Astra perennial mix planting and care in the open field

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

Description: varieties and varieties of alpine asters

Aster is one of the most common colors used in outdoor landscaping in 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 aster family to bloom at the end of May is the perennial alpine aster - a spring-summer flowering plant, up to 25-30 cm high. Usually, the exuberant flowering of asters lasts more than three to four weeks. Flower rosettes of Alpine asters of medium size (not exceeding 4-6 cm in diameter), located one by one on the stem. Alpine aster resembles chamomile in shape and arrangement of petals, therefore it is sometimes called alpine chamomile. This flower is great for decorating the foot of an alpine slide, it is frost-resistant.

Aster looks very nice next to stones

The variety of colors of the alpine perennial aster contributes to its active use in landscape design. Breeders have bred many varieties of Alpine asters 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 asters:

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

Variety "Albus"

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

Gloria variety

• "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 pink-colored flower, flower rosettes up to 4 cm in diameter;

Variety "Rosea"

• "Happy End" is distinguished 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 red-pink aster, flower rosettes up to 4 cm;

Variety "Ruber"

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

Variety "Superbus"

Planting a plant

Before planting a plant in open ground, you need to choose a suitable location: all perennial asters love a 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 (you can replace it with dolomite flour), about 100 g of superphosphate. It should be dug up to a depth of 30 cm.

Attention! Damp, flooded soils are categorically unsuitable for planting asters. In 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 abundantly) and loosening of the soil, weeding. Lack of moisture can lead to the loss of the decorative appearance of flower baskets and their drying out. Before flowering, it is recommended to spud the crop to a height of 5-6 cm, thus accelerating the growth of the root system and its strengthening. During the flowering period, it is necessary to remove dried plants.

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

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

Fertilization and feeding

For lush flowering, Alpine asters require an 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 m2. In addition, 20 g of mineral nitrogen fertilizers should be applied to light soils.

Plant propagation

Alpine aster propagation is carried out 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 at the end of autumn after flowering, planted in fertilized soil and covered with a film to obtain a greenhouse effect. The received seedlings dive in March-April, after the appearance of the first leaves. Asters grown from seeds bloom in the open field only in the second year. This breeding method is quite laborious, since the seed germination rate is low.

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

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

Alpine aster tolerates bush division quite well

Also asters all summer can be propagate by cuttings... The tops of the shoots are suitable for this, their recommended length is about 6 cm. Cuttings should be planted in specially prepared beds with special soil (turf soil, peat, sand in a ratio of 2 parts of land to 1 part of peat and 1 part of sand) in partial shade, covered with agrofiber. 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 in a permanent place of growth.

Diseases and pests

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

The disease is transmitted from plant to plant by air. The area of ​​the lesion 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. Dilute "Topaz" at the rate of 2 ml of the drug per 10 liters of water.

Powdery mildew control

In autumn, it is recommended to process the alpine aster with copper sulfate (dilute 50 g of the drug in a standard 10-liter bucket of water), after which the plants must be cut off.

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

For the treatment of asters, biofungicides are used:

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

Copper sulfate and its solution for processing plants

There are other ways to protect a plant:

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

In addition, in the summer, during the phase of active growth of perennials, it is recommended to carry out three root top dressing of asters with stimulants. At the beginning of budding, asters are treated with Energen (the recommended dose is 1 capsule for half a bucket of water). Then, during flowering, you need to give a second dose: use the drug Agricola for flowering plants (about 30-35 g per bucket of water). The third time the plant is fed in August with the 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 on a flower bed.

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

Astra goes well with:

• violets;
• geraniums;
• stonecrop large;
• stonecrop prominent;
• white dogwood;
• badan;
• Thunberg barberries;
• spiria Japanese.

Alpine aster on a flower bed

Experienced gardeners willingly include Julia's primrose, reed grass, spartina, creeping thyme in a composition with alpine aster. Ornamental cereals are good partners for perennial asters.

Alpine aster in landscape design

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

It is recommended to plant alpine asters in the foreground of shrub plantings, in curbs, to decorate the banks of small garden or summer cottages.

Aster 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, almost the whole summer pleases with bright colors, emphasizing the beauty of the surrounding nature. Pay attention to the alpine aster, and she will thank you with exuberant flowering.

Planting perennial asters: video

Alpine aster: photo

If you try hard, you can grow a real star in your summer cottage.Astra lends itself very well to planting and care in the open field. In this article you can familiarize yourself with the description of the plant and its varieties. Here you can find information about reproduction, cultivation and combination with other plants. Learn a lot about the use of asters in landscape design using the example of country photos.

Description: varieties and varieties of asters

The culture has earned universal recognition due to the variety of plant forms: from miniature to giant shrubs, which are decorated with flowers of various shapes and colors.

Perennial asters

Alpine aster

This type of plant includes a wide variety of subspecies and series of varieties.

Alpine aster. Blooms earlier than other varieties. Already at the end of May, you can see blossoming buds on it. Bushes of short stature - 20-25 cm. Leaves form beautiful bushes in the form of a hemisphere. The color of the flowers of this variety of asters is replete with its diversity. There are both white and pink, dark purple with a bluish tinge, flowers with a bright orange eye. The most common varieties:

• Gloria - blue flowers with a bright orange center;
• Vargrave - pink flowers with a yellow eye;
• Albus - snow-white flowers;
• Abenshein - double pale pink flowers with a yellow center.

Mongolian aster. It blooms in mid-July and belongs to the summer-flowering type of culture. It has its name due to its territorial origin: this series of varieties comes from Mongolia. The bushes reach 1 m in height, the flowering is quite abundant in large loose rosettes. Loves sunlight and tolerates frost well.

New England aster

American (New England) aster. It blooms late - in the middle of autumn. In the southern regions, it can bloom in November. Huge bushes reach a height of 2 m. It has large bright flowers of unusual shades for asters. The most popular are:

• September Ruby - red flowers with a light eye
• Violetta - deep purple flowers;
• Purple Cloud - tall bushes with huge lilac flowers;
• Kylie is a frost-resistant aster (tolerates night temperature drops down to -5 ° C), the bush is dotted with small pink flowers.

Italian aster

Chamomile (Italian aster). The flowering period begins in August, the flowers are small lavender, collected in inflorescences in the form of umbrellas, several pieces.

• Ultramarine - violet flowers with blue tips and a yellow heart
• Violet Queen is the most common cultivar in this series and has beautiful purple blooms.

Annual asters

Plants of this type have a limited growing time. Such a flower must be planted every season. The variety series of annual asters differ in the shape of the inflorescence:

Peony asters. Small ornamental bushes up to 70 cm tall. The flowers are large, up to 15 cm in diameter. Peduncles are long, 1 flowering each. These asters are mainly used as cut-out decor. The combination of various varieties of asters in the bouquet looks stunning. The most popular variety of peony annual asters, which have a tall, spreading bush with double reed flowers up to 13 cm in diameter, is the "Ostrich Feather". Its peduncles are long and resilient.

Aster annual peony

Chrysanthemum asters. This series is named so because the flowers of the plants resemble chrysanthemums. A striking representative of this series is Apollonia. The bush is formed in a pyramidal way about 65 cm high. The flowers are large - 10-11 cm. 10 or more rosettes can bloom on the bush at the same time.

Spherical asters. They got their name from the shape of the inflorescences. The most popular variety is "Martian". The bushes are low up to 45 cm. It has strong peduncles, 42-45 cm long. It produces up to 17 small (5 cm in diameter) flowers on one plant.

Needle asters. They are called so because of the shape of the pseudo-reed petals on the inflorescence, twisted into a tube and resembling long needles.The Kassandra variety has become widespread in the central and southern regions. Bushes up to 80 cm tall, upright. Good strong peduncles, the length of which is 35-40 cm.Up to 17 inflorescences with a diameter of 10 cm can form on the bush.

Needle aster

The variety of asters allows you to grow them for use in landscape design, and create cut flower decorations.

Planting a plant

Planting asters in the open field is done after choosing a suitable site. A permanent place should be selected taking into account the photophilousness of the plant. You should also prepare a good drainage for the flowers. Astra feels best in the place where calendula grew before.

If planting is done by seedling, then first you need to sow seeds in the open field. Sprouts sprout in 5-7 days. After 3-5 developed sheets appear on them, picking and thinning are performed. Next, the asters are planted in a permanent place.

Aster should be planted in a well-lit area.

The most favorable time for planting young asters is mid-spring. The air temperature is already right in April. Saplings are planted in the evening.

In order to prepare the soil, it is necessary to dig deeply a piece of land in which the asters are supposed to be planted since autumn, with the introduction of humus or compost (2 kg / m2) into the soil. After the snow melts, the site is dug up again. If the land is poor, then 30 g / m2 of superphosphate and 20 g / m2 of potassium salts must be added to it.

Important! The first watering is performed not during planting, but after 2-3 days.

Plant care

Astra is not a very demanding culture, so caring for it does not take much time and effort. The main thing is to loosen the soil in time and remove weeds. This procedure must be performed after watering or rain has passed.

Transplanting a young plant into the ground

Watering is important for the aster. But here it should be borne in mind that they tolerate excess moisture as painfully as the lack. In hot weather, it is better to water asters growing in the open field less often, but more abundantly (30 l / m2). If watering is not done on time, then the inflorescences may lose their decorative appearance.

Also, care includes the timely removal of dried flowers and leaves. This should be done in the morning, so that the plant has time to tighten the wounds. If dead or diseased areas of the flower are not removed, the plant will waste nutrients to restore them.

It is very important to observe the optimal watering regime for the plant to feel good.

Advice. In order for the aster to please with the beauty, planting and care must be performed correctly.

Fertilizing and feeding asters

An important stage in the cultivation of all varieties of asters is feeding. For the entire season, fertilizer must be applied at least three times.

10 days after planting:

• ammonium nitrate 20 g / m2;
• potassium sulfate 10 g / m2;
• superphosphate 50 g / m2.

When the first bud appears:

• potassium sulfate 10 g / m2;
• superphosphate 50 g / m2.

Aster must be fertilized several times per season.

At the beginning of flowering:

• potassium sulfate 10 g / m2;
  superphosphate 35 g / m2.

Timely fertilization of the soil will allow the plant to delight you with a much larger number of new blooms.

Plant propagation

Growing an aster implies its subsequent reproduction, which is performed using seeds and dividing the bush. Planting seeds of annual asters in open ground is carried out in the spring no later than 2-3 years after they were harvested. And perennials are sown at the end of the season in the fall, immediately after collecting the material.

Aster seeds

Also, perennial asters are bred vegetatively (by dividing the bush). If the plant is divided in the spring, then in the fall one can observe the flowering of its separated part. Astra tolerates division very easily.Reproduction by the vegetative method is carried out when the separated part has 4 new shoots, one bud and several roots.

From May to August, asters can be propagated by the cuttings method. Apical cuttings (6 cm) are chosen as planting material. Reproduction is carried out by planting the material in a prepared mixture of turf, peat and sand. After a month, the cuttings are completely rooted.

Diseases and pests

Asters, like any other plant, are susceptible to attacks by pests and pathogens. Also, this culture is affected by viral diseases. Signs of disease appear on the stems, leaves and inflorescences of the plant. The growth of the affected specimen is slowed down, the flowers are deformed and may die.

Aster pest - plowed slug

To avoid losses among the plantings, it is necessary to use high-quality planting material and choose virus-resistant varieties. Also, proper care of the crop can act as prevention.

The most dangerous for asters are insectscarrying viral infections.

Plowed slug. It feeds on the green part of the plant. Eats leaves and sometimes buds. When the culture is damaged by this pest, oblong holes are formed on the leaves, and mucous discharge is observed. Slug propagation occurs in conditions of high humidity.

You can fight it by killing weeds and carrying out autumn plowing. Sprinkling lime along the borders of the site will also help.

Earwig. Adults are especially dangerous. The attack by these insects occurs in the second half of June. They feed on buds, inflorescences and aster leaves.

Earwig

The main method of control is pollination of plants with foundation.

Astral blizzard. It is a small butterfly (20 mm in wingspan). Both adults and caterpillars are dangerous. The attack by these insects most often occurs during the flowering period. Adults lay eggs in the inflorescence, the caterpillars first feed on pollen, and then eat the whole flower.

To avoid such attacks, it is necessary to prevent planting of asters in close proximity to sunflowers. It is also necessary to cultivate the soil before planting with bazudin, since the caterpillar pupates and hibernates directly in the soil.

Spider mite. A small insect of a yellow tint, located on the lower part of the leaf and sucks the juice out of it. Damaged leaves dry and fall off. Active reproduction of the tick occurs in dry weather.

Spraying the plant with a solution of 0.2% carbaphos or onion infusion will help to cope with the pest. For the preparation of which, it is necessary to put 100 g of warm onions in a 3-liter jar of water, cork and stand for 8 hours. Strain the liquid and add another 7 liters of water. To improve the effect, add 45 g of liquid soap.

The most dangerous diseases of asters include:

Fusarium

Fusarium. It is caused by the fungus Fusarium, which is found in the soil in the form of spores. The fungus enters in the process of absorption of nutrients by the roots and clogs the entire vascular system of the plant. It is manifested by dark stripes on the stem and wilting of leaves on one side. You can also notice a pinkish bloom on the root area - this is the mycelium of Fusarium. Spreads when humidity rises.

You can fight the disease by adding lime and etching the planting material in a foundationol solution. Steaming the soil will also help prevent fungus formation.

Jaundice of asters. A viral disease that can infect a plant with cicada and aphids. It is manifested by lightening the leaf plate along the veins. As the disease progresses, growth suppression is observed. The buds turn green and stop developing.

Jaundice of asters

To prevent the development of the disease, it is necessary to destroy the carriers of the virus. Affected plants are removed and burned.Aphids are fought with a decoction of yarrow, they are sprayed with each bush of asters growing in open ground.

Blackleg. A disease caused by a fungus. Young plants are affected. It is manifested by blackening of the neck of the root and the base of the stem. The pathogen is actively developing in acidic soil.

To prevent the disease, early picking of young seedlings of asters and sprinkling of the root area with sand is performed. If a disease is detected, the affected plants are removed and the soil is disinfected.

Aster: combination with other plants

Asters are beautiful on their own and next to other plants. The combination of different varieties of asters on the flower bed will bring a variety of bright colors to the garden. The plant goes well with phlox and dahlias. Alpine aster, which has blue flowers, can be combined with bearded irises.

Astra looks very beautiful not only in a flower bed, but also in a bouquet

Astra echinacea will help create a good composition, such a duet will look especially attractive during autumn leaves. Also, perennial sunflower flowers look very good near tall asters with inflorescences of warm shades. The combination of plants, matched to each other or in contrasting colors, is the most attractive for any garden.

Aster in landscape design

Growing asters for use in landscaping involves taking special care of the plants. They are given the appropriate formation and decoration with additional materials.

Mono-planting of asters is great for landscape design.

Perennial asters of small stature are mainly used in landscape design. The favorite of the designers is the alpine aster. Its small size and abundant flowering cannot leave any person indifferent.

Alpine aster looks very advantageous in combination with natural stone. It emphasizes the severity of the shape of the stones, and the delicate shades of the flower stand out especially well against a gray or beige background.

How to sow asters correctly: video

Asters: photo

Alpine aster is an extremely useful flower for landscaping. Due to its unpretentiousness, brightness of color and long flowering, aster can decorate a summer cottage for a month, or even more. We will learn how to plant this wonderful plant and how to care for it to please the eye for a long time.

Description

Aster has many types - and one of the most common in landscape design is alpine. The advantage of the plant is in its decorative effect, amazing unpretentiousness and long flowering. Alpine aster begins to bloom at the end of May and pleases with its beauty for a whole month. The plant grows up to 25-30 cm tall, its flowers are small, reaching 4-6 cm in diameter - one peduncle on one stem. (see photo)

The shape and size of the inflorescences of the perennial alpine aster resembles a chamomile - only colored. Some flower growers call it “alpine chamomile”. The plant is ideal for landscape decoration, looks especially good on alpine slides.

The flower is frost-resistant, which is important for our difficult climate. The color range is striking - alpine aster is presented in a variety of shades. Violet, blue, pink and orange varieties are especially popular.

In nature, the plant is found in the Northern Hemisphere, including in North America. The flower prefers mountainous terrain, therefore, most often the Alpine aster can be found in the Alps, in the Caucasus Mountains, in Altai, in the Sayan Mountains.

Types and varieties

Breeders have bred many gorgeous varieties and varieties of this plant - consider some of them.

Albus

This aster blooms early, has short stems covered with small leaves. The flowers of the plant are white, the core is yellow, have a semi-double structure. The height of an adult bush reaches 12-22 cm. Ideal for landscaping.

Goliath

Semi-double alpine aster with petals of a beautiful light purple hue. The foliage is gray-green and contrasts harmoniously with the flowers. This variety grows quickly - it can spread over the entire area that will be allowed to it.

Dunkle Chenet

A low-growing plant with lush foliage and deep purple flowers. The bright yellow core gives this aster a special decorative effect. The height of the bush is up to 25 cm, the diameter of one color is 3 cm. The variety with rapidly fading peonies looks gorgeous, against the background of monophonic foliage, standing out with a bright beautiful spot.

There are about 250 species and varieties of alpine asters known today. And if you want asters of different varieties, get a special set - a mix. It will contain multi-colored specimens of different types, which will make up a wonderful pictorial composition.

Landing conditions

What requirements must be observed when planting an alpine aster in open ground.

When to plant

Most often, aster is grown from seed. In the middle lane, you can sow seeds directly on the garden bed: the beginning of April is ideal for this. But after planting, the bed is covered with a film to protect the seedlings from return frosts. A month later, when the seedlings grow up, they are planted in flower beds, flower beds, hills, or left in the same place.

If you plan to grow seedlings, then at home you can plant seeds at the end of February and until the end of April. Those gardeners who did not have time with the spring planting sometimes plant seeds directly into the ground even in the middle of summer.

The soil

In order for a flower to grow and develop well, it must be planted in a nutritious soil. The best fertilizers for asters are phosphate fertilizers. In addition, the bed must be dug up and thoroughly cleaned of weeds. Add lime to the soil before digging to make the soil less acidic. It is necessary to dig up the bed by 30 cm.

Site selection

Alpine aster prefers well-lit, sunny places in the garden - this is where the plant needs to be planted. You can not plant asters on a flooded area - in conditions of stagnant moisture, the plant often suffers from powdery mildew.

Landing

How to plant an alpine aster: learn about the nuances of seedling growing from seeds.

The seeds of the plant must be buried in the ground by 1-1.5 cm, no more. Planting is done in two seeds in one cup. When planting in one large box, it is necessary to make rows with a distance of 8 cm, and leave a distance of 5 cm between the seeds. There should be drainage holes at the bottom of the seedling container, since this plant does not tolerate stagnant moisture.

Take the soil ready, intended for indoor plants or specifically for asters. In the absence of a ready-made substrate, you can prepare your own by taking garden soil and mixing it with rotted compost. Remember to disinfect the soil to avoid contaminating your seedlings.

Growing young asters will best of all go on the southern windowsills - with an abundance of light, the sprouts will not become elongated, one-sided. Seedlings move to open ground in summer or even early autumn. Asters begin to bloom most often the next year, but sometimes only in the third.

Care

Let's get acquainted with the basic nuances of caring for an alpine aster.

Top dressing

Alpine aster will delight you with lush and long flowering, if it grows in alkaline soil containing a large amount of calcium. From fertilizers, a mixture of potassium and phosphorus preparations is suitable for the plant.

If the soil is poorly nutritious, it must be enriched with organic matter before planting. It is better to use humus at the rate of 10 kg of fertilizers per 1 m2 of soil. In the spring, nitrogenous substances are also introduced into the garden to form greens more actively.

Don't overdo it. In nature, this flower grows in mountainous, infertile soils, therefore it is quite hardened and can react negatively to excess nutrition.

Loosening, mulching

It is recommended to loosen the soil in the bed with asters after watering. The procedure will eliminate the hard crust on the soil surface, provide ventilation of the roots and partially get rid of weeds.

As for mulching, you can also use this method of maintenance, which allows you to prevent the emergence of weeds and retain moisture at the roots. The mulch layer should be small - 2-3 cm.

Drafts

In principle, this plant is not afraid of the winds, therefore, it is possible to plant Alpine aster in open areas.

Watering

This procedure must be carried out regularly, but not too abundantly. Lack of water can lead to the loss of decorative asters, drying of their inflorescences.

Irrigation, spraying

Usually, watering is enough for aster to moisturize. However, if the summer has turned out to be particularly dry, the usual care can be supplemented by irrigating the plant from above from a sprayer.

Treatment from pests, diseases

In general, the plant is resistant to parasites and diseases. However, if the weather in summer is especially damp, rainy and cool, aster can get sick with powdery mildew. Growing a flower in lowlands with stagnant water leads to the same result.

For the prevention of the disease, a Topaz solution is used: a product is prepared at the rate of 2 ml per bucket of water, after which the plantings are sprayed. The procedure is carried out twice before flowering. In autumn, it is advisable to spray asters with copper sulfate (50 mg per bucket of water).

If the infection has already occurred, the affected plant parts must be cut and burned to stop further spread of the infection. Affected alpine aster is treated with the following fungicides:

• Gamair;
• Topaz;
• Fitosporin.

If the plant is constantly in highly moist soil, it may also be at risk of root rot. This problem is dangerous because root rot is incurable. To avoid problems, you should not be zealous with watering asters, and also plant them in inappropriate places.

As for pests, the greatest danger to the alpine aster is aphid. This small insect sucks out the juices of the plant, which leads to a deterioration in its growth, a slowdown in development, and deformation of inflorescences. From aphids, flowers are treated with special insecticides.

Dangerous for asters and snails who like to feast on young shoots. They fight snails, scattering wood ash on the beds. And the location of the flower bed in a well-lit, open, ventilated place will help to avoid infection.

Transplant and pruning

To renew the population, to maintain lush flowering, it is recommended to transplant asters every three years to a new place. Since at least a flower can grow in one place for seven years, it gradually loses its decorative effect without transplanting.

As for pruning, only old inflorescences that have dried up are removed from asters. This measure allows new flower stalks to bloom, preserves the decorative effect of the flower bed.

Wintering

Alpine aster has a fairly high frost resistance and tolerates the winter period quite well. However, if winters with little snow are typical for your area, it is better to mulch the plants with sand or soil on the eve of cold weather in order to save flower buds from freezing.

Reproduction

Alpine aster can reproduce at home in three ways:

• seed;
• dividing the bush;
• cuttings.

Further details about each option.

Seeds

Planting material is harvested in the fall, or bought in a store. Disembarkation takes place from late February to April. Seedlings are placed in open ground in April-May. In the second or third year, the plants bloom. Note that aster seed germination is quite low, so it is necessary to plant twice as many seeds in advance as required.

Dividing the bush

This is a simple and convenient method, often used in garden areas. The bush divides in the spring - each separated part should have healthy roots. Then the pieces are transplanted to new places, rooted and then grown in the usual way.Such asters bloom in the same season.

Important: only an adult plant should undergo the division procedure - not earlier than the aster turns 3-5 years old.

Cuttings

For this purpose, take apical shoots about 5-6 cm long. Cuttings are initially planted in a separate bed with a sand-peat mixture. After about a month, when the cuttings are rooted and stronger, they can be planted in a permanent bed.

Alpine aster is a real find for lovers of landscape gardening. Thanks to this unpretentious and beautiful flower, alpine slides, flower beds, flower beds and other elements of the site will always delight with their decorativeness and attractiveness.

What flowers to plant is a question that is asked by almost all gardeners and site owners. The desire to get a chic and constantly blooming flower bed makes professionals and amateurs look for the most exotic flowers. But one flower is sure to be found in any garden or in any flower bed. This is a perennial autumn aster. This is a flower that blooms one of the very last and pleases with its bright colors during the lingering autumn rains. In this article, we will consider the features of a flower that is familiar to us, talk about the main types of perennial and popular asters, and also learn all the nuances of agricultural technology for growing an autumn beauty.

Varieties of perennial asters

This type of plant includes a wide variety of subspecies and series of varieties.

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Alpine aster. Blooms earlier than other varieties. Already at the end of May, you can see blossoming buds on it. Bushes of short stature - 20-25 cm. The leaves form beautiful bushes in the form of a hemisphere. The color of the flowers of this variety of asters is replete with its diversity. There are both white and pink, dark purple with a bluish tinge, flowers with a bright orange eye. The most common varieties:

• Gloria - blue flowers with a bright orange center;
• Vargrave - pink flowers with a yellow eye;
• Albus - snow-white flowers;
• Abenshein - double pale pink flowers with a yellow center.

Mongolian aster. It blooms in mid-July and belongs to the summer-flowering type of culture. It has its name due to its territorial origin: this series of varieties comes from Mongolia. The bushes reach 1 m in height, the flowering is quite abundant in large loose rosettes. Loves sunlight and tolerates frost well.

American (New England) aster. It blooms late - in the middle of autumn. In the southern regions, it can bloom in November. Huge bushes reach a height of 2 m. It has large bright flowers of unusual shades for asters. The most popular are:

• September Ruby - red flowers with a light eye
• Violetta - deep purple flowers;
• Purple Cloud - tall bushes with huge lilac flowers;
• Kylie is a frost-resistant aster (tolerates night temperature drops down to -5 ° C), the bush is dotted with small pink flowers.

Chamomile (Italian aster). The flowering period begins in August, the flowers are small lavender, collected in inflorescences in the form of umbrellas, several pieces.

• Ultramarine - violet flowers with blue tips and a yellow heart
• Violet Queen is the most common cultivar in this series and has beautiful purple blooms.

Rules for planting perennial asters in open ground

All perennial asters need an abundance of sunlight. It is necessary to take this fact into account when planning the planting of a flower in open ground. Never plant this plant in a flooded area. It is also worth knowing that asters love phosphate fertilizers. It is better to start care in the form of soil enrichment even before the seedling is planted in the ground. Be sure to perform activities such as digging the ground (to a depth of 30 cm), removing weeds and watering thoroughly before planting. It is advisable to add lime or dolomite flour to the soil when digging.

Sowing calendars for 2017

Planting perennial aster seeds in open ground

In the southern regions, the seeds of perennial asters are sown directly into open ground in late autumn or spring, sprinkling them with a centimeter layer of humus. Slightly matured seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place. It is important that the seeds are as fresh as possible. You will be able to see colorful flowers, as in the provided photos, only after a year. In regions with a more severe climate, the seedling method of growing perennial asters is practiced. Purchased soil is quite suitable for planting seeds. The container with the sown seeds is covered with polyethylene and placed in a sunny place. When the leaves appear, the seedlings are carefully dived into separate pots.

Aster propagation by dividing the bush

Dividing the aster bush (vegetative method) is a simple and quick method of propagation and planting new areas with flowers. It is necessary to separate part of the bush together with the rhizome in the spring after the beginning of rapid growth, remove weak stems and transplant to a new place. Aster can grow in one place for up to 7 years, but to renew the bush, maintain lush flowering, it is recommended to replant the culture every three years. Perennial aster tolerates bush division quite well.

Aster care in the open field

Aster can be called an unpretentious plant to care for. But in order for it to bloom in all its glory, you need to adhere to some rules of agricultural technology. First of all, it is necessary to ensure proper watering. Perennial refers to moisture-loving flowers. You need to moisten the soil with an abundant volume of water. But it is not worth it to be frequent with this procedure. The soil should dry out before the next watering. During the period of heavy rains, additional soil moisture is not carried out.

It is necessary to monitor the condition of the soil. The land needs to be loosened regularly, weed beds from weeds. In advance, before flowering, high hilling of plants is carried out - this stimulates the strengthening of the root system of perennials. In order to extend the flowering period, one must not forget to promptly remove drying inflorescences from the bushes. They are left only on those specimens that are intended for collecting seeds. Aster is a frost-hardy plant. You can leave the perennial for the winter in the open field. Preparatory measures are pruning the aboveground part and covering the flower bed with a layer of mulch.

Fertilizing and feeding perennial asters

Fertile lands with a high humus content are suitable for growing asters in the open field. If the land on the personal plot does not meet these requirements, fertilization will help to correct the situation.

Diseases and pests of perennial asters

Perennial aster is ideal for creating landscape design, resistant to many diseases and pests, unpretentious in cultivation. However, in a wet summer, with improper watering or planting asters in wet waterlogged soil, the likelihood of infection of a perennial with powdery mildew sharply increases. The disease is transmitted from plant to plant by air. The area of ​​the lesion 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. Dilute "Topaz" at the rate of 2 ml of the drug per 10 liters. water.

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In autumn, it is recommended to process the alpine aster with copper sulfate (dilute 50 g of the drug in a standard 10-liter bucket of water), after which the plants must be cut off. Infected shoots should be cut off and burned, since the powdery mildew fungus can be on the leaves and stems of the plant all winter, and in the spring, discard new spores and infect nearby flowers.