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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Just plant in loamy soil and
Just plant in loamy soil and fertilize before blooming. they are pretty forgiving!
Asters are tall, (and bloom
Asters are tall, (and bloom in fall), so you may want to put them in the back of the garden, or on the north side of it, so as to not shade the other plants. Asters like sun, at least partial. For bushier, shorter, bloomier plants, cut back to 8" in early summer (whenever that is in India, in Wisconsin, cutback time is june 8). You may want to cutback only the ones in front. Then the ones in back will bloom first. Other growing details are above in article!
It I'd Febuary and I ordered
It I'd Febuary and I ordered some dwarf asters and they are in a box with small amount of dirt , roots and the greenery is dryed up now but roots look ok. When can I plant these now or later this spring ???? But I am afraid if I don't they will die before then. I live in ky and its giving snow and cold temps. When and what should I do???? Please
You can plant the asters in a
You can plant the asters in a container with soil. Keep them indoors until you can plant them outside after the weather warms up. Keep the soil moist.
Help please!I purchased quite
Help please!I purchased quite a few small growing asters from a mail order co. last year and foolishly planted them in a bunch hopefully to provide a big display of flowers in my quite large garden. They didn't bloom at all last year but grew rapidly together into a tight shrub.I have just divided them into 4 medium size shrubs and transplanted them around the garden. Is this correct and how can I ensure they bloom next Summer/Autumn?
Asters are sturdy plants and
Asters are sturdy plants and transplant well. Keep the transplants watered and make sure they get enough sun (full sun is ideal).
I'm very new at planting. How
I'm very new at planting. How do I plant Peter Blue Aster . I need to plant everything in pots due to roots in mt yard. its Nov 6th and i don't know how to plant it . Help!
Plant asters anytime after
Plant asters anytime after the last spring frost. They'll bloom in late summer and fall.
Uuuggghhhh... I bought 5
Uuuggghhhh... I bought 5 Asters from Home Depot 3 weeks ago... but haven't had time to plant them in the ground. It now Oct 30th... is it too late to get them in the ground here in Madison, WI?
The 7 day forecast shows nothing below 32 degrees for the next seven days. Highs in the mid 40's & 50's if that helps.
If it is too late... how do I winter them indoors?
Chris
Hi Chris, It's OK to plant
Hi Chris,
It's OK to plant your asters now. Plant them as soon as you can and keep them watered until the soil freezes. Add a little mulch around the plants to keep the moisture in. See our planting advice on this page.
I have too many Aster plants
I have too many Aster plants in my garden.They seem to be bullies and very prolific. What is the best way to keep the plant under control and from taking over?
The best way to keep them
The best way to keep them under control is to pull up the unwanted ones. You can also cut the tops off and then keep the area mowed or cover the area with black plastic.
I purchased some Believer
I purchased some Believer Asters for a buck, 1/2 of the plant is dry and brittle, 1/2 green. Will the dry and brittle part return to normal next growing season?
If it is one plant and half
If it is one plant and half is still alive the plant will come back next year. Add some compost around the plant before winter.
Hello and thanks for this
Hello and thanks for this site, love it! Q- I just gathered up seeds from my dry brown Aster blooms. I want to grow Aster plants from the seeds.....now what?
See info above about planting
See info above about planting aster seeds!
Can annual asters be kept
Can annual asters be kept alive indoors until spring
Perennial asters last through
Perennial asters last through the winter in the right zone with lots of mulch, but annual asters will die at the end if their season. You can try to extend the season outdoors with a cold frame to protect from frost or bring indoors but the declining light may end their life cycle.
I just purchased 4 beautiful
I just purchased 4 beautiful purple Asters. There are bees all over them, that I understand. What I don't get is, why are there so many flies on the plant?
Some flies are active
Some flies are active pollinators of sedum, too, not just the bees. Unless you see the plant being chewed on (suggesting a pest), don't worry. At this time of year, plant sources may be low so all the pollinators will visit the asters.
Actually, those may not be
Actually, those may not be flies...they could be Mason Bees. Some Mason Bees look, at first glance, just like flies. But Mason Bees are very gentle, rarely sting and are GREAT pollinators!
My large, late blooming
My large, late blooming asters have been a subtle, light blue for the last several years. This year they are a bright crimson with a smaller flower. Is this transformation common? The blue was prolific and stunning. The crimson is not so impressive.
We've never known our asters
We've never known our asters to change color.
Asters do have anthocyanin, a pigment compound. It looks bright pink in acidic soil environments and reddish-purple in neutral soil. It's possible that the acidity of your soil could affect color. You could have a soil test.
Of course, asters do come in many colors from white and pink to lavender, purple, and blue. What most often happens is that you have a hybrid and the more dominant color starts to take over. This is the more likely explanation.
I have grown some lovely
I have grown some lovely Astes from seed, now in full flower but have noticed that some of the leaves are curled up with small green caterpillars and black "eggs" inside them. What can I treat them with?
There are many caterpillars
There are many caterpillars that eat aster foliage, including beet armyworms, cabbage loopers, carnation leafrollers, corn earworms, etc. For better or worse, the best control is to handpick the caterpillars off your asters with tweezers. Wear gloves to prevent stings or rashes. Drop the pests into a bucket of soapy water as you pluck. You can apply Bacillus thuringiensis but only when they are very young and you really want to ensure it's a "pest" destroying your plant not a beneficial bug. You could take a sample to your county cooperative extension office.
What fertilizer works best on
What fertilizer works best on asters so they can bloom more and better?
According to the UMass
According to the UMass cooperative extension, "Use a 150 to 200 ppm N constant feed program with a well- balanced fertilizer such as 15-16-17. Slow-release fertilizer can be used as top-dressing, but liquid fertilization may be needed as a supplement in case the fertility level drops, Asters are sensitive to high soluble salt levels. Injury is exhibited as root damage, leaf yellowing, and leaf drop."
We stop fertilizing when blooming begins.
My New England asters started
My New England asters started turning yellow with tiny spots on leaves,from the ground up a few weeks ago, now brown, disease or bugs?
It sounds as if you do indeed
It sounds as if you do indeed have an aster disease, probably leaf spot. Here is a helpful guide to diseases and management. You could always get a sample to your local cooperative extension or garden center as a next step in diagnosis.
This is the first year I have
This is the first year I have had asters, they bloomed and now the blooms have died out, do I need to "deadhead" these??
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