Astilbe Growing Tips

Astilbe is a low-maintenance tall and feathery flowering plant that will add color and texture to your shade garden. This shade perennial plant has eye-appealing flowers that bloom June through July and in the fall the plumes will add interest to your yard and garden. If you enjoy ornamental grasses then plant the astilbe close to your outdoor living space so you can enjoy viewing this interesting plant.

Photographs of astilbe gardens.

Astilbe and Hosta plants

 Planting and Growing Astilbe

Before you can grow the astilbe you need to decide on the area in your yard that will accommodate the plant.  It is best to choose a section that provides ample room otherwise you will be transplanting often to prevent overcrowding.  When fully grown the plant will be 6 to 40 inches in height and 18 to 30 inches wide.

Decide on the design of your astilbe garden; will you be growing this plant in masses or with other shade-loving plants; fern, lily of the valley, ladies mantle, or hostas? 

What colors will work well with your garden?  The flowers come in a variety of colors; white, magenta pink, lavender, and red. 

Clear the growing site by removing the grass, weeds, and debris.  For massive plantings, it is best to use your tiller to break up the soil.  Break up the clumps of the soil so that the soil is a fine texture.  Dig a hole in the soil that is the same depth as the nursery container. 

Gently remove the plant from the container by setting the container on its side and rolling it back and forth, tap gently on the side of the container to loosen the soil and allow you to remove the plant easily.

Loosen the roots if they are growing in a ball.  Shake the soil away from the roots (gently) before planting.  Set the plant in the center of the hole with roots facing outward.  Backfill the hole with soil mixed with compost or manure.  Water well.  Apply pine needles or chipped wood mulch around the stem of the plant.  

If you are planting more than one then allow two feet in between the plants.

Keep the soil moist to moderate but not dry. Set up a drip line or soaking hose and water deeply every few days during the summer months. It is better to water the plants with one inch of water every week rather than water lightly daily.   Continue to water into the autumn especially if the season is dry.  Keeping the soil moist will prevent plant stress. 

After a hard frost prune back your plants and cover them with an organic mulch; pine needles, leaf mulch, or wood chips.

View this video to learn more about pruning astilbe:

 

Tips:

Astilbe is a perennial that is hardy to 25F – 32 C

Grows best in zone 4 to 8

Plant in spring after the threat of hard frost has passed and in the autumn six weeks before the end-of-season frost.

Watch your plants for weak blooms as this is a sign that the garden is overcrowded.  Divide astilbe and transplant every four to five years.

Every spring apply a spring fertilizer as soon as the plant starts to grow.  If your spring is dry then water to keep the soil evenly moist, the article will be healthy as long as the soil does not dry out.  

Accent Landscape with Red Twig Dogwood

Cornus sericea (red twig dogwood) is a flowering plant that native to northern and western America.  Many people grow the red twig because it is eye appealing during all seasons; this is one plant that will add visual interest to your landscape.  

Plant the red twig dogwood where you can view it from a window. The plant features green leaves during the spring and summer and the white flowers bloom from June to August.  The flowers are lovely small cluster blooms that are fragrant and will attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard.

In late summer the white berry fruit appears.  This fruit is attractive to many birds; orioles, finches, bluebirds, cardinals and blue jays.  Enjoy the birds as they forage off the red twig dogwood. In the autumn  eye appealing  reddish purple leaves will appear followed by winter red bark that looks beautiful especially if there is snow on the ground. 

Growing: 

Plant is in early spring after the danger of frost has past. A sunny location is preferred although; the red twig dogwood will tolerate partial sun and shade. 

Choose a growing site that is moist and well drained.  An area that is close to a pond or stream will benefit this plant.  The red twig plant in zone 6 to 8 is medium in size 5 feet in height with similar spread.  In other areas the twigs may grow to the height of 10 feet.  Once the twigs mature the under the soil stolens will grow in thickly and create dense branches.  You can also grow in urn like containers as long as the soil is moist with good drainage.

Plant the red twig dogwood as an accent for your landscape or use it for erosion control.

Planting: 

Dig a hole that is three times the width of the same depth of the nursery container. Raise the center of the hole by two inches, forming an elevated mound in the center of the hole.  Shake the root ball lightly to release some of the dirt and use your hands to gently loosen the roots.  Do this especially if the roots are entwined as it will encourage the roots to grow outward. 

Hydrate the dogwood root ball in a bucket of tepid water a half hour before you plant.  Then plant by setting the root ball in the center of the hole on top of the mounded dirt. The elevated soil will prevent overcrowding of the roots.

Cover the roots with three inches of compost mixed with soil. Water the roots. When water subsides, continue filling the hole with the remaining dirt. Water the dogwood again so that the soil is evenly moist.  

Care:

Retain moisture and to discourage weed growth, by surround the dogwood with three inches of organic mulch; pine needles, grass clippings, wood chips or mulched leaf matter.

Keep the soil evenly moist.  Water daily with drip irrigation, water in the morning and late afternoon to prevent summer drought conditions as this will cause the red twig to suffer stress.

Learn how to prune your red twig dogwood by viewing this YouTube video: 

Tips

1. Keep soil moist throughout growing season (spring, summer, autumn)
2. Apply three inches of mulch in autumn.
3. Fertilizer in spring
4. Plant the red twig dogwood in US zones: 3 through 8.
5. Red twig dogwood is deciduous.
6. The twigs are plyable and make for attractive wreaths and holiday decorations.

Sgolis recommends these products:

Fertilize Flower Gardens (How To)

Flowers that grow from bulbs are easy to care for provided you give them what they need.  Plant them in full sun and well drained soil and every spring when they start to come up  feed them with organic fertilizer and bonemeal. 

Attribution: Freerangestock.com

The best way to fertilize your spring bulbs is to mix the fertilizer in your wheelbarrow. Mix 8 lbs of compost with 3 lbs of bone meal and if you have a fire pit then add some wood ash to the mix.  

Take your shovel and mix all together well.  Use your shovel to add the fertilizer to the bulb gardens and then rake gently to spread over the entire bed. 

This fertilizer mixture will provide nourishment to an 80 foot flower or spring bulb garden. Water after you add the compost fertilizer to the garden. 

Tips

1. If your spring is dry then water your spring bulb garden once a week. Provide the plants with 1 inch of water and the roots will be hydrated.
2. After your spring bulbs bloom do not cut off the spent blooms, instead allow the bulbs to collect the nutrients that they need and die back naturally.  Bulbs usually collect nutrients from the sun and soil in the spring and die back in early summer.
3. Spread this fertilizer around your spring blooming shrubs and plants.  Your lilacs and peonies will benefit from this spring fertilizer.

Hiring Tips for Gardener - Private Residence

Many people like the idea of having a beautiful garden but find that the weekly maintenance is too much work especially if they are working out of the home.  Deadheading the plants, checking for pests, weeding and watering is time that must be spent in the garden weekly.  If you are short on time then it is wise to hire a gardener. 

Choosing the right service provider for your garden will take some time as you will need to determine which candidate meets your garden's needs.  You will want a gardener that has reports to work on time, has a good work appearance, manages time well, and is self-motivated. 

Hire a gardener that is dedicated and knowledgeable in their profession.

Determine your garden's needs. Make up a checklist and then you will know if you will need a gardener once or twice a week or an estate gardener that works five days a week.

Basic Gardener's Checklist

1. Weeding; pull weeds from all of the gardens.
2. Deadhead all spent blooms. 
3. Put the seed in an envelope, and mark the outside of the envelope the type of seed.  File seed in the garden shed.
4. Check all gardens for pests.  
5. Remove garden pests by treating the area with Diatomaceous earth food-grade dusting.
6. Fertilize flowers monthly during the blooming season
7. Prune dead branches from shrubs and plants.
8. Apply mulch to the gardens, around the shrubs, and the trees.
9. Water the lawn and gardens once a week with 1 inch of water.
10. Water all flowers, coleus and hosta, and container gardens so that soil is evenly moist.

Network Your Community for Reliable Gardeners.

Ask your neighbors and friends about their gardeners.  It is always best to hire a gardener that comes highly recommended.  Another way to find a reliable gardener is to contact the master gardeners in your area.  If you have a lawn service provider you could ask them if they know of a skilled gardener.  They may work with a gardener or know of one.

Tips:

• Meet with the gardener face to face and walk through your yard.  Ask them for their work background and for three references.  Call all references to discuss the gardener’s performance.  
• Decide if you want to hire the gardener with a contract.  Hire them for a specific job and agree on the costs or pay them hourly.