How to Grow Great Asters in Your Home Flower Garden

The perennial aster can be found in many gardens. It adds a wonderful splash of color to any planting group. Here are some tips to help you grow great asters in your home flower garden.

Asters grow best in temperature zones 2 through 8. They will grow 6 inches to 8 feet in height, depending on the species you choose to plant. The spread and shape of the plants will also vary from one species to the next. The flowers will be blue, purple, red, pink or white. And, the leaves are a lovely shade of green. Blooms will appear beginning in the late summer to the late fall. Be sure to read the instructions that come with your plants, the light needs of the plants will vary from full sun to light shade. The soil should be average and it needs to be moist but well drained.

The flowers of the aster closely resemble daisies. On an established plant, they will grow in a mass of blossoms. This makes them ideal for edgings, containers, meadow and woodland gardens. They can also be used at the backs of beds and borders if you choose the taller varieties.

While asters are mostly thought of as fall plants, there are some species that will begin to bloom in the late summer months. They are so easy to use because they come in a large variety of colors. Use asters to create a layer of color and texture in your flower gardens. They will work best with ferns and wildflowers. It is also possible to use several varieties of aster of differing heights and colors.

If you choose a taller variety of aster, they may need some type of support. It is also possible to cut them back to half during the midsummer months. This will help them grow sturdier stems and promote branching. The more branches there are, the more flowers you will have.

The bushier varieties will bloom in the fall months. These need to be pinched or sheared in the spring or early summer. They will also need to be divided at least every two years, if not every year. This will control the spread and clumping of the perennials. It will also increase the number of asters you have in your flower plantings. If you see powdery mildew developing on the leaves, do your best to avoid getting water on the leaves when you are watering them.

Asters are easy to grow and lovely to have in your flower gardens, beds, and borders. There are so many species to choose from, you are sure to find at least one type you will enjoy in your garden. Chances are, there will be several you are attracted to. Hopefully, these tips will help you grow wonderful asters for you and your family to enjoy in your home flower garden.