are about 600 varieties. Perennial varieties begin their flowering quite late, so they are often called winter asters or oktyabrins. It depends on what form you decide to opt for, whether the aster will be in the form of a bush or a single flower. Plant height can reach up to 2 meters. Asters begin to please the eyes of others with their bright colors in early autumn. You can find inflorescences of various shades, they will change from white to purple.

Astra deserves universal admiration and delight. By and large, for the variety of different sizes (from miniature and curb, to large and tall) and colors of various flower shapes.

Varieties of asters: perennials and annuals

In an endless list of species given flower both perennial and annual plants can be found.

annual Chinese aster

Annuals or Callistefus Chinese, as these varieties are called in the scientific literature, include:

• Tubular varieties, the inflorescences of which are in the form of thin tubules.
• Transitions can be both reed and tubular.
• Reed petals are not narrow, but rather wide in the form of a tongue.

Tubular have petals pinnate and twisted into a tube

1. Lilliput
2. Astra flaxus

transitional there are those that are understandable even from the name, they have both tubes and tongues, are divided into simple, semi-double, coronal:

Simple asters, have a middle of yellowish tubular petals surrounded by several chains of straight reed forms.

• Chamomile, Peony aster, Ostrich feather and Margarita - for cutting;
• Chrysanthemum aster Apollo, Victoria, Duchez, Waldersee - casing.

Semi-double varieties due to the reed petals sticking up and to the sides have a three-dimensional shape and a well-defined middle.

1. Madeleine, Anemone - for cutting;
2. Mignon, Victoria Baum, Anmut, Rosette - casing.

Coronal these are species with rather lush and fluffy flowers, the middle of which is practically invisible.

1. Princess pink, Aurora, Princess Elena - for cutting into bouquets;
2. Ambria, Venice, Venus Pompom, pion-shaped Silver Tower and Annushka - casing;

You will not be able to see the reed core with small yellowish pipes, since in these asters the flower has a magnificent spherical shape.

Reed species that consist of wide multiple petals, in turn, are also divided into several collected varietal groups:

1. Curly - have wide reed inflorescences that curl a little at the ends; Comet, Hohenzollern, Early Miracle, Market Queen, Versailles
2. Radiated or radiant with sharp tongues that twist along the length without growing together; Rapture, Star, Radio
3. Needle varieties - needle petals, thin and twisted. Valkyrie, Unicum, Riviera
4. Tiled: Victoria, Midget, Dwarf Royal
5. Spherical varieties: Dragon, Princess, Milady
6. Hemispherical: American Beauty, Shenheit, Triumph, Rose-shaped aster

dwarf the Tibetan aster blooms with numerous blue flowers, and the miniature Andersen grows quite tiny (no more than 8-10 cm) and blooms with delicate purple flowers.

Perennial bush aster

Perennial flowers differ from their predecessors in that they have rather tall bushes.

Tall varieties should be grown to decorate flower beds or to create a hedge. If the perennial is undersized, then it is suitable for borders or small flower beds.

Depending on the appearance and flowering period, perennial asters are divided into several categories. At the beginning of summer, the alpine aster begins to delight with its flowering, and at the end of the hot season, you can enjoy the unforgettable flowers of Italian varieties.

With the onset of autumn, the previous varieties are replaced by spray asters, blooming flowers of the most unpredictable and beautiful shades.

Types of perennial plants:

• Alpine aster photo.

height given undersized species does not exceed 30 cm. First appeared in the Alps. The flowers of the plant are located on one shoot and in their circumference can vary from 4 cm to 6 cm, outwardly similar to chamomile. The double center of the flowers is yellow and endowed with tubular petals. There are pink, purple and white shades of flowers. It blooms in early June and delights those around with its lush flowering for a month. Aster alpine flower perennial planting and care, which is not difficult at all, will delight you with its flowering for a long time.

It can serve as an excellent decoration for alpine slides or in flowerbed compositions next to undersized plants.

Common varieties:

1. Wargrave is a dwarf subspecies, barely reaching 25cm. Is an May flower, with pink chamomile petals and an amber core.
2. Gloria. Even smaller than Wargrav. With a bright orange center and sky blue long petals (about 4 cm).
3. Helen beauty Perennial alpine subspecies of dwarf growth 10-15cm. Small flowers saturated purple hues. It turns out an interesting combination with iberis flowers and Chinese carnations.
4. Albus - consists of multiple virgin white inflorescences.
5. Dark Beauty curb aster dark purple, blooms in the last days of July and continues to bloom until mid-August.
6. Galiath is a real alpine aster, often used for its intended purpose - on alpine slide, also planted along paths and for rockeries. Long flowering with unusual lavender flowers.

• Shrub or bush.

This species was bred in North America. All varieties that you will find in it have 20-60 cm shoots that are completely covered with foliage.

The shrub aster is the species that will be the first to bloom in autumn period.

The most popular bush varieties include:

1. Blue Bird is a short specimen (up to 20 cm) with sky-blue petals in the form of elongated tongues.
2. Alba floor foam is a medium-sized species. It differs in the different structure of the petals, some lemon-yellow tubular, and others in the form of snow-white tongues.

• New England aster.

The height of these varieties grows up to 2 meters. Lush blooms can be as red, white, pinkish-peach, so sky blue and deep purple.

With the onset of autumn, asters will delight you with their rich inflorescences, which are about 4 cm in diameter. These flowers can be used to create unforgettable bouquet arrangements that can live in water for several weeks.

1. Purple House purple - lavender colors of flowers
2. Apollo white Chinese aster
3. Andenken and Alma Potschke bright pink petals, coupled with a yellow spot in the middle, excellent pink asters

• New Belgian aster.

The height of these plants can vary from 35 cm and reach 1.5 meters.

It is characterized by small flowers, which can be pale purple, lilac, pink, burgundy or white.

There is a dwarf (miniature), medium-sized and tall New Belgian aster.

1. Marie Ballard blue aster
2. Royal Ruby deep red
3. Patricia Ballard dark pink aster
4. Royal ruby ​​red-ruby color
5. Winston Churchill burgundy-red
6. White Lady white flowers

• Italian aster.

It is a bush no larger than 70 cm in size. You can find pink, lilac, yellow or dark blue flowers collected in basket inflorescences. In August, it begins to delight its owners with lush and abundant flowering.

• Italian Rudolf Goethe terry lilac - pinkish inflorescences
• Amalia or chamomile or European

How to properly plant and care

Perennial asters prefer neutral soil. In the event that you know or think that it does not have enough nutrients, then before planting, such land must be fertilized, mainly using for this:

• Compost or humus (2-4kg)
• Ammonium sulphate and potassium salt (about 15-20 g each)
• Superphosphate from 20 to 30 g.

In no case do not plant plants in places where the soil is moist, as this often leads to the appearance of powdery mildew on the bush, and in the future its possible death.

These fertilizers applied are calculated per square meter of the area where the flowers will be planted. Do not overdo it with additives, this will not lead to anything good.

The place where you plan to plant asters must be thoroughly dug up, leveled and loosened. The distance between planting specimens should be maintained at about 20 cm. The holes to be dug should be medium depth. After placing the seedlings in the hole, sprinkle them with earth and be sure to water them. They won't need watering for the next few days. After a few weeks, feed the asters with nitrogen fertilizers.

How to plant a perennial aster in autumn video:

How to care for asters grown in an open field garden

If you dream of growing asters, then this will certainly not be difficult for you.

First, find an open area for seedlings that is well lit by the sun. Also, this place should pass moisture well so that there is no stagnation of water.

It should be borne in mind that the plant prefers to grow in places where it will not be disturbed by strong cold winds.

Having properly prepared the soil where your flower will grow, be sure that in further care behind it will be simple, even if you are a completely beginner grower.

If you plan to grow an annual plant in your garden, then all you need is to remove weeds, loosen the ground and water it in a timely manner.

Advice!

When planting, try not to plant sprouts close to each other, as excessive planting density can lead to fungal infections.

With proper care, you should remove dried leaves and inflorescences from the plant in time. This should be done not in the evening, but in the morning or before lunch, so that the plant tissues have time to tighten. This procedure will help the emergence of new buds, and the excess supply of nutrients will not be used up.

Watering and feeding

Aster bushes are watered only at the moment when the soil around them is sufficiently dry, since excess moisture is too harmful for the plant. If you decide to plant a flower in an area where groundwater or heavy soil passes, then be prepared for the fact that stagnant water will lead to rotting of the root system. It is imperative to loosen the soil, as this helps the plant to be saturated with oxygen. Removing all weeds is also necessary, because this reduces the risk of aster disease.

In the event that the summer period is too hot, then mulch the soil so that the moisture in it lingers a little longer. For this procedure, dry leaves, sawdust or pine needles are suitable.

Do not forget to feed the asters, which will allow them to produce beautiful and lush inflorescences. To do this, you can use mineralized fertilizers, which are: superphosphate, ammonium nitrate and potassium sulfate. No less useful wood ash. Avoid nitrogen fertilizers, because thanks to them, the plant will actively grow foliage, while practically not releasing buds.

As a rule, fertilizers are applied both in dry form and after mixing them with water. For the first time, asters need to be fed a few weeks after planting. As soon as buds begin to appear on the plant, this is an indicator that it is necessary to fertilize the plant a second time. The third time to use top dressing is necessary at the moment when the buds have just blossomed.

How to propagate

Gardeners who decide to plant asters in their garden will certainly want to breed this wonderful flower. This procedure is carried out both with the help of seeds and thanks to the division of the bush.

Sow seeds annual varieties necessary in the spring in the ground. But remember, you can store the seeds for no more than three years after you have collected them. Seeds of perennial asters should be sown immediately after they are collected.

Propagation by seedling

Seedlings allow you to get already gorgeous blooming asters by July. If you want seedlings to appear in the second half of May, then the seeds must be sown in the last weeks of March, but no later than the beginning of April. In order for them to rise for sure, you need to follow the following rules:

Planting seedlings in open ground

Young growth should be planted in the garden in the second half of May, if the height of the seedlings is about 10-12 cm. The procedure is carried out in the evening, in the ground moist and mulched with sawdust or grass. To make the asters take root better, harden off the seedlings for a week.

The distance between tall pets should not be less than 30 cm. For low asters, 20 cm will be enough. Compliance optimal distance between the bushes will allow you to form a chic carpet of flowering asters.

The areas where you plan to plant asters should be well lit, and also be with light, dry soil, which will allow moisture to quickly leave. If you decide to plant flowers where you used to grow potatoes or tomatoes, then it is better to refrain from doing so. The fact is that after these plants, pathogens of some diseases that are dangerous for flowers may remain in the ground. When planting a plant, leave a growing point above the ground, and also do not bend the roots.

Seedless method from seeds

If you decide to stay at this option, then it should be borne in mind that asters need to be sown in two terms at the beginning of spring or with the onset of autumn. Using the first method, sowing should be carried out when the soil warms up enough and the threat of frost has passed. As a rule, this procedure takes place at the end of the April days or the beginning of May. If you decide to plant asters in the fall, then they will begin to bloom a little later, but the flowering will last longer and will be much more luxurious than in the first option.

Breeding by division

No less popular is the division of the bush, which is usually done in the spring. Such flowers will delight gardeners with their flowering in the fall. Separating an aster will not be difficult, and the plant itself is easy to relate to such a procedure.

Vegetative propagation is carried out only if the growing part that will be separated has 4 new stems, 1 bud and several roots.

How to protect perennial asters in winter

There are both frost-resistant types of asters and not. In order to cover the plant before the onset of the upcoming cold weather, it is necessary to use spruce branches, peat or dry foliage. Before proceeding with the procedure, you need to remove all dry shoots. As soon as the winter has passed, the shelter must be removed, the soil loosened and watered.

Perennial plants can grow in one area for about five years. Five-year-old bushes must be dug up, the root system divided and seated. This procedure allows plants to avoid infection with various diseases.

Who can attack the Oktyabrins: diseases and pests

Most often, asters are infected with fungal diseases, which are:

• Fusarium.

A plant that has been affected by this disease begins to turn yellow, becomes weaker, and then fades. Unfortunately, it is impossible to deal with this disease. The only thing you can do is keep other plants from getting infected. To do this, dig up the affected aster and burn it. A five-year crop rotation will protect the plant from the disease.

At an early stage, you can see the disease only by paying attention to the back of the sheet. At later dates, swelling, wilting and drying of the leaves are observed. To avoid such an ailment or to cure a plant that is already infected, you will need a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid.

• Blackleg.

This disease mainly affects only seedlings, but there are cases when adult plants are also attacked. The reasons can be both an excess of moisture in the soil, and an overestimated acidity of the soil. Plants that are infected start from the ground and turn black and rot. Those asters that have become infected must be removed and burned. The soil where healthy plants remained is watered with a fungicide solution and sprinkled with sand.

Carriers are cicadas and aphids. After infection, the foliage begins to turn yellow, and later chlorosis begins on it. To get rid of the disease, you will need insecticides that are used to treat healthy plants. All infected flowers are removed.

• Verticillosis, gray rot, powdery mildew.

Diseases that need to be treated with fundazol.

To protect your flowers from these pests, you must perform the following steps:

• In autumn, be sure to dig up the ground.
• Do not forget to add lime, compost and humus to the soil.
• When planting plants, keep the distance between them.
• Dying perennials or faded annuals must be removed from the flower bed and burned.
• If any pests or diseases are found, be sure to treat the plants.

Application in landscape design photo

Astra perennial undersized planting and care, which is quite acceptable, is quite often used to decorate flower beds, borders and create hedges. Due to short stature, you can create unusual shapes and patterns or make a carpet of flowers, because if you follow all necessary rules, then these plants are able to delight you with their bright bloom and unforgettable forms.

They can be used both in group compositions with other plants, and planted in flower beds alone. Unusually, they will look next to dahlias or phlox. They also perfectly combine with carnations and other flowers, whose shapes are similar to asters.

Where is it better not to plant asters:

• Next to magnificent roses or lilies that will simply overshadow their delicate beauty.
• It is not recommended to plant in the place where tulips or other asters, potatoes or tomatoes used to grow. All of these plants can contribute to Fusarium infection.
• Do not plant under or near evergreen conifers because green needles can infect with nasty rust.

All wishes and precautions should be taken into account in order to grow high-quality and healthy specimens of perennial asters.

If you want to decorate your balcony, gazebo or porch, then compact varieties of asters that are planted in hanging pots are ideal for this.

The most common types used for design household territories, are undersized perennials. Alpine aster occupies a leading position, as an unforgettable autumn lush bloom of this species does not allow you to take your eyes off the plant and allows you to compare with flowering.

Asters are flowers that begin to bloom in autumn and wither with the onset of winter. If you want to fill your garden with chic flowers that can delight you even with the onset of slight cold weather, then asters are best suited for this.

Reproduction of winter perennial asters by dividing the bush video: