Another common name is false goat's beard. Clear away any debris or old plant material from the top of the parent plant with your hands. When dividing perennials, timing and technique are important. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. . She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014. We occasionally link to goods offered by vendors to help the reader find relevant products. They can be used for cut flowers, but they are probably best if left in the yard where … Special Plant Features & Tips. Plan to divide in the spring. Some of these links may be affiliate in nature, meaning we earn small commissions if items are purchased. Herbaceous perennial. It’s perfect for growing towards the front of … With additional writing and editing by Mike Quinn and Allison Sidhu. Astilbe plants vary in size and color. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. Special Features & Videos on Astilbes . Allow me to introduce you to the magic of the perennial, shade loving, Astilbe. The Venus variety has bright green foliage and bright pink blossoms. The most critical growing factor for Astilbe is water. The eyes will have small shoots growing from them, like a forgotten potato that starts to sprout after a few weeks. The large plumes of frothy flowers arrive … Astilbe grows best in partial shade in the warmer seasons, but it can tolerate full sun. Here is more about what we do. Flower spikes 15 to 18 inches tall, foliage to 10 inches high. Plant in moist, fertile, humus-rich soil in full sun or partial shade. On drier soils, incorporate plenty of well rotted manure or compost prior to planting and choose a shaded position. Even after the flowers fade in summer, many gardeners leave them on the plant for the attractive seed heads. Imagine digging out the roots in the shape of a generous salad bowl, with plenty of soil intact to avoid damaging the root structure. Special Features & Videos on Astilbes . Once autumn and winter roll around, the light patterns will change. They grow up to 5 feet (1.5 m) tall and they can multiply quickly, so it is important to divide your astilbe regularly. Wish me luck! Special Plant Features & Tips. 4 Astilbe Collection BUY 8 GET 4 FREE - click here These amazing perennials produce spectacular feathery plumes surrounded by dense fern like foliage from June to August. Remember that if you choose this route, you’ll need to follow steps 2-4 and 7-9 as described above the following spring, when the ground has begun to warm up and you are ready to plant. How to Move. Water the area around the plant that you are planning to divide, to loosen the soil. I have been wanting them for years and now we have the room! If there is still too much dirt near the base to make out the individual crowns, then rinse away the dirt with some cool water. Astilbes are valuable in moist shade for long-lasting color. Dividing Astilbe Plants. Botanical Name: Astilbe. Dividing your astilbe should be done in late summer or early autumn. Spread some mulch in a circular pattern around the plant to create a weed barrier, if you wish. Plants should never be allowed to dry out. Will not thrive in soils that dry out. Soil requirements: Moisture-retentive, acidic soil. The central clump and thick, fleshy roots of an astilbe are tough and difficult to cut. The day before dividing, thoroughly water the plant’s root zone. Astilbe does not do well in full sun—too much sun will cause its leaves to burn. The optimal time to divide specific perennials is denoted by (S) for spring and (F) for early fall. It also aids better moisture retention. Wait to divide the rhizomes until after the plants have finished flowering. This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. Astilbe Transplanting. Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Waterside. Astilbe can tolerate sun, but only if the soil is moist. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014. above the soil. Lastly, if you have no place to plant your new transplants, put them in a bucket, print this guide, and march yourself over to your neighbor’s house. The best gifts are unexpected! You may also divide the astilbe in the fall as long as the temperatures are cool. Spring, Fall: Clump: Divide in early spring or after it stops blooming in late summer to early fall; will bloom better with division every 2 to 3 years: Bachelor’s button Centaurea montana: Spring, Fall: Clump: Easy to divide; needs to be divided every 1 to 2 years to keep plants vigorous: Bearded iris Bloom time: Early to midsummer. Astilbe japonica. If there are 5 or more clumps, then now is a good time to divide. Try to make sure that the mulch isn’t too thick over the top of the new transplants. Make sure to pay attention to which varieties you purchase at the nursery, lest you unknowingly plant a variety that may form a veritable forest. Astilbe plants need moisture, but too much will cause them to rot. I wasn’t sure how these grew or how to propagate them–and this has helped tremendously! Have you ever divided your Astilbe? You may also divide the astilbe in the fall as long as the temperatures are cool. See our TOS for more details. Colors vary from white to dark shades of purple and pink. Suggested uses. How to divide perennials. Cooler temperatures are best for dividing astilbe, so plan your divisions for the spring. License: Creative Commons\/a> \n\/p> \n. Thank you for this! 8. Addition of compost will also increase the content of essential organic matte… If you are propagating from a plant that you’re already familiar with from your backyard, you can expect a similar height from the propagated (or “baby”) plant as displayed by the parent plant. To divide your plant, you need to carefully dig up the whole root ball getting as many of the roots as possible. Dividing your astilbe is easy, so incorporate this into your gardening practice for beautiful astilbe year after year! 4. Find specific plants with our Plant Finder & Plant Selector. Use a shovel to sever the roots in a circle 8 to 12 inches outward from the base of each astilbe. If plants dry out, their foliage turns irreversibly brown and crispy, thereby rendering them unsaleable. They bloom red, pink, white and lavender in upright or slightly arching plumes. Astilbe ‘Deutschland’ – shorter than other astilbes, and flowers a little earlier.Plants have almost shiny foliage and bear masses of pure white flowers; Astilbe ‘Rheinland’ – a compact variety, with dark green/bronze leaves and masses of light pink flowers. Now that you’ve decided on the optimal location for your freshly divided Astilbe, let’s talk division and multiplication! Let the water settle in for a bit. This … For example, if there are only 2 or 3 clumps per plant, then it's too soon to divide. Take a shovel and gently dig out the main root network in a circle about 10-12 inches deep. This means that you dig up the plant's root ball and literally divide it by cutting it into several pieces. If you are dividing in the fall, cut the plant back to about six inches (15 cm.) Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. You want the top of the transplant, where the eyes are emerging, to be facing up towards the sky and placed about 1 inch below the soil’s surface. Dividing the plants in the summer or when the weather is too warm can be a shock to your plants and may even kill them. 2. Create a “donut” shape around the new plant. Astilbe, like many perennials, can be divided if the root clump gets too large. Repeat this process for each of the astilbe plants you want to divide. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. However, in a border context, best practice would be to lift and divide astilbe clumps every three or four years. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Any rhizomes showing signs of mold, rot, or decay should be discarded. However, you can expect to see blooms starting in year 2 and onward! Wait until spring to cut back. 1. Measure a diameter of approximately 12-16 inches around the plant (or for a quick measure, you can use a 5-gallon bucket to get the right diameter), and mark it. Addition of sulfur pellets is useful in increasing the acidity of the soil. Avoid areas with poor drainage. Water in the transplants with a good soak. How did it go? They can be used for cut flowers, but they are probably best if left in the yard where … Astilbe plants require rich fertile soil that remains permanently moist, even in the height of summer. Cultivation. They have fern-like foliage and colorful flowers ranging from pink to red or white. Astilbe can be successfully divided in fall or early spring. This will help improve drainage, which is essential to the healthy growth of astilbes. Performs best in evenly moist soil. You don’t need to think about transplanting astilbe or dividing astilbe plants every year, but calendar the task for every two to four years. They are very tolerant of shade and thrive in damp locations, so are ideal for placing near a pond but equally are impressive in containers or as part of a border display. This means that you dig up the plant's root ball and literally divide it by cutting it into several pieces. Add some mature compost and peat moss to the soil. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. Thanks for informative diagrams.". If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Your newly transplanted Astilbe are not likely to bloom in their first growing season. Here are our simple tips for dividing perennials: Lift plants gently with a garden fork, working outwards from the crown’s centre to limit root damage. Without regular divisions, astilbe may wither from overcrowding. There are few greater joys than beautifying our gardens. The holes should be about 8 inches deep and 12-24 inches apart. See how RHS can give expert advice on growing, feeding, pruning and propagating plants. Another option is to plan to divide the astilbe a couple of days after it rains. Clump-forming to … References. We’re going to talk about how you can take that one parent plant you bought at the nursery and transform it into as many baby plants as your heart desires. 6. Now plant those fresh transplants into the holes you previously dug, and gently cover with soil. Heavy feeders, astilbe prefer spring fertilization. Another important note before planting: make sure to observe where the sunshine and shade fall in your garden during the spring and summer months. Feathery, bright white plumes are held above rich, glossy green foliage in summer. This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. Place it in your garage or cellar, in a dark and cool location, and wait until spring to decide what you want to do with them. Astilbes do best when they are divided about every three years. In the spring, you may choose to fertilize with a mix that has a lower nitrogen (N) ratio with higher levels of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Make sure to locate the plants in light to moderate shade. By using our site, you agree to our. Astilbes do best when they are divided about every three years. Photo by: Gabriela Beres / Shutterstock. If your plants have naturalised beside water they are probably best left well alone. I just bought my first Astilbe plants. Shake off excess soil so that roots are clearly visible; Some plants, such as Ajuga (bugle), produce individual plantlets which can simply be teased out and replanted Prepare the bed by turning the soil under to a depth of 6-12, inches removing any debris, and lightly raking as level as possible. About astilbes Astilbe does best in regions with cool, moist summers. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/eb\/Divide-Astilbe-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Divide-Astilbe-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/eb\/Divide-Astilbe-Step-1.jpg\/aid10047893-v4-728px-Divide-Astilbe-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"