Am I Taking Good Care Of My Asters?

Did you planted your asters in full sun location?

Did you planted your asters in well-drained, slightly acidic soil?

Do you water your asters regularly during the growing season being careful not to splash water on foliage?

Do you feed your asters twice a month with a well-balanced fertilizer?

Do you cut back your asters after frost kills off the foliage?

Do you divide your asters every three years to prevent them from getting too woody?

Do you keep your asters free of pests and diseases?

Choose an area with full sun for your aster flowers. Too much shade will cause lanky plants and fewer flowers, especially for the common cultivars and hybrids. There are some native species varieties, however, that will do quite well in part shade conditions.

Asters appreciate loamy soil on the slightly acidic side, with a pH ranging from 5.8 to 6.5. If your soil is alkaline, you can correct it by adding organic matter such as well-rotted manure, leaf mold, or compost. Well-drained soil is a requirement.

Keep new plantings moist and continue watering until the flowers are finished blooming. Water the base of the flowers without splashing water on the leaves. Doing so may cause mildew or fungal growth. One inch of rain or watering once a week is usually recommended for most perennial plants.

Asters are moderate feeders, and they appreciate a balanced flower fertilizer given twice a month from spring until the blooms begin to open. Excessive nutrients can shorten the blooming time, so stop fertilizing asters in August.

When frost finally kills off the foliage, clip off the stems at ground level. Or, this can be done in the spring to allow birds to feed on the flower seeds overwinter.

Every three years or so, the root clumps should be dug up and divided to keep the plants from getting too woody and dying out in the centers. The woody center can be discarded, with the outer portions replanted.

Good job! You are taking good care of your asters.

Rust and powdery mildew disease can affect aster foliage. Follow proper plant spacing to improve air circulation, and avoid splashing watering to prevent these problems. Most insect pests leave asters alone, but lace bugs can be a bother. If you notice yellowing foliage and leaf drop in the summer, consider using insecticidal soap on the plants.