Aster

Perennial asters - autumn garden decoration. They are affectionately called "Octobras" or, more romantically, "falling stars".Height of plants from 30 to 200 cm. Flowers as simple, hack and semi-double or even terry, white, blue, purple, carmine-red, purple, from 2 to 8 cm in diameter. By the time of flowering, they are divided into early, flowering in June, summer - in July-August and later - in September-October.

In a large family of asters there is an alpine aster, similar in appearance to a daisy. It is usually called a purple daisy. This low, unpretentious, perennial plant is usually planted on stony hills. Among the stones, it feels wonderful, as it grows in the mountains of Europe, Asia and North America. From Western China, we got Astra Tongolian with blue

with marginal petals, very similar to Astra Alpine. The marginal petals of the alpine aster flowers are often painted in purple( Goliath and Rum), but there are varieties with white petals of Alba and blue Nancy and Superbus, with pink ones - Treye Pote, Ruber, dark purple - Dunkle Schöne. Growth in the Alpine and Tomsk asters is small - only 30 cm, and the diameter of the flowers is about 5 cm. The flowering period is June.

The most widespread in our gardens is the shrub aster, up to 50 cm high, usually blossoms in September-October, but there are varieties Venus, Diana, Lady Henry - with pink flowers, Lady in blue, Laylek Time - with blue, Blue bouquet -with blue, Niobe - with white. Small flowers 3 cm in diameter are collected in loose flaps.

Astra is Italian about 60 cm tall, blooms in July-August with flowers 4 cm in diameter of different colors. Variety Azure - with blue, Rose - pink, Kobold - dark purple flowers. .

Astra New England is a tall plant( up to 2 m).The flower baskets with a diameter of about 4 cm are collected in paniculate inflorescences. Pagan petals can be painted in dark blue, pink, purple, red. Blooms in September-October.

Aster of the New Belgian in height from 50 to 150 cm with small flowers( diameter 2 cm) blue, white, red, blue, collected in a paniculate inflorescence. Blooms late.

All perennial asters are unpretentious plants. Can grow on any garden soils. They prefer the sun, but they can also grow in partial shade. In the spring it is advisable to feed organic and wrap up, at the time of budding give phosphorus-potassium top dressing, and in the fall to make calcium and potassium. You can replace them with ash.

Asters can grow in one place for 5-6 years, and then they need a transplant, Multiply them by dividing the bush. Early flowering species and varieties are planted in autumn, and late flowering in spring. You can propagate by shoots, which are planted in early summer. The stems are not cuttings. Of the seeds perennial asters are grown only by breeders.

There are practically no pests in asters, and the most common disease is powdery mildew. Most often it affects asters, growing in the shade or penumbra. Against powdery mildew, Zirkon works well with Extrasol. As a preventive measure, try using Fitosporin with Gumi.

Asters look good in any planting. But often they blacken and dry up the leaves on the lower part of the stems, which gives plants an unpresentable appearance, and therefore they should plant plants that cover the lower part of the asters. So in the rabbits or on flower beds tall asters can be planted in the background, before them to plant less tall asters, and before them plant autumn or astilbu cleansers.