Shrub aster: description of varieties and varieties, cultivation and care with photos

Many owners of summer cottages and private houses are engaged in growing flowers. At the same time, flowers such as shrub aster are often planted. However, before planting a plant, it is necessary to familiarize yourself in more detail with its features and growing rules.

Description and characteristics of shrub aster

Shrub aster is a common perennial plant often grown to decorate flower beds. Currently, there are several hundred varieties of such flowers.

The features include their root system with a branching strong root, which is reliably protected from temperature extremes and pests.During cultivation, inflorescences 3-4 centimeters long appear on the bushes. Most often, their tubular part has a yellowish tint. In this case, the reed part can be:

• red;
• blue;
• lilac;
• white;
• pinkish.

The most common varieties and types

Before you start planting shrub flowers, you need to familiarize yourself with the most beautiful varieties of asters.

Alice Haslam

Among the popular varieties of shrub asters, Alice Haslam is distinguished. The main difference between a flower and other varieties is its miniature and compactness. The bush grows up to twenty centimeters, after which it stops growing.

Blau Lagoon

Plant with very bright inflorescences, painted in purple with a lilac tint. Blau Lagoon is considered an autumn flower, since flowering begins in early September and continues until the first night frosts.

Lady in Blue

The most popular winter-hardy shrub variety is Lady in Blue. Bushes in the second half of summer are covered with bright blue inflorescences that bloom until October.

Schneekissen

Short variety with compact bushes thirty centimeters high. Abundant flowering begins in late September or early October and lasts 25-30 days. The inflorescences have a yellowish center and snow-white petals.

Jenny

Jenny is one of the popular varieties of asters. Many summer residents decorate their flower beds with this particular variety. During the flowering period, inflorescences appear on the Jenny bushes with bright pink petals.

Anneke

The most unpretentious shrub variety that everyone can handle growing. Anneke begins to bloom in August and finishes in 35-40 days. The flowers are crimson with a light red tint.

Starlight

The characteristic features of Starlight include the branching of its bushes, as well as long flowering, which lasts 45-55 days. The shrub is unpretentious in care and therefore, when growing it, it is not often necessary to moisten or feed the soil.

Methods of flower propagation

Spruce aster reproduces by various methods. There are four main methods of flower propagation, the features of which must be de alt with in advance.

Seeds

Many breeders and gardeners use the seed method of flower propagation. At the same time, experts advise planting mature seeds immediately after harvest, so that the grown asters are he althier and not subject to disease.

Division

Another common method of propagating shrub flowers is division.When using this method, you will have to independently separate the stalk from a mature bush. It is recommended to do this in autumn or spring, when temperatures do not drop below zero degrees.

Layers

The oldest method of propagation of many plants is the use of layering. The essence of this method lies in the fact that before dividing the bushes on the stems, they stimulate the formation of young roots. The cuttings are then separated from the mother plant and planted in the soil.

Shanks

To propagate flowers by cuttings, you will have to cut shoots 15-17 centimeters long from young stems. Then they are transplanted into the soil and poured with warm water. The procedure is carried out in the first half of summer or spring.

Growing Rules

The perennial bush aster must be planted correctly and therefore it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the nuances of its planting in advance.

When to grow?

First you need to decide on the most suitable period for growing asters. Experienced gardeners advise doing this at the end of March or in the first half of April, when there are no frosts at night. If it gets warmer outside earlier, then you can start planting in early March.

Choosing a location on the site

Before landing, be sure to choose the most suitable place for landing asters. It is recommended to plant them in a semi-shaded area, as burns may remain on the leaves and inflorescences due to direct sunlight. Also, places with clean soil without weeds are selected for planting.

How to sow seeds correctly?

Before planting, all seeds are pre-treated with fungicides and stimulants to accelerate the growth of seedlings. Then soil is poured into the growing containers, after which holes are made about 15 centimeters deep.Seeds are planted in each hole, covered with soil and watered.

How are seedlings grown?

To get strong seedlings, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic nuances of growing it. Experienced gardeners advise keeping all containers with seedlings in cool rooms where the temperature does not rise above fifteen degrees.

Seedling seedlings should develop evenly. Therefore, in order for the stems to develop equally from all sides, it is necessary to periodically turn them towards the sunny side of the room.

Fitting technology

When the seedlings grow to 8-10 centimeters, they are transplanted into open ground. To do this, shallow holes are made in a flower bed at a distance of 20-30 centimeters. Then the asters are carefully taken out of the pots along with the soil and seated in the holes.

How to care for a plant?

So that the bushes do not die and delight the owners of the summer cottage with their beauty, they will have to be properly looked after. Therefore, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the basic nuances of caring for planted asters.

Irrigation

Shrub varieties of asters are known to cope well with dry weather. However, this does not mean that you can not moisten the soil in the flower bed. In order for the plant to grow normally, you will have to water all the flowers once a week. If the summer is rainy, watering can be reduced to 2-3 times a month.

Temperature

People who grow asters rarely pay attention to temperature. However, subject to the temperature regime, the planted plant will develop much better. It is recommended that when growing flowers, the temperature does not exceed 30 degrees.

Fertilizers

During the entire growing season, the plant is fertilized at least three times. Regular feeding of asters has a positive effect on the growth of bushes and makes flowering more lush. Gardeners are advised to fertilize the bushes with mineral fertilizers with the addition of organic matter.

How to properly store asters in winter

Despite winter hardiness, asters still need to be prepared for winter. To do this, in the fall, flower beds are covered with a dense layer of fallen leaves with tree branches. Shelter is removed in the last days of March.

Common diseases and pests

The most common disease that affects asters is Fusarium. It is impossible to cure this disease, and therefore all infected flowers must be dug up and burned so that the disease does not spread through the flower bed.

Also, pests that periodically attack asters can lead to the death of plants. Plants most commonly affected:

• scoops;
• aphid;
• bugs;
• farmed slugs;
• pennies;
• pincers.

To protect the flowers from pests, it is necessary to periodically feed the soil with lime, and also dig the site after flowering.

Conclusion

Many summer residents who want to decorate their plot with flowers are engaged in the cultivation of shrub asters. Before planting such plants, you need to familiarize yourself with the common varieties and the rules for their breeding.

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