Table of contents
- summer asters
- Delay the end of life
- autumn aster
- winter protection measures
- cover the root area
- Leave dead leaves until spring
- Place potted specimens in a safe location
- Wrap the pot with fleece or jute
The summer aster and the autumn aster could not be more opposite in terms of winter hardiness. The variety decides in advance whether a specimen can survive the frost of winter at all. If so, it can still make sense for their owner to take a few precautions.
summer asters
The summer aster (Callistephus chinensis) belongs, like the autumn aster, to the daisy family (Asteraceae). It is, however, a species of its own. The origin of this summer bloomer lies in East Asia, where the plant has been cultivated for 2000 years. It is not a perennial but an annual species that is not hardy. Regardless of the climate, there is no chance of keeping them for several years. All winter protection measures would be in vain for her. Only the plant remains that died in the autumn are removed from the garden bed.
Delay the end of life
You cannot save the asters of this genus from dying at the end of the season. But you can extend their life a little bit.
- choose a sheltered location
- wrap with fleece or jute in the fall
- Put pots against the wall of the house
- preferably under an eaves
Tip:
If you cultivate summer asters in a pot, you should avoid a stand on the balcony, especially in autumn. While it may be warm there, most balconies are also very brisk.
autumn aster
The Herbstaster, botanically Aster, is hardy. It is perennial and overwinters outside. During the cold season, however, their strength rests in the root area, while the above-ground parts of the plant die. The autumn aster is a collective term for various species whose long flowering period led to the naming until the last day of autumn. The individual species have a slightly different degree of winter hardiness, but this is always sufficient for our climate zone.
| wild asters | -23℃ |
| mountain asters | to – 28 °C |
| alpine asters | – 40°C |
| cushion asters | – 40°C |
| borage asters | – 45°C |
| smooth-leaf asters | – 45°C |
winter protection measures
Even if the autumn asters are perennial and move into the garden with a pronounced winter hardiness, there are some cases where winter protection measures are useful because they help the asters to grow more safely hibernate. The owner should protect all potted asters, as well as outdoor specimens that grow or grow in particularly harsh areas. a harsh winter is announced.
cover the root area
Autumn asters that remain in the flower bed should have their root area warmly covered before the first frost. The cover layer should be of generous thickness and can be any of the following natural materials:
- compost
- bark mulch
- brushwood
- fir branches
Leave dead leaves until spring
Gardeners who like to leave their flower beds tidy for the winter will probably have a hard time with this tip. But the advantages are obvious. The withered foliage keeps cold and moisture away from the root ball. That's why autumn asters should overwinter with their own natural winter protection. You should only cut back the old shoots just above the ground in spring, just before new growth.
Place potted specimens in a safe location
Root balls of autumn asters that are rooted in the pot freeze through more quickly. However, the plants must not overwinter in a warm house. What you can do is find the best possible spot for them outside. Place the pot close to a house wall, if possible in a south-facing place. If it rains a lot in your area, a location under an eaves is ideal. However, you must be careful to water the plant from time to time. Even with pot specimens, the old foliage should remain on the plant until the end of the winter.
Wrap the pot with fleece or jute
It's not essential, but useful if you wrap the pot of an aster in jute or fleece before the first frost. Also place the pot on styrofoam or wood.
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