Nothing will make your garden more lively than a patch or two of astilbes during the summer months! Best of all, those feathery blooms will stick around, keeping the charm alive into early fall!
Astilbes practically take care of themselves, but if there’s one thing to keep on your radar, it’s pruning. But be careful, it’s easier said than done!
Look, pruning astilbes isn’t a hard task, but the timing can throw gardeners for a loop. Is fall the right season or should we hold off a bit longer?
Curious about the answer? Don’t worry, I am here to walk you through both sides of the pruning debate!
What Do You Get By Pruning Astilbe In The Fall?
You’ll see astilbes in most gardens in USDA zones 3 through 9. They won’t bloom or grow during winter so some gardeners decide to prune these perennials in the fall.
Why? Well, the colorful blossoms fade and the plant loses its colors as soon as September ends. It would be completely logical to cut astilbe back at this point.
You see, there’s nothing wrong with this method. A fall haircut won’t harm your astilbe and new growth will occur once spring arrives.
So, where’s the catch and why would anyone wait until late winter? Let’s see the benefits of late winter pruning!
Late Winter Seems Like A Better Idea!
I always wait for late winter to prune my astilbes. The reason is that the stems look absolutely amazing in my winter garden.
If your garden needs vertical interest during cooler months, astilbe will take care of it.
Another reason why I postpone pruning is because small insects and animals need a food source during winter months, and that’s exactly what tall astilbe stems offer.
Therefore, both fall and late winter pruning have benefits for astilbe plants and it’s completely up to you when exactly you’ll prune.
Here Are Some Tips For Pruning Astilbe
And now the fun part! Pruning astilbe is one of my favorite tasks because it’s super easy and you don’t need any special equipment or skill to do it.
The first step is, of course, to put on your gardening gloves and prepare a clean and sharp pair of pruners.
Then, cut back all the deceased flowering stems and foliage back to approximately 2 inches above the ground level.
When pruning your astilbe in the fall, simply snip off all the dead parts. But be careful when pruning in late winter because you can remove some new growth and the plant won’t bloom.
And This Is How I Prepare My Astilbes For Winter
Apart from pruning in the fall, which we’ve seen is optional, there are other things you can do to prepare them for winter.
I always divide a few of my astilbe plants at this point to expand my collection. Additionally, I always fertilize the plants but wait until temperatures drop a bit in late fall so that the fertilizer doesn’t encourage new growth during cooler months.
These are phosphorus-loving plants, so 5-10-5 fertilizer is the best option.
Finally, your astilbe needs water until the first frost. I typically add water once a week if there hasn’t been any rain.
So, pruning is the secret to keeping astilbes happy and thriving! Follow our tips, and get ready for a bloom display beyond your wildest dreams!