Alpine aster happy end planting and care. Perennial alpine aster: cultivation and care

What plant should I plant in my dacha so that it is pleasing to the eye and does not require any effort to care for? Designers recommend perennial alpine aster. The article outlines recommendations for planting and caring for asters planted in open ground. Alpine aster varieties, their characteristics and cultivation rules are described in detail. You will learn how to combine aster with other plants and use it in landscape design.

Description: varieties and varieties of alpine aster

Aster is one of the most common flowers used in landscape design in open ground and in summer cottages. These flowers delight the eye from spring to late autumn.

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. Typically, the lush flowering of asters lasts more than three to four weeks. Alpine aster flower rosettes are medium in size (do not exceed 4-6 cm in diameter), located one per stem. The shape and arrangement of the petals of the alpine aster resembles a chamomile, which is why it is sometimes called alpine chamomile. This flower is perfect for decorating the foot of an alpine hill and is frost-resistant.

The variety of colors of the alpine perennial aster contributes to its active use in landscape design. Breeders have developed many varieties of alpine aster with different colors of flower baskets: there are dark purple, bluish-violet, light and dark pink, bright orange flowers.

The most common varieties of alpine aster:

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

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

• "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;

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

• "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;

• "Dunkle Schöne" - a spectacular dark purple aster, inflorescences about 3 cm;

• "Ruber" - an unusual aster of a red-pink hue, flower rosettes up to 4 cm;

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

Planting a plant

Before planting the plant in open ground, you need to choose a suitable location: all perennial asters love a well-lit sunny place. Before planting asters, it is recommended to fertilize the soil (phosphate preparations are used), dig it up, pick out all the weeds and moisten it.

It is advisable to add about 200 g of lime (can be replaced with dolomite flour) and about 100 g of superphosphate to the soil before digging the soil and planting the aster. You should dig to a depth of 30 cm.

Attention! Damp, flooded soils are absolutely not suitable for planting asters. Under such conditions, the plant becomes infected with powdery mildew and simply dies.

Plant care

Alpine aster is a perennial, easy to care for. It is necessary to ensure timely watering of the plant (infrequently, but plentifully) and loosening the soil, weeding. Lack of moisture can lead to loss of decorative appearance of flower baskets and their drying out. Before flowering, it is recommended to hill 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.

The flower is frost-resistant, but for frosty winters it is recommended to mulch the perennial with soil or sand, taking into account that the plant buds must be covered.

Fertilizer and feeding

For lush flowering, alpine aster requires alkaline, permeable soil containing calcium. Phosphorus- and potassium-containing preparations should be added to the soil as fertilizers when replanting and pruning plants.

If an aster is planted in soil with a low humus content, it is necessary 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 added to light soils.

Plant propagation

Alpine aster is propagated in two ways: by seeds and by dividing a bush that has been growing for a couple of years.

Seeds Asters are collected in late autumn after flowering has ended, planted in fertilized soil and covered with film to obtain a greenhouse effect. The resulting seedlings germinate in March-April, after the first leaves appear. Asters grown from seeds bloom in open ground only in the second year. This propagation method is quite labor-intensive, since seed germination is low.

Dividing an 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 along with the rhizome in the spring after rapid growth begins, remove weak stems and replant it in a new place.

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

You can also have asters all summer propagate by cuttings. The tops of the shoots are suitable for this; their recommended length is about 6 cm. The cuttings should be planted in specially prepared beds with special soil (turf soil, peat, sand in a ratio of 2 parts soil to 1 part peat and 1 part sand) in partial shade, covered with agrofibre. Rooting time for cuttings is about 1 month. Young shoots up to 15 cm tall, cut into several parts, each of which should have 3 leaves, can be used as cuttings. In August-September, such cuttings can be planted in a permanent place of growth.

Diseases and pests

The alpine perennial aster is ideal for creating landscape design, is resistant to many diseases and pests, and is unpretentious in cultivation. However, in damp summers, if asters are improperly watered or planted in damp, waterlogged soil, the likelihood of the perennial becoming infected with powdery mildew increases sharply.

The disease is transmitted from plant to plant by air. The affected area depends on the density of asters and the presence of moisture on the leaves. In order to prevent this disease, it is recommended to treat flowers with Topaz twice before flowering. Topaz should be diluted at the rate of 2 ml of the drug per 10 liters of water.

Infected shoots should be cut and burned, as the powdery mildew fungus can remain on the leaves and stems of the plant all winter, and in the spring it will release new spores and infect nearby flowers.

Biofungicides are used to treat asters:

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

There are other ways to protect the 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, treat the plants twice).

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

Alpine aster: combination with other plants

Alpine aster blooms for quite a long time; it can serve as a background for other flowers, gradually replacing each other from spring to autumn.

Border irises, cypress spurge, evening primrose, multicolored spurge, and dotted loosestrife, which are painted in bright yellow, look impressive against the background of purple asters. The combination of bearded irises and alpine asters looks interesting - by planting blue or lilac varieties nearby, you can create a composition that is pleasing to the eye, playing on a smooth change of halftones.

Astra goes well with:

• violets;
• geraniums;
• large sedum;
• prominent sedum;
• white woodwood;
• incense;
• Thunberg barberries;
• Spiria japonica.

Experienced gardeners willingly include Julia primrose, reed grass, spartina, and creeping thyme in a composition with alpine aster. Successful partners for perennial aster are ornamental grasses.

Alpine aster in landscape design

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

The perennial alpine aster 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 it delights almost the whole summer with bright colors, emphasizing the beauty of the surrounding nature. Give your attention to the alpine aster, and it will reward you with lush flowering.

Planting perennial asters: video

Alpine aster: photo

The perennial alpine aster can be an excellent decoration for a garden or balcony. This flower is highly valued for its ease of care. If you want to bloom on your plot of land or balcony perennial alpine aster- planting and care, photos and cultivation features are presented in our article.

The main differences between the Alpine aster

Alpine aster is one of the varieties of the genus of herbaceous plants called Asters. This perennial flower is widespread in many countries of the world. The main differences between the Alpine aster:
short height - up to 35 cm;
yellow center;
petals in 2 or 3 rows;
colors - shades of red and purple, less often white;
The flowering period is all summer.

Externally, the flower looks like a chamomile. We present to your attention our photo selection, which presents several varieties of perennial alpine aster.

Rules for planting perennial alpine aster

All perennial asters need plenty of sunlight. It is necessary to take this fact into account when planning to plant 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. Before planting, be sure to carry out such activities as digging up the soil (to a depth of 30 cm), removing weeds and thoroughly watering. It is advisable to add lime or dolomite flour to the soil when digging.

Planting seeds of perennial alpine aster

In the southern regions, alpine aster seeds are sown directly into open ground in late autumn or spring, sprinkled with a centimeter layer of humus. Slightly stronger 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 photos provided, only after a year.

In regions with harsher climates, 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 dropped into separate pots.

This is what perennial aster seedlings look like

Caring for aster seedlings includes infrequent but abundant watering. You can feed the seedlings a little with an infusion of ash. Drainage is required. From mid-spring, seedlings begin to be hardened off, and at the end they are planted in open ground.

Reproduction of perennial aster by dividing the bush

This way you can propagate flowers growing on your or any other piece of land. Perennial alpine asters must be replanted and divided every 7 years. But many gardeners note that if you do this more often (for example, once every three years), the splendor of flowering is better preserved. After digging up the roots, remove all damaged parts and treat the planting material in a disinfectant. Planting in the same place can only be done after 5 years.

Cutting cuttings and rooting them

From the top of the bush you need to cut a cutting 6 cm long. It is immediately planted in prepared soil consisting of turf soil, sand and peat, and covered with agrofibre. Caring for cuttings before rooting involves regular watering. In about a month they will take root and can be transplanted to a permanent location.

How to provide proper care for perennial aster

As noted at the beginning, the perennial alpine aster is an unpretentious plant. But this does not mean that once you plant it, you can completely forget about it, ignoring the basic rules of care. The plant may not please you with the full beauty of its flowering if it experiences an acute lack of moisture, is overgrown with weeds, and the ground around is not regularly loosened. A good way to retain moisture and prevent the formation of weed thickets is to mulch the soil.

Dried flower stalks must be removed immediately so that the plant does not waste energy on it. If the region experiences severe winters, sprinkle the plant with sand or soil in the fall. Organic fertilizers should be periodically applied to soil with low humus content. Feed asters with preparations containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. You can add lime to the fertilizer.

Diseases of perennial aster and the fight against them

Asters are often subject to the following diseases:
Blackleg- a common fungal disease. Blackening and rotting of the plant occurs. Control method: immediately remove affected shoots and water the soil with an appropriate fungicide.
Rust- the disease is manifested by swelling and drying of leaves. Bordeaux mixture helps in the battle.
Fusarium- a fungal disease of perennial asters, manifested in yellowing and wilting of the plant. All affected parts must be burned. For prevention, it is important to transplant asters to a new location.

For a summer resident, a garden is like heaven on earth, how pleasant it is to be here, to take care of flowers. But it often becomes sad that we cannot prolong the flowering of our favorite plants, because in our country the climate cannot be called hot. Of course, we cannot stop the cold, but it is possible to admire the beauty of the garden until autumn. After all, you can plant perennial flowers that are not afraid even of frost. Asters are exactly like that, and you understand that today we will talk about them. But we will not talk about all flowers, because there are so many of them, but about one species, and it will be alpine aster.

Description of the species and its origin

Asters are unique flowers, because they can grow even in the most unfavorable regions, bloom the longest, and there is a very wide variety of them. Moreover, each flower and variety is like a separate, unique natural masterpiece. Asters amaze with their variety of shades, including burgundy, purple, lavender and rare blue. Seeds can be bought everywhere.

Alpine aster is one of the main species; by the name you can understand where this species comes from. Yes, in the wild, such flowers prefer to grow in mountainous regions, on hillsides. Moreover, if you haven’t understood yet, then this is a species, and it already includes many different varieties for every taste. What is so special about these flowers? For example, the timing of flowering.

Asters can bloom early, in summer and autumn, just like chrysanthemums. It’s not so often that you see flowers in the garden that are already pleasing in May, and these are not primroses. It is the Alpine aster that can bloom in the spring. To do this, it is planted using the seedling method. But you can sow the seeds directly into the soil, which gives another great advantage to asters. Yes, they are rarely afraid of return frosts and grow quite quickly, the main thing is to choose a good place and soil. But more on that later.

Alpine aster is a perennial; it can grow in one place for more than one year, but to keep the bush beautiful, it is better to renew it and replant it every 3-4 years. This flower belongs to the large family of Asteraceae. The root system is well developed, it is located parallel to the ground. It begins its growth with a rosette of leaves, which, as the stem grows, become smaller and smaller towards its end; here a bud begins to form. The flowers are located in baskets, where there can be up to 25-30 of them.

On a note! Many people confuse asters with simple daisies, chrysanthemums and daisies. But still, these are different flowers with their own requirements for soil and care. Primary colors are white, pink, lilac, crimson, blue.

The height of the bushes is up to 35 cm, there are also shorter representatives of the species - up to 15-20 cm, which makes them an ideal decoration for borders, alpine slides, and paths. Flowers look great in flowerbed arrangements or simply planted in rows. You can even create a design using different colors of alpine stunted asters.

Which variety to choose?

A beginner in gardening is often confused - there are so many species, and even more varieties. How to choose the one you need. Well, firstly, you immediately need to decide when you want to see the first flowers, secondly, what size bushes will best decorate your site, and thirdly, which is very simple - pay attention to the photos of those who have already planted plants. We will now tell you about some varieties of the perennial alpine aster. You can see photos of flowers on the package with seeds, but it’s still better to look at real pictures of summer residents. After all, so often manufacturers embellish the sizes and shades of colors in many ways.

So, some of the best alpine asters are:

You can choose one of these varieties or any other or an assortment of them. You can buy seeds in garden stores, but there are not always varieties that are very popular or rare. Then an online store can come to the rescue.

Important! It is better to sow aster seeds that were collected a season earlier, and not those that are already two or three years old. Consider this information when choosing them in stores.

There are many varieties, but asters still have fairly similar agricultural techniques, and if there are any nuances, you can usually find out about them on the package of seeds, where the manufacturer prescribes them. As a rule, they try to give advice and show agricultural techniques, because if you, out of ignorance, do not grow these varieties, you will decide that they were pumped up seeds. This is not profitable for the manufacturer. So, consider the following important points before you start growing alpine aster from seeds at home or directly in the beds.

• Flowers love fertile soil, but not the one with fresh manure or compost, but the one with humus. It can be poured into the holes themselves when planting seedlings in a permanent place, or applied to the entire area. In the spring, you simply redraw the soil.
• As for fertilizers, asters often lack calcium, phosphorus and potassium. Therefore, you need to fertilize if you do not have fertile land on the site.
• Dolomite flour and lime are also added to the soil to reduce acidity if the pH is less than 6.5, and to obtain the same calcium.
• Perennial asters grow quickly and have a well-developed root system, so they are not so easy to transplant from place to place. Decide in advance what your flowerbed will look like.
• Observe the level of planting - tall varieties come first, followed by low and ground cover varieties.
• Select asters with different flowering periods so that your garden is beautiful from early spring until late autumn.
• Don't plant too many different shades of perennial alpine aster, as it can look very tacky when mixed with other plants.
• Predecessors are also important - do not plant flowers where tomatoes, potatoes, peppers grew, since they suffer from the same diseases. But where were the herbs, garlic, marigolds, calendula, please.
• Change perennial asters every 4-5 years, renew the bushes.
• The area for flowers should be well lit or in light partial shade, the soil should be well permeable to moisture and air, and there should be no stagnation.

If you take into account all these important nuances, then your alpine asters will feel great. With good care and conditions, bushes begin to bloom earlier and flowering continues longer. They also grow and develop evenly, the flowers look full, and the leaves do not fade. And let's move on to planting and caring for the perennial alpine aster. The technique is quite simple, but there are points that are worth paying attention to.

Alpine asters - sowing dates, step-by-step agricultural technology, growing methods

When to sow aster?

There are several options - in the spring for seedlings at home, outside - closer to summer, or in the fall - before winter. If you want to grow seedlings so that they bloom in May, then start sowing from the second ten days of March until the beginning of April. If there is no time and place to do such plantings, then you can sow the seeds in May, but the asters will bloom only in the summer. There is also an option to make furrows after frosts - by sowing aster in this way, you will get seedlings in the spring. Weather hardening will allow the seedlings to be strong and grow quickly.

Important! Plant every year according to the dates of the gardener’s lunar calendar. This assistant talks about any issues on the site with flowers, vegetables, and trees.

We sow perennial aster using the seedless method

You took into account all the nuances and found the place. Now you need to pour boiling water over it to disinfect it and add humus. This is done approximately 1-2 weeks before the intended sowing. If your soil can hold moisture, add some sand or perlite to the furrows or holes. Now sow the seeds to a depth of 3 cm. Then sprinkle with soil, water and place a sign so as not to trample the crops.

If you want to sow alpine aster seeds in winter, then do all the same steps after the first frost. Then plant the seeds and mark the location. If your region has very harsh winters, then the crops can be mulched until spring with straw, spruce branches or peat. After germination, the mulch will need to be removed. It will retain both warmth and moisture for future flowers.

We sow alpine aster for seedlings

We choose a date according to the lunar calendar. By this day, you should already have prepared the soil and containers for sowing. You can buy soil or mix your own - turf soil, humus - in equal parts, 1/2 part sand, a spoonful of ash and a teaspoon of superphosphate. Any soil must be spilled with boiling water. Then make holes at the bottom of the trays, lay out a layer of drainage, and fill with soil.

Sow in furrows two centimeters deep. Moisten with warm water from a spray bottle and cover with film until germination. We place the seedlings on the window, when four leaves appear, we pick them into separate cups. It is better to take pots from peat or simple cardboard so that they can be immediately planted in the ground in May.

Advice! Until the alpine aster seedlings have sprouted, the temperature in the room should be 20-23 degrees, but after germination it is better to keep the seedlings at 16-18 degrees so that they harden.

Alpine aster care

So, your seedlings grow and develop, and in May you plant them in a permanent place, which must be prepared in advance, as described above. Or your asters sprouted immediately into the soil after sowing. After two weeks, you can add a complex preparation with a high content of phosphorus and potassium to the soil. Next, you need to feed the asters every 2-3 weeks so that they can bloom luxuriantly. You can use Agricola and Kemira-Lux.

Water the flower bed when the soil is almost dry. If there is stagnation, the roots will begin to rot, the flowers will wither or bloom less frequently. After each watering, you need to loosen the beds, thereby allowing the soil to breathe, weeding the beds from weeds. Asters are watered and replanted in the evening.

Every three years, it is better to divide the bushes and replant them, so that the rhizome and ground part will be renewed. You can propagate alpine aster by seeds, then do not remove those flowers that have bloomed, but collect them in the fall after they have completely dried. It is also possible to propagate aster by cuttings - cut off the top shoots 20 cm long, soak them in Kornevin and plant them in moist soil. On top you need to place a shelter from a transparent plastic bottle, which must be opened slightly every day to give the seedlings oxygen. The cuttings will take root in about a month.

If the asters start to hurt, then you need to act immediately. Improper care and a lot of precipitation lead to late blight and powdery mildew. To avoid them, spray with “Topaz”, Bordeaux mixture, “Fundazol”, soap or manganese solution, “Fitosporin”. To strengthen the immune system, it is also useful to use Zircon; all drugs are diluted according to the instructions. It is better to carry out prevention immediately after planting in a permanent place, and begin treatment with the same means after the first signs of illness appear. If the bushes are severely affected by late blight, you will have to remove them and then burn them.

Well, here are all the tricks that may be useful to you. Don’t forget about these nuances, and your asters will always be luxurious and healthy.

Heather groundcover aster belongs to the family of Compositae plants, genus Asteraceae. This one can be found in its natural environment in the southern and eastern regions of the North American continent. The herbaceous plant is used to decorate garden landscapes. The peculiarities of this culture are its numerous advantages.

Description of the plant

Heather aster (photo above) - beautiful. It has straight branched stems that are lowered to the ground. The height of the aster reaches no more than 1 meter. The leaves are linear in shape, located along the stem and colored green. Small basket-shaped inflorescences are a decoration of this plant. Their diameter does not exceed 1-1.5 cm.

The perennial heather aster can have one of the following shades:

white;

pink;

blue.

The center of the inflorescence is red-brown or yellow-brown.

The leaves, arranged in three rows near the basket, are lanceolate and have a pointed shape. Active flowering of aster begins in autumn and lasts from September to November. The plant bears fruit in the form of small flat seeds.

Characteristics of the species

Creeping heather aster is used to create landscape designs, as it is easy to form dense bushes of pyramidal and oval-pyramidal shapes from it. A huge number of flower baskets seem to be woven into a single carpet. This type of asters is characterized by special properties that are ideal for decorative design of garden landscapes. Let us note the main qualities of the aster:

Heather aster (perennial ground cover) has abundant and long flowering, which allows it to be used for decorating garden plots.

The plant is frost-resistant, able to withstand temperature changes and drops, down to -35 degrees.

In Russia this species is not in great demand, but in the USA and Europe almost no one can do without the heather aster.

Features of growing a plant

Heather aster is not a capricious crop; it is unpretentious in care and can grow in almost any conditions. However, there are requirements that it is advisable to fulfill in order for the plant to fully develop and please the eye:

Asters love to grow in open sunny areas or where there is slight partial shade.

In order for the heather aster to bloom profusely and develop well, it is necessary to create conditions that are as similar as possible to natural ones.

Almost any type of soil is suitable for growing a wild variety of plants, except swampy, saline and heavy soil.

If cultivated heather aster is grown, planting and caring for it should be more thorough. For this variety you need to choose the right soil. Ideally, it should be loamy, fertilized, moderately moistened; it is equally important to ensure good drainage.

If the soil on the site does not contain the microelements necessary for normal growth, organic fertilizers must be applied before planting. It can be humus or compost.

When planting in spring, it is advisable to add nitrogen fertilizers (20 g) to the soil, this will speed up the growth of the plant.

• The most common method of propagating flowers is division. It is best to plant the plant in the spring. The cuttings quickly take root and begin to bloom by autumn. The disadvantage of autumn planting is that not all seedlings have time to take root. The onset of early frosts can lead to the death of a fragile plant.

These flowers do not require complex care. Heather groundcover aster is not picky, but still, in order for the plant to be healthy and beautiful, effort should be made. Regular watering is important for her, but it must be done exclusively with settled warm water. Periodically, you need to add mineral and organic fertilizers to the soil; they stimulate plant growth. Weeding and loosening should be done as needed. Although the heather aster is not very susceptible to diseases and various pests, prevention will not harm it.

It is important to remember that poor soil moisture and lack of fertilizers lead to the leaves of the flower quickly turning yellow and withering. This reduces the frost-resistant and decorative properties of the plant.

Where to plant an aster?

Heather aster is an unpretentious flower, but it looks impressive in garden design. Its flowering from September to November decorates garden beds, lining entire carpets of small inflorescences. The plant retains its decorative functions for a long time, which is why asters are highly valued by gardeners. The flower is highly frost-resistant, blooms profusely and does not require special care. Florists know many tricks for growing this plant. First of all, the choice of place for planting aster is important.

The plant loves sunlight very much, so for its cultivation it is better to select open, unshaded areas. The most suitable soil is loamy and sandy loam soil. It is difficult to grow heather aster if the groundwater in the ground is located close to the surface, the plant does not tolerate excess moisture.

For 4-5 years there is no need to transplant the flower to another place; at the end of this period you need to change the site. This is a kind of prophylaxis to prevent possible diseases.

It is best to choose an area where marigolds or calendula grew before the asters. It is not advisable to replant the flower in places where carnations, gladiolus or tulips were grown, since these plants are susceptible to furasiosis, which is caused by fungi.

for planting asters

Preparing the soil for planting asters should begin in the fall. Before digging up the ground, humus or compost is added to it. The digging must be deep. If the soil has low fertility, in early spring you need to fertilize it with mineral components, which are combined with deep harrowing. Suitable for these purposes:

• potassium salt;
• superphosphates;
• ammonium sulfate.

Lime and wood ash are added to highly acidic soils and weakly loose soils. If groundwater is located nearby, a drainage layer should be provided for growing aster; fine crushed stone is suitable for this. To improve the structure of the soil, it is recommended to add a little river sand to it.

Before planting, you need to remove weeds, loosen and level the soil surface.

How to plant an aster correctly?

To get early flowering, it is recommended to plant aster as seedlings. Seedlings are planted in open soil in early May. Before doing this, the soil needs to be thoroughly watered. The distance between seedlings should be at least 25 cm. The row spacing should be within 50 cm. Since the aster is planted in moist soil, the plant should not be watered immediately after planting. The first watering is carried out 2-3 days after the soil dries.

Within 7 days the plant will take root, and then you can feed it by adding a weak solution of mullein under the bush. Before carrying out this procedure, you should water the flower bush abundantly.

Plants are planted in the evening or in cloudy weather. If planting occurs on sunny days, it is important to provide a little shade for the young seedlings.

Plant care

Heather aster does not require special care, but still, in order for the plant to grow strong and healthy and to form large inflorescences, it is worth paying some attention to it.

During the hot period, flowers require abundant but not frequent watering, after which the soil needs to be loosened. Asters have a superficial root system, so you need to loosen them carefully, no deeper than 5-6 cm. Excessive moisture is contraindicated for the plant, but drying out of the soil also leads to rapid withering. Everything should be in moderation.

To reduce the risk of furasiosis, it is recommended to regularly weed the weeds near the flower. With proper care, the plant develops without diseases and pests.

To prolong flowering, you need to periodically remove inflorescences that have faded, leaving only a few pieces for the seeds to ripen.

Perennial varieties are resistant to low temperatures and therefore do not require shelter in winter.

Propagation by seeds

Planting plant seeds in open ground gives good results. It can be carried out in spring, late autumn and even at the beginning of winter:

• Spring planting takes place in the first half of May. The seeds are placed in the soil to a depth of no more than 2 cm and watered with warm water. The soil is mulched using peat and compost. Fresh seeds have good germination; within a week, sprouts will emerge from the ground. A little later, you should thin out the plants, leaving a distance of less than 15 cm between them.
• In late autumn (mid-November), the seeds are planted in frozen soil. The furrows are prepared in advance before the onset of cold weather. The holes with seeds are sprinkled with dry, warm compost.
• In winter, sowing is carried out from December to January, but this is only if the snow cover is at least 10 cm thick. The furrows need to be prepared in the fall. Seeds are planted directly in the snow. The top of the beds is covered with dry mixtures of humus or compost. As soon as the thaw arrives, the seeds will find themselves in a favorable environment and will quickly sprout.

Reproduction by division

Perennial asters can be planted by dividing the bush. In this case, the plant must be at least 5 years old. Planting is done in the autumn, immediately after flowering ends. Division should be done very carefully, since the aster's root system is very delicate. After planting, the plant does not have time to fully strengthen before frost, so it is recommended to cover it with dry leaves or spruce branches.

Using asters for landscape design

The variety of varieties and different colors have made aster one of the most commonly used plants for creating landscape designs. There are flowers of dwarf sizes (about 25 cm) and simply gigantic forms (up to 1 meter in height).

Asters decorate flower beds, borders and rock gardens. Tall and medium asters go well with yarrow, rudbeckia and varieties. Cloves, calendula, gypsophila and marigolds are planted along with dwarf forms.

Popular types of perennial asters in Russia

Recently, gardeners have given preference to planting perennial asters. Their flowering of violet, blue and lilac shades begins in late August - early September and lasts until late autumn. The plants are unpretentious and do not require careful care. Heather aster is very popular in the USA and European countries, while in Russia the most famous varieties of perennial asters are considered:

• New Belgian.
• Shrub.
• New England.
• Alpine.

If you want to create a piece of paradise in your garden that will delight you with its blooms until late autumn, you should turn your attention to a flower such as the heather groundcover aster. Planting and caring for the plant does not cause any particular difficulties, and even an amateur gardener can cope with them.

Alpine aster is one of the most unusual representatives of the family. It is one of the perennial species; it is a beautiful and at the same time modest flower, in appearance most reminiscent of a large one. It attracts gardeners with a variety of shades: the petals can be lilac, pink, white, crimson, etc.

Alpine aster is a fairly unpretentious plant; it can be grown on your own plot from seeds with little labor.

Growing alpine aster is interesting for the gardener for many reasons. Unlike many other species, it begins to bloom very early: the first buds may appear as early as late May or early June. Flowering lasts approximately 1 month, the diameter of each flower reaches 5 cm. The flower type is a basket, like that of chamomile. Outwardly, this is not too flashy, but a very beautiful plant that can become a real decoration of the garden.

Alpine aster looks good when planted in groups, in addition, it can be planted as a border or used to decorate rockeries and more vibrant and multi-colored ones.

The total height of the alpine aster bush is no more than 30 cm, so it can be used to frame other decorative elements.

Although originally found in the mountains, the alpine aster today grows widely throughout the European continent, is a low-maintenance plant that can grow well in a variety of conditions.

It is not difficult to provide good conditions for growing alpine aster; this plant is perfect even for inexperienced gardeners. This is a perennial plant that can grow in one place for 5 years or more.

• This requires its correct placement on the site: it is better to choose a well-lit place for it, although it also feels good when located in partial shade.

To obtain beautiful flowers, it is advisable to comply with a few more requirements:

• For alpine aster it is necessary to prepare well-drained soil. This plant does not like excess moisture and constant stagnation of water, this can lead to rotting of the roots. Because of this, loamy soil is more suitable for it, which must be carefully dug up before planting or seedlings.
• This type of aster does not have any special requirements for soil acidity, but it is desirable that the soil is saturated with calcium and enriched with other microelements necessary for growth.
• usually grown in one place for no more than 3-4 years in a row. Otherwise, they will grow greatly, and this will negatively affect. The maximum growing period in one area is 5 years, after which the bush can be divided into several parts with a shovel and planted in different corners of the site.
• Experienced gardeners do not apply the first year after replanting and dividing the bush. This will lead to accelerated growth of leaves, and the aster will bloom worse.

These are just general tips for growing alpine aster. If you want to plant this plant on your site, you need to think about the location of the rest.

Aster is beautiful in itself, but it looks especially interesting as a frame for brighter flowers, and it can be made an important part of a decorative composition. You can experiment by planting rows of flowers with different shades of buds in the same flowerbed: aster blooms together and allows you to create interesting color combinations.

from seeds is a common propagation method that allows you to experiment with breeding work and develop new additional varieties. However, seeds are rarely planted immediately: in the natural environment it is impossible to create ideal conditions for growth, and because of this, seed germination deteriorates. In addition, if you choose early flowering varieties for the garden, they need time to grow.

Planting alpine aster to obtain friendly flowering is carried out as follows:

1. Seed material is planted at the end of March or in the first week of April in prepared seedling boxes. Can also be planted in a greenhouse protected from cold air.
2. Seeds germinate if the temperature does not drop below +20 degrees. However, in the future, for full growth, it needs a lower temperature, not exceeding +15-18 degrees. If it is too warm, the shoots will begin to stretch too quickly and they will become thinner and weaker.
3. When the plants acquire 3-4 true leaves, they can be placed in separate pots, and in early May in open ground. Plants are gradually accustomed to being planted in a permanent place: you must first periodically take the pots out onto the balcony or outside for a few minutes, and then gradually increase the period of stay in the open air.
4. For the first time after planting, it is recommended to water the plants daily; it is better to water the plants with water at room temperature in the morning. In this case, moisture should not stagnate in the soil; the soil should remain loose. The water should not be cold, this has a negative effect on the condition.
5. Alpine aster blooms, as a rule, in the second year after planting; in the first year it should gain green mass and become stronger. For the first, an infusion is used; it is added twice during the summer season. In autumn, aster prepares for a long winter, and at this time it does not require excess minerals. It is enough to add a small amount of ash to the soil.

There is no need to leave the soil bare before the winter season. A layer of mulch made from sawdust or leaves will help protect the roots from freezing. Usually the green part of the plants does not dry out, but goes to winter. If the stems and leaves have dried out, they need to be cut off so that in the spring the bush begins to grow with renewed vigor. There is no additional need to cover the bush: the alpine aster is quite adapted even to fairly severe cold weather, so it feels comfortable in the middle climate zone and in the Urals.

If you live in the northern regions, to protect the plant buds from severe frosts, the base of the bush can be covered with sand in the winter. This will make it possible to prevent the buds from freezing, and with the beginning of spring they will produce new young shoots.

With the onset of spring, it is necessary to remove the melted snow around the bushes so that moisture does not stagnate in the root system.

This can not only damage the roots, but also lead to rotting of young shoots; excess moisture during this period is destructive. Alpine aster is practically not afraid of pests and diseases. One of the few biological threats is: it affects plants planted in shaded areas with excess moisture in the soil. To treat the bush, it needs to be transplanted to a sunny place and treated with a herbal remedy. For example, phytosporin can be used to combat powdery mildew.

Alpine aster is a beautiful and unpretentious plant that will look great in your garden. Growing it will be very easy, and planting seeds will allow you to try yourself as a breeder. Using your own will allow you to experiment with the color of the buds and get plants with flowers of unusual colors.

More information can be found in the video.