Celebrating 10 years of helping your gardens grow!
[
The Garden Helper][
Gardening Basics][
"How to" Guides][
House plants][
Glossary of Terms]
[
Garden Encyclopedia][
USDA Zones][
Monthly Reminders][
Galleries][
Recipes]
[
**** The Gardener's Forum ****]
Grow Asters for fall color in the garden
Aster novae-angliae
September 19, 1999
When your garden colors begin to fade in the fall, and you just aren't ready
for plain ol' green, plant an Aster! Asters are great for late summer and
fall bloom. The most popular variety is the New England Aster (Aster
novae-angliae). It's bright 1 1/2 inch flowers bloom prolifically from
August through October atop a two to four foot plant. You will often see
native Aster varieties growing wild in almost any environment from the
tropics to the coldest regions of the north, in habitats ranging from extremely
arid deserts to bogs.
The Aster produce large clusters of delicate daisy-like flowers in white,
purple, lavender, pink or red. They are hardy in USDA
zones 4 through 9, depending on the variety.
Asters should be planted in moist well-drained soil in full sun, but they
will tolerate light shading. The plants form broad bushy clumps, so plant
them at least 18 inches apart. Mature clumps will need to be divided every
3 - 4 years in the early spring, or late fall after the flowering has finished.
Pinch back the tops by 6-8 inches at least once during the summer, to create
a bushier plant and to prolong the fall bloom. This pinching MUST be done
prior to mid July, or it will have an opposite effect, and blooming will be
reduced.
Asters may be propagated by dividing or grown from seed
sown indoors at about 70 degrees F. or may be sown directly into the garden
after all frost danger has passed. Germination takes
anywhere from 15 to 30 days, depending on the temperature.
Annual varieties of Asters require the same basic care, but should not be
planted in the same spot the following year, to prevent plant diseases
such as Aster wilt. Sow seeds directly into the garden in early spring,
when all frost danger has passed. Barely cover the seeds with 1/8 inch
of fine soil. Thin the young plants to 12 to 15 inches apart when they
are three inches tall. Successive plantings will ensure a longer blooming
season. Promptly remove any spent flowers to help ensure blooming throughout
the summer.
.
Gardening Glossary
[ The Garden Helper][ Gardening Basics][ Encyclopedia]
[ Plants by name][ Plants by botanical name][ How to Grow a Garden][ Monthly reminders]
[ House Plants][ Web Graphics][ Nature Gallery]
[Gardeners Forum][ Gardening Glossary]
