By Julie Christensen
Few flowers are as bright and cheery in the garden as asters . These perennial flora flower from late summer to shine , when most other plants are dwindling . aster are get it on for their daisy - alike flowers that come in a blanket reach of hue . The plant create a shiny pip in the garden and also draw in butterflies , birds and bees .
Found in USDA plant hardiness geographical zone 3 through 8 , aster grow well in area with coolheaded , mild summers . If you live on in a dry , hot or overly humid area , you ’ll believably sputter with aster . If , on the other hired man , you live in a place with mild summertime day and cool nights , such as the Pacific Northwest , your aster will thrive .
Planting Asters
Asters can be establish from seed , but they ’re slow to grow and germination is inconsistent . Most nurseryman favour to uprise aster from nursery transplants . Choose a protect site that gets full sunshine to partial spook . Amend average garden grease with compost , peat moss and manure to improve drain and provide the rich , dampish intermediate aster choose . hardened asters out in late fountain , after the last expected hoarfrost . pee frequently as the plant life becomes established .
Growing Asters
instal plant life should be feed every bound with a balanced 10 - 10 - 10 fertiliser at a rate of ½ cupful per plant life . send the plant food around the plant , being careful not to get it on the plants ’ leaves . At the same time , spread 1 column inch of compost around the plant and top with 2 to 3 inches of wood chip mulch . The mulch helps conserve moisture and keep the plants ’ allow dry . fledged plants are slightly finicky about wet weather . If the dirt is too wet or too ironic , the plants drop their folio and might not flower . direct for soil that is consistently dampish , but never soggy . Use deluge hoses or trickle systems , rather than overhead sprinklers , which can spread disease .
Asters set out considerably in size of it , depending on the variety . midget change that develop only 8 inch tall are ideal for rock’n’roll gardens or in the front of the border . Large varieties can stretch 8 feet tall . These varieties often need staking , particularly in breezy arena , which is why it ’s a serious idea to set them in a protected spot . Divide the plants every two to three year if they seem overcrowded or outgrowth decelerate . Deadhead drop prime to encourage more blooms and cut the plants back in tardy autumn or other fountain .
Caring for Asters
Asters suffer from several disease , especially in live , humid climates . Powdery mould causes a blanched growth to take shape on the leaves . outer space works so air circulates freely and use dipsomaniac hoses . Apply antifungal labeled for treating powdery mildew . Leaf spots , rust and prow cankers are also unwashed . Plant disease - resistant varieties and scavenge up any plant debris . Remove diseased flora promptly so the disease does n’t pass around .
As far as insect pests , you ’ll find the usual suspects : mites , aphids , slugs , snails and nematodes . Aphids and pinch often move on without any help from you , but if infestations are dangerous , spray the flora with a stream of water or spray both the tops and bottoms of the leaf with insecticidal oil . To combat slugs and snails , set a wooden board in the garden . The punch and snails like to obliterate in this moist , dark area . call on over the gameboard and handpick the pest . drop off them in a pail of soapy water . you may also apply slug and snail trap , but read the packaging carefully . Some of these products are toxic to humans and pets .
Aster Varieties
There are more than 250 species of asters , ranging from the rough-cut perennials to yearly , and from climb vine and bush - similar plant . In hot climates , your good stake is to produce asters as biennial or annuals , replacing them frequently .
taste King George ( Aster amellus ) , a recurrent variety with deep - blue flush , or Silver Spray , which has white blooms color with pinkish .
Want to learn more about growing asters?
confabulate the following links :
Genus Asterfrom Fine GardeningAster Tataricusfrom Missouri Botanical Garden
Julie Christensen learned about gardening on her grandfather ’s farm and mother ’s vegetable garden in southerly Idaho . Today , she lives and gardens on the high plain stitch of Colorado . When she ’s not digging in the dirt , Julie writes about food , education , parenting and horticulture .
