Re: Astilbe Secrets

I did have a couple last year dry up into oblivion, only to rise again this
Spring.  So at least I'm less anxious about all the near-death experiences
I'm seeing with the astilbe.  Come a slightly cooler Fall, I'll replant
them.

Thanks!
Diann

-----Original Message-----
From:   PRIMROSES [s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU] On Behalf Of
Silke-Maria Weineck
Sent:   Wednesday, August 23, 2000 9:14 PM
To:     shadegardens@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
Subject:        Re: [SG] Astilbe Secrets

Hi Diann -- keep in mind it might have just been plain dumb luck (but I did
plant some from the same vendor elsewhere and they're pathetic...) --
judging from my experience strictly, I'd dig them up after they go dormant,
amend the soil with lots and lots of compost and replant them. Come to
think of it, I planted mine in late spring, so there might be a weather
thingee going on, too -- perhaps they're simply not as hardy as we'd like
them to be?

silke


At 09:07 PM 8/23/2000 -0500, you wrote:
>AWESOME!  Even my favorite local nursery owner said he struggles with
>astilbe (so he sold me some Aruncus).  Do I dig mine up and replant them
>after amendment, or just wait until Spring and compost the top of the soil
>around them?  Or??  Few if any are happy-they head quickly into dormancy
(or
>worse!).
>
>Thanks again,
>Diann
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From:   PRIMROSES [s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU] On Behalf Of
>Silke-Maria Weineck
>Sent:   Wednesday, August 23, 2000 8:42 PM
>To:     shadegardens@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
>Subject:        Re: [SG] Astilbe Secrets
>
>I planted my Astilbe's in some triangular raised bed in a corner which I
>had used for half a year as a composter -- it was about two-thirds full
>with compost or stuff-to-become compost -- added some topsoil, mixed, and
>vavavavoom! on the Astilbes. Lots of beautiful foliage, four or five huge
>flowerstems a root (and these were fresh from Breck's, so not too big...),
>a second flowering out of one of them. Which makes me believe that amending
>might be the way to go. Mine get next to no sun.
>
>Silke
>
>
>At 08:36 PM 8/23/2000 -0500, you wrote:
>>Do you amend your soils when you plant a new plant--and if so,how?  Or do
>>you just have naturally good soil??
>>
>>Thanks!
>>Diann
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From:   PRIMROSES [s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU] On Behalf Of
>>Bobbi Diehl
>>Sent:   Wednesday, August 23, 2000 6:42 PM
>>To:     shadegardens@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
>>Subject:        Re: [SG] Astilbe Secrets
>>
>>Diann, I really know very little about astilbes except that I'm sure it's
>>time to divide my old plants (still haven't gotten around to it). No, they
>>don't grow for me in quasi-bog conditions--more like plain old dry shade,
>>same as (and in same bed with)  the native wild geranium and epimediums
>>and some hostas. The bed gets almost no supplemental watering even during
>>drought years. The soil there is very good, however, and maybe that makes
>>the difference.
>>
>>Bobbi Diehl
>>Bloomington, IN
>>zone 5/6
>>
>>On Sat, 19 Aug 2000, Diann Barbee Thoma wrote:
>>
>>> Bobbi, as an aside, I'd love to know your secret with Astilbes!  Are
they
>>> another quasi-bog plant??
>>>
>>
>
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