In the spring of each year, hundreds of thousands of gardeners throughout the world learn how to divide Astilbe and enjoy the blooming flowers that follow. The lovely yellow blooms of the shrub reach full bloom in the spring after the long, hard winter months of growth. This hardy plant has few natural competitors, which makes it resistant to many common pests and diseases. If you are starting an indoor garden, it is important to learn how to divide Astilbe accordingly.
You should determine what type of perennial plant you will grow and then divide the plants accordingly. There are two separate classes of perennial herbaceous plants-those that grow best as perennials and those that thrive best as annuals. Both classes share some similar traits, such as the ability to survive harsh weather conditions and changeable weather. However, each type of perennial herb requires a different weather and soil condition during their growth seasons. Some perennials, such as St. Augustine, remain green and bloom throughout the year and have little concern for changeable weather; while other perennials, such as creeping thyme, bloom only during the spring or summer and are therefore more susceptible to disease.
When dividing Astilbe, you must first remove all the leaves and stems from the plant. The plant can be easily divided if you divide it in half and remove the upper most roots first. Then, the lower roots should be dug up and separated from the main stem. This division is best done using spade or trowel. You should not dig up and spread the roots to get a good idea of the health or structure of the plant; it is easier to look at the top of the plant and decide whether the plant is thriving or suffering from any disease or other issues.
Many garden fork seeders and cultivators are excellent at dividing astilbe, even the plants that have been grown from seed. Some of the seeders and cultivators will also separate the plants based on the variety and maturity. It is important to know how to divide astilbe correctly so you get the best yield from your plants. The best time to divide astilbe is late in spring or early summer, when the growing season has just begun to wane. This is the best time because the leaves have not yet developed and are not as compacted with soil as they are during the spring season.
It is common to find plant astilbe that is in large clumps. These clumps can be divided easily; however, unless you divide the plant into smaller clumps, you will have a problem trying to separate the clumps again. It is possible to separate the clumps every three years or so. To divide plant astilbe into smaller clumps, make sure you dig the plant up and remove all the roots.
The most difficult part of division is actually leaf cutting. It is recommended that you only cut one leaf at a time and carefully remove the portion containing the blossom base. It is easier to work with the center section of the leaf as opposed to the outer portions. If you divide leaf cutting plants too early, you might find that some of the parts have tiny black hairs attached to them. These black hairs will impede your ability to separate the plant further.
You should divide plant astilbe plants according to how fast they grow. If you want to grow plant astilbe plants faster, you should divide them into two separate pots and place them in one pot and replant the seeds in the other pot. Planting in the same pot will not speed up plant growth rates. On the other hand, if you want to slow down the growth rate of your plants, then you should divide your plant into six parts and replant the six parts in their own pots.
The final division step you will need to know about is how to divide astilbe so that you can be able to harvest and enjoy your beautiful plants each year. In order for the roots to continue to grow strong, it is important that you divide your plant every three years. This means that you will cut six roots every three years. However, you do not have to cut the root system entirely. If there is an excess of root material that will not be used on the next division, simply remove it.
