Is the pillow aster hardy?

Pillow asters hibernate outside

Pillow asters are hardy and can also tolerate sub-zero temperatures. They are therefore cared for in the garden for several years.

However, the perennial is troubled by the icy wind that often sweeps through the garden in winter.

You should therefore plant pillow asters in a sunny but sheltered place. Alternatively, you can grow the perennial in the tub, which you can overwinter on the terrace in winter.

How to overwinter the pillow asters

When wintering outdoors, you should use the Pillow aster additionally protect against too strong frost and icy winds.

• Cover the root area with compost or leaves
• Do not prune back pillow asters in autumn
• Cover plants with fir branches in the first year

Feel free to pile a thick layer of mulch material around the plant. You should refrain from cutting altogether, especially when it comes to young pillow asters. If the upper shoots freeze off, that's not so tragic. They will be cut off next spring and then sprout again.

Hibernate pillow aster in the bucket

If the pillow aster is in the bucket, you can set it up in any sunny location in summer.

If winter approaches, place the bucket on a piece of wood in a sheltered corner on the terrace.

Wrap the pot with bubble wrap and cover the plant with sticks. Don't forget to water the pillow asters every now and then so that the soil doesn't dry out completely.

Do not clear away snow!

The pillow aster survives the winter particularly well when snow falls quite early in the year. The snow cover offers wonderful protection from the wind and also keeps the ground slightly warm. In addition, the snow prevents the earth from drying out and the pillow asters from drying up.

Therefore, do not clear away the snow, but leave it on the bed.