Perennial New England or Virginia asters are called September asters, October asters, or November asters. These names stem from the fact that they bloom in autumn—from early September until frost, when almost all other garden plants have long since faded. These easy-to-care-for September asters, with their small buds in a variety of colors, are very popular; they are planted not only in garden plots but also in flowerbeds near apartment buildings.
Description of the species
Virginia asters are native to North America, where several varieties grow wild, with petals ranging from white to purple. In our country, purple-hued october asters are most commonly found.
September flowers resemble daisies in shape. The plant itself is a lush, pyramid-shaped bush with sturdy trunks densely covered with foliage. Both tall and short varieties have been developed. The most common varieties are:
- low-growing - Audrey (with lilac petals), Jenny (red), Snowsprite (white);
- medium height - Elina (pink), Cassie (white), Royal Velvet (purple);
- tall - White Lady (white), Desertblue (lilac), Dastyrose (crimson).
Planting in open ground
September asters don't require any special conditions for planting, propagation, or care. They thrive in virtually any garden. They thrive in both single plantings and mixed plantings, and as a border plant. However, it's not recommended to plant them too close to other plants, as Virginia asters draw all the moisture from the soil during drought, which can lead to poor growth or even death of neighboring plants.
September flowers thrive in sunny but wind-protected locations. Planting is best in spring or fall. When planting in the fall, time the planting so that the seedlings have managed to get stronger before the cold weather sets in.
Almost any soil is suitable for planting octobrist flowers., with the exception of loamy soils. Gardeners recommend preparing the planting site in advance. Two to three weeks beforehand, the soil should be dug over and amended with organic and mineral fertilizers.
You may be interested in:Before planting the seedlings in the holes, the soil should be moistened. The plants should be evenly covered with soil, then compacted well. Planted September saplings should be watered every two days. Once they are established and growing, the frequency of watering can be reduced. This is essential for fall planting.
Care Features
September asters don't like excess moisture, so watering them once a week is sufficient. It's best to use warm (no colder than the ambient temperature) and settled water. In addition to watering, New England asters require regular weeding and soil loosening. Caring for September asters includes fertilizing. There will be several of them throughout the year:
- In early spring, nitrogen-containing fertilizers should be added to the soil;
- in June-July, potash fertilizers are applied;
- During flowering, the plant requires phosphorus fertilizers.
To make the flowers look neater and bloom better, they should be trimmed in a timely manner Remove dried buds and leaves. When the flowering period ends, September asters should be trimmed back to small stumps about 3 cm high. This will help the plants survive the cold better. Virginia asters are frost-hardy, so no additional winter preparation is necessary for mature plants. Young plants can be insulated with fallen leaves, peat, compost, or spruce branches.
September berries are quite resistant to diseases and pests. The most dangerous disease for them is powdery mildew, which can spread from plant to plant via water, tools, and even through the air (via spores). A sign of infection is the appearance of a white coating., resembling dust. If detected, the plant should be immediately treated with copper-containing fungicides.
To prevent disease, gardeners recommend periodically treating the plants with copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture. To prevent pests (aphids, spider mites, and meadow bugs), treating the plants with insecticides is recommended.
Propagation and transplantation
September roses can be propagated in several ways: by dividing the bush, by seeds, and by cuttings. Many gardeners consider division to be the most convenient and effective method of propagation.
September asters should be divided and replanted every 3-4 years. Replanting is done in early spring or fall. The aster bush should be completely dug up and divided into divisions. The root system of each division should have several living buds.
Propagation by seed involves growing seedlings yourself. In temperate and northern latitudes, collecting planting material from your own plot is unlikely, as the seeds don't have time to ripen. Therefore, you'll have to go to a specialty store to purchase seeds.
The seeds should be planted shallowly (maximum 5 mm). Once planted, the soil should be moistened with a spray bottle. Afterward, the containers should be covered with plastic or glass. Proper conditions for growing seedlings are essential: temperatures between 22 and 25°C and diffused light.
For 3-4 weeks, until sprouts appear, the containers should be kept under plastic wrap, periodically uncovered for watering (spraying) and ventilation. Once the sprouts have two true leaves, they should be transplanted into individual pots. 10-14 days after transplanting, the seedlings should be fertilized with a complex mineral fertilizer.
From mid-April, seedlings can begin hardening off by placing them outdoors for 20-30 minutes daily. In May, it is recommended to plant the plants outdoors.
To divide by cuttings, trim off the side shoots from the bush. Place these in water until root shoots appear (usually after about 20 days). The seedlings can then be planted in open ground.
Use in landscape design
Lush and elegant, New England asters are perfect for creating flower borders and hedges, and they can also be planted on lawns. They look great planted in a single row along paths.
September asters make a wonderful focal point in a flowerbed when paired with low-growing flowers, such as chrysanthemums, which pair very well with them. Mixed borders of Virginia aster varieties with different flower colors will look great.
Planting and caring for September flowers is easy. These plants make wonderful garden decorations. Their vibrant blooms look stunning against the backdrop of an autumn garden. Furthermore, cut flowers can last up to two weeks in water.
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