Autumn stars build a colorful bridge for us from the beautiful to the cold season. The sensitive summer asters surpass them in terms of winter hardiness without losing out on the abundance of flowers. Do you still have questions about cultivation in your mind? Then read useful answers to frequently asked questions here.
How do I properly care for autumn asters?
Autumn asters are undemanding, hardy perennials that bloom in late summer and autumn. They need a sunny location, fresh, moist, nutrient-rich soil and should be watered and fertilized regularly. After flowering and the first frost, cut the plants back and cover the root disc as winter protection.
Planting autumn asters correctly
For autumn asters, it is already time to plant in spring so that they are well rooted by the time the flowering period begins. Assign the perennials to a sunny location in order to dig small pits at a distance of 20-60 cm appropriate to the variety. Place the root balls, previously soaked in water, into the soil just below the first pair of leaves. It is advantageous to enrich the excavation with compost and horn shavings. Press the soil with your hands, water thoroughly and mulch.
Care tips
Autumn stars have a reputation for being completely undemanding. The following care program provides convincing proof of this image:
- Keep the soil constantly slightly moist
- From April to July, mulch regularly with leaves or grass clippings
- Fertilize organically or liquidly from August to mid-October
- Clean out wilted flowers every few days
After the first frost, cut the perennials back to their native foliage. In regions with harsh winters, cover the root disk with leaves and coniferous twigs. Potted flowers move to a frost-free, bright winter quarters.
Which location is suitable?
When autumn asters open their blossoms, the days have already become noticeably shorter. In order for the perennials to develop their full flowering potential so late in the year, a sunny and warm location is important. Only the autumn-flowering forest aster (Aster cordifolius) tolerates a place in partial shade. Choose a location with fresh, moist soil that is rich in nutrients and well-drained.
Cut autumn asters properly
Once the first flower heads have withered, your autumn asters are far from finished blooming this year. If you cut off the flowers, you can see the buds waiting underneath. Only after the first frost is there any longer any prospect of fresh flowers. Now cut the perennial by a third. The remaining leaves remain until early spring and are then cut off close to the ground.
Watering autumn asters
After planting in spring, guide autumn asters through the summer with regular watering. Soil and potting substrate must not dry out or become waterlogged. During rainy autumn weather, frequent watering in the bed is unnecessary. Otherwise, in the event of drought, continue the water supply, which will continue to be maintained in the event of a frost in winter.
Fertilize autumn asters properly
With an organic nutrient supply, you can give autumn asters the right boost for a vital, long flowering period. How to do it right:
- After spring planting, mulch regularly with leaves or grass clippings
- From August to mid-October, fertilize every 2-3 weeks with compost, horn shavings (€52.00 on Amazon) or bark humus
- Additionally sprinkle the base with comfrey manure
In the pot and balcony box, the nutrient reserves of the pre-fertilized substrate cover the requirements until the flowering period begins. From August to mid-October, administer a liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks or apply fertilizer sticks with a long-term effect once.
Wintering
Autumn asters are tough. This applies not least to their stamina during the cold season. At the end of the flowering period, cut the perennials back by a third to cover them with autumn leaves or pine fronds. The remaining leaves serve as additional winter protection until early spring. Please cut these off close to the ground in good time before the new shoots appear.
Propagate autumn asters
Propagate your most beautiful autumn asters simply by dividing the root ball. A well-chosen time is spring, when ground frosts are no longer expected. Lift the perennial from the soil and use a knife or spade to divide it into segments with at least 2 buds each. Alternatively, sow the seeds on the windowsill in February/March. At 18-20 degrees Celsius the seeds germinate within 2-4 weeks. Propagation from cuttings is also conceivable, but comes with a comparatively high failure rate of 40-50 percent.
Autumn star in a pot
In pots, autumn asters bring a colorful end to the gardening year on balconies and terraces. Please pay attention to a regular water supply, as the substrate dries out more quickly than garden soil. A liquid fertilizer covers the nutrient requirements every 2 weeks. The application of fertilizer ends by mid-October at the latest so that the flowering beauties can prepare for the coming winter. After the first frost, shorten the flowers by a third. Please store planters with a diameter of less than 30 cm in bright, frost-free winter quarters. Large buckets receive a winter coat made of fleece, jute or foil and a warm base made of wood. The substrate is covered with autumn leaves and conifers.
Is autumn asters poisonous?
Autumn asters are the ideal candidates for ending the gardening year with plenty of flowers in the family garden. The daisy family is not poisonous, so there is nothing wrong with cultivating it within the reach of children or pets. In fact, the pretty star blossoms are even edible and serve as a floral food decoration in natural cuisine.
Beautiful varieties
There is a whole array of magnificent asters that illuminate autumn with their rich flower colors. Browse here through a selection of the most beautiful varieties of delicate cushion asters (Aster dumosus), majestic rough-leaf asters (Aster novae-angliae), elegant smooth-leaf asters (Aster novae belgii) and late-blooming Tatar asters (Aster tataricus). everyone sweeten the farewell to summer.
- Snow cushion: Cute cushion aster with white flowers that impresses as a bed border, ground cover and pot flower; 15-20cm
- Rosengnome: The autumn-blooming cushion aster lives up to its name with pink flowers; 20-25cm
- Purple Dome: The stable, robust rough-leaf aster delights in the autumn garden with dark purple flowers; 50-70cm
- Pink Winner: A majestic Aster novae-angliae that has excellent viewing results; 120-140cm
- Permanent blue: The historic smooth-leaf aster attracts everyone's attention with its purple-blue flowers until December; 120-140cm
- Beacon: With countless flowers in bright carmine red, this aster makes the perennial bed glow; 100-110cm
- Jundaii: The Tatar aster is the last to bloom in the autumnal dance of asters and lasts until the first frost; 100-150cm