Asters are daisy-like perennials with starry-shaped flower heads. They bring delightful color to the garden in late summer and autumn when many of your other summer blooms may be fading.
There are many species and varieties of asters, so the plant’s height can range from 8 inches to 8 feet, depending on the type. You can find an aster for almost any garden at garden centers in autumn!
The plant can be used in many places, such as in borders, rock gardens, or wildflower gardens. Asters also attract bees and butterflies, providing the pollinators with an important late-season supply of nectar.
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for bees
What asters do you suggest for bees in Piedmont NC? They will be planted on fallow land and left untended.
transplanting
when is the best time to relocate asters? I have two that have out grown their current location and need to be moved. I was thinking of locating them after they have finished blooming this fall.
When Should Asters be Planted
I live in Glastonbury, CT 06033
What time of year should Asters be planted?
Are they perennials?
Thanks,
Asters
See the Planting section, above, for the answers!
Giant asters
I have asters that I swear have multiplied and have become so giant over the last few years that we are becoming overtaken. Should I be cutting them back until the 4th of July like I've heard you should do with mums? I've had them for a handful of years and I can't remember them ever looking this wild.
Pruning Asters
If excessive height is the problem, then you should pinch back the young shoots to encourage the plants to become bushier. If they are simply too big all-around, you can cut them back by about half up until the beginning of July (the 4th of July, essentially). Don’t wait any longer than that, though, as it could result in delayed flowering.
Asters
My asters were lovely last year but cannot see any buds yet 14/9/17. Will they flower this year?
asters did not bloom
Asters are pretty forgiving plants. Are you sure you don’t have a biennial variety? Asters bloom best in full sun but tolerate part shade. They do not like to sit in water, so well draining soil is important, and good quality—loamy or composted—soil helps. Next year, add a shovelful of compost at the base in spring.
Aster grown control
I have heard that aster can grow to be too large of a bush. I live in SE Pa and would like to grow it in a pot, maybe planted into the ground with the bottom torn open a bit to control its growth. Is that advisable? And would that control it from getting too tall and large?
aster control
You can grow asters of varying sizes; choose what you want. You could plant it in a pot and put the pot into the soil to control it. If the plant is cramped in the pot, it may become cramped (leggy or some other manifestation of stunted growth) but you should go to or contact a plant vendor and talk to them with the goal of purchasing a plant that will perform in the way you want it to.
Asters
I live in zone 6 and have been looking for hardy perennials that can handle full sun.
I just purchased some beautiful asters and am concerned because it gets hot here and above it says cool, moist summers and right now it's hot and dry.
Any planting tips that can help me ensute they can thrive in spite of the heat?
Thanks; all help will be very much appreciated.
Weird things are growing near my aster powder puffs
I bought aster powder puff seeds and they've grown to be about one inch tall. They're still very young but there are white-orange round things that are growing as well and I'm very concerned. Also, their are bites on the leafs and I don't know how to get rid of whatever that's eating the leafs. Please help!! Thank you!
aster rust
It sounds like your asters have a rust disease. You should remove all of the leaves that are infected and the entire plant if all of the leaves have rust.
Plant in pot or ground?
I just bought 2 aster plants that I'd like to plant in 2 pots I have on my front porch (full sun). I'm in zone 5b and am wondering what my options are. Is it best to plant the asters in the pots, then bring the pots in and keep them over the winter to plant in my garden in the summer, or put them in pots now and then plant them in my garden after they've finished blooming this fall? Thanks!
Potted Asters
You can either leave them in the pots outside (do not bring them in) and plant them in the early spring or go ahead and plant them now, but do it soon, as night temperatures are dropping fast! Either way, they require a cold dormancy period so they must stay outside.
aster died after a month.
This is the first time i had them. I water them every other day and they started to turn brown. So just water them twice a week and they still turn brown on me. Now they all died. What did i do wrong. And i even mulch them.
Watering Asters
Hi Donna,
I suspect they died from overwatering. I suggest starting over with new plants. Water them when you plant them, and then wait until they dry out a bit before giving them a good soaking. Plants like less-frequent, deep watering. Also, pay attention to the weather and the moisture level of the soil. Some weeks you will water more, others less. Air temperature and rainfall really determine how much water your plants need from week to week.
So I decided to give planting
So I decided to give planting a shot and I bought Aster seeds.. I had no idea how to plant, actually I have no knowledge about planting at all .. Anyway I followed my instinct and prepared the soil, I actually mixed a 2/3 soil with 1/3 compost and watered it a little, then I picked the seeds and pushed them into it, but not so deep .. After I finished I wateredthe soil well and positioned it in a full sunny spot ..
Then I thought why I haven't google it, so I did .. And here it's, all the results are talking about 6 - 8 weeks in the refrigerator, and I just got confused ..
I need to know if my seeds are going to grow, or at least if theres anything I can do now !
P.S. I'm watering it twice a day
Hi Dana,
Hi Dana,
Do not overwater. Just keep the soil moist. Use a spray bottle so that you don’t disturb the seeds too much. We suggest that you cover the pots or trays with plastic. This will keep the soil moist so that you don’t need to water. You should see new growth after about 10 days. When the seedlings emerge remove the plastic and mist the soil lightly. Put the plants in your sunniest window. When the seedlings have their first leaves transplant into bigger individual pots.
Asters
I have a large aster plant in my new yard. It dried out and fell over this winter. Should I cut it to the ground?
Yes, you can cut off the
Yes, you can cut off the dried out dead branches. This is normal for asters. As soon as the weather warms up you should see some new growth from the bottom of the plant.
My Asters are turning brown
I just bought a pot of asters a week ago and the leaves started turning brown from bottom up. At first, I watered every 2 days. When they start wilting, I asked the seller about it and he said to water everyday. So I watered every night. But it's not helping. Need help urgently. Really don't want the Asters to die. Or I at least want them to last till the Chinese New Year. Thanks in advance.
Asters grow best in full sun
Asters grow best in full sun and in moist well-draining soil. Make sure the soil is not too wet. Please see our planting and care tips at the top of this page.
Aster that won't bloom
I have many aster plants that bloom beautifully. However, at one site, there's a lush, green aster with many little buds on it, but for the second year, the plant doesn't flower. It's planted in full sun, doesn't get chemical fertilizer, and is watered somewhat every few days. The soil seems to be decent loam. Why won't this little guy bloom???
If the plants foliage looks
If the plants foliage looks nice with no signs of insects or yellowing keep the plants moist and do not fertilize. Add some mulch around the plant to keep the soil cool and moist. Hopefully the cooler weather will produce some flowers for you.
Asters
I got a pot of aster flowers and don't know anything about them. I live in Wichita, Kansas. Can these grow inside?
We’ve never grown asters
We’ve never grown asters inside. We’d suggest you grow asters in a pot on your patio and bring then inside and sit on a sunny window once they bloom.
Planted a lovely aster about
Planted a lovely aster about 3 weeks (late August). The buds opened up and all was well. Then one morning I noticed every flower was gone from the plant. I have rabbits in my yard and I presume they are the culprits. What can I do to keep the rabbits from eating my aster blooms. They've not eaten the foliage, just the flowers!
Rabbits do like to eat
Rabbits do like to eat asters. If you are lucky you may have a second bloom from your plants if you can keep the rabbits away. Check our rabbit page for suggestions.
http://www.almanac.com/content...
Sharon - I used to have the
Sharon - I used to have the same problem with rabbits eating my Aster (and other foliage). I read somewhere - probably Pinterest - to grate/shred original scented "Irish Spring" soap (which I found at the dollar store) to keep them away. I tried it this year and - viola! My Aster bloomed beautifully and my lily buds didn't get eaten! It didn't seem to harm any of the plants in my garden. This will be my go-to method from now on.
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