Take the parent Astilbe plant with both hands and gently divide the rhizomes by identifying the “eyes,” and pinching off pieces of root with 3-5 eyes. About astilbes Astilbe does best in regions with cool, moist summers. Astilbe plants require rich fertile soil that remains permanently moist, even in the height of summer. 2. Feathery, bright white plumes are held above rich, glossy green foliage in summer. A boggy soil next to a pond or stream is ideal. Spread some mulch in a circular pattern around the plant to create a weed barrier, if you wish. 8. This means that you dig up the plant's root ball and literally divide it by cutting it into several pieces. 4. Astilbe spp. Astilbe, like many perennials, can be divided if the root clump gets too large. I have been wanting them for years and now we have the room! Astilbe x arendsii 'Showstar' (Astilbe 'Showstar') will reach a height of 0.5m and a spread of 0.5m after 2-5 years. 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. Astilbe Transplanting. The Astilbe look best when mass-planted, and are ideal for surrounding ponds, or naturalizing in a wild garden. Alexis once managed a sizable CSA operation in Valley Center, Kansas, and her specialization is in growing high quality organic vegetables. Astilbe plants vary in size and color. Thank you for this! 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. For more information on dividing astilbe plants, read on. Even after the flowers fade in summer, many gardeners leave them on the plant for the attractive seed heads. On drier soils, incorporate plenty of well rotted manure or compost prior to planting and choose a shaded position. Performs best in evenly moist soil. Since astilbe plants thrive in partial to full shade, choose a suitable planting spot in your backyard. There are some plants that will not top six inches while others may finish their season at a whopping four feet tall – buyer beware! And while many perennials can be divided in either early spring or early fall, some are very picky. However, if you want to keep it contained in a flower garden, divide it after the third year of growth or when the plant seems to be growing out of bounds. . 9 Steps for Dividing your Astilbe. Take a shovel and gently dig out the main root network in a circle about 10-12 inches deep. When to Transplant Daffodils Daffodils can be lifted year round, even when “in the green,” although moving them while they bloom often means losing out on the following year’s bloom. Astilbes do best when they are divided about every three years. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. A cup of water every two to three weeks should be just fine! Have you ever divided your Astilbe? You may also divide the astilbe in the fall as long as the temperatures are cool. The addition of organic matter (leaf mold, compost, well-rotted manure) benefits all gardens and is … I wasn’t sure how these grew or how to propagate them–and this has helped tremendously! Any rhizomes showing signs of mold, rot, or decay should be discarded. Create a “donut” shape around the new plant. Bloom time: Early to midsummer. The holes should be about 8 inches deep and 12-24 inches apart. If you choose to divide them in the springtime, do it early during their dormant stage so that once they start growing, they have a full season to establish themselves. Heavy feeders, astilbe prefer spring fertilization. They can be used for cut flowers, but they are probably best if left in the yard where … If you are dividing in the fall, cut the plant back to about six inches (15 cm.) If the soil is poor, dig 12 inches deep and mix some rich compost into the hole before you plant. Water in the transplants with a good soak. You may also divide the astilbe in the fall as long as the temperatures are cool. License: Creative Commons\/a> \n\/p> \n. Your newly transplanted Astilbe are not likely to bloom in their first growing season. The day before dividing, thoroughly water the plant’s root zone. She holds a BA in English literature with a minor in horticultural sciences from Clemson University, and she loves to read, write, and garden. Cooler temperatures are best for dividing astilbe, so plan your divisions for the spring. Astilbe does not do well in full sun—too much sun will cause its leaves to burn. Another common name is false goat's beard. How to divide perennials. Ideally, to keep your parent plants healthy, you’ll want to divide them about every four years. Gently separate the clumps … Photo by: Gabriela Beres / Shutterstock. The large plumes of frothy flowers arrive … To divide your plant, you need to carefully dig up the whole root ball getting as many of the roots as possible. The holes should be about 8 inches deep and 12-24 inches apart. With additional writing and editing by Mike Quinn and Allison Sidhu. 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. Filtered sun. Find specific plants with our Plant Finder & Plant Selector. One single plant can turn your backyard (if it’s shady enough!) Heavy flowering selection is excellent for use as an edging plant and in foreground plantings. 5. Dig holes for the new transplants. GARDENER'S PATH® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. If there are 5 or more clumps, then now is a good time to divide. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. 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. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014. 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. They can be used for cut flowers, but they are probably best if left in the yard where … Some of these links may be affiliate in nature, meaning we earn small commissions if items are purchased. 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). She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014. Plant in moist, fertile, humus-rich soil in full sun or partial shade. If it is autumn and you want to store your divisions instead of directly replanting the rhizomes into your garden beds, you can plant each new transplant in well-draining potting soil in a medium-sized pot. \/p>\/div>"} Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker.. Astilbe Dividing. The best gifts are unexpected! Use a shovel to sever the roots in a circle 8 to 12 inches outward from the base of each astilbe. 1. The Astilbe look best when mass-planted, and are ideal for surrounding ponds, or naturalizing in a wild garden. Let the water settle in for a bit. See how RHS can give expert advice on growing, feeding, pruning and propagating plants. Add some mature compost and peat moss to the soil. Astilbe japonica. Thanks for informative diagrams.". By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. The optimal time to divide specific perennials is denoted by (S) for spring and (F) for early fall. Wish me luck! VIDEO Introduction to Dividing Perennials Offsets To divide a plant whose roots form offsets (small plants growing at the base of a larger one), snap the connection between any of the sections to obtain a piece with ample roots and three or more growing points (or “eyes”). Dividing your astilbe is easy, so incorporate this into your gardening practice for beautiful astilbe year after year! A boggy soil next to a pond or stream is ideal. Water the area around the plant that you are planning to divide, to loosen the soil. There are few greater joys than beautifying our gardens. One parent plant will typically render 4-5 new transplants. 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 I just bought my first Astilbe plants. Special Plant Features & Tips. 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. Astilbe Growing Tips and Benefits. Repeat this process for each of the astilbe plants you want to divide. Astilbe hybrids are clump-forming perennials that form mounds of dark green, ferny foliage. For more information about this amazing flower, be sure to check out some of these guides: © Ask the Experts, LLC. If you are dividing in spring, do it when new spring growth stands just a few inches (5 to 10 cm.) Last Updated: March 29, 2019 Increase watering as the foliage emerges and plumes mature. 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. Water the area around the plant that you are planning to divide, to loosen the soil. 1. Divide … Astilbe require frequent irrigation. Astilbe is the new must-have plant for shady garden plots, adding color, height and texture that breaks up the boredom of one-dimensional groundcovers and mounded plants. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. However, you can expect to see blooms starting in year 2 and onward! Dig holes for the new transplants. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. If the desired result is a swath of plants along a pond, on the edge of a forest or in the garden, then dividing isn't necessary. Divide or plant in early spring or by mid-September. 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 However, in a border context, best practice would be to lift and divide astilbe clumps every three or four years. If your plants have naturalised beside water they are probably best left well alone. Moving and dividing the bulbs remains integral to growing daffodils, well worth getting the hang of. This article has been viewed 15,379 times. Once autumn and winter roll around, the light patterns will change. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 15,379 times. Dividing your astilbe should be done in late summer or early autumn. Astilbe, like many perennials, can be divided if the root clump gets too large. Astilbe can be successfully divided in fall or early spring. 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. Wait until spring to cut back. See our TOS for more details. 9. Clump-forming to … Alexis Morin is an avid gardener who resides on and manages a horse ranch in north Texas. By using our site, you agree to our. Plan to divide in the spring. The eyes will have small shoots growing from them, like a forgotten potato that starts to sprout after a few weeks. Keep soil moist in spring and summer. Astilbe produces an attractive mound of glossy, fernlike foliage topped with delicate plumes of colorful flowers. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. How to Winterize Astilbe Plants: 5 Easy Steps, 15 of the Best Woody Shrubs for Fall Color, How to Grow Garden Pinks for Old-Fashioned Charm, A Medicinal and Visual Delight: How to Grow Feverfew, How to Train Pumpkins to Grow on a Trellis, 11 of the Best Blue Asters to Add to the Garden, How to Identify and Treat Pecan Twig Dieback Disease, 7 Tips for Growing Formal and Informal Forsythia Hedges, 7 Tips You Need to Keep Fresh Flowers Fabulous. Dividing & Transplanting needs: Astilbe will spread over time. Astilbe are shade-tolerant plants with average moisture needs. Will not thrive in soils that dry out. Their foliage also varies from greenish bronze to dark green, depending on the cultivar and the soil’s available nutrients. The plume-like flowers bloom in colors such as pink, red, peach, white, lavender and purple. Addition of compost will also increase the content of essential organic matte… Imagine digging out the roots in the shape of a generous salad bowl, with plenty of soil intact to avoid damaging the root structure. If Alexis is not in a pasture learning the names of all the growing green things, you can find her in her garden growing fruit, veggies, and flowers. Astilbes do best when they are divided about every three years. Astilbe arendsii Fanal - dark red, 26” tall Astilbe arendsii Sister Theresa - salmon-pink, 24” tall Astilbe arendsii Snowdrift - white, 26” tall Astilbe chinensis Visions - purple-red, 14” tall Astilbe chinensis Visions in Pink - deep pink, 24” tall Astilbe japonica Rheinland - rose-pink, 24” tall Special Features & Videos on Astilbes . Astilbe plants need moisture, but too much will cause them to rot. 7. Dividing Astilbe Plants. 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. Astilbe plants require rich fertile soil that remains permanently moist, even in the height of summer. Herbaceous perennial. COPYRIGHT © 2021 ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. They grow up to 5 feet (1.5 m) tall and they can multiply quickly, so it is important to divide your astilbe regularly. How to Move. Remember the key principles that will keep your plants happy: rich, well-drained soil; regular deep watering without constant wet feet; 2-3 hours of sun per day; and annual fertilizing with a mix that is high in phosphorus and potassium. Astilbe is also called false spirea or false goat’s beard for good reason. 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. 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