astilbe looks cooked....

I'm doing a walkabout after vacation, my astilbes don't look good...they're on the north side but could it be they're getting too much sun? The soil seems ok, not dry 3 inches down, not wet, just moist.

Too much sun and/or lack of water will make them dry out like that. They like it moist and shady. If they get enough steady water, they can handle more sun. They're also heavy feeders so keep them fertilized throughout the growing season to keep them nicely blooming.

I'm outside O'Hare and it's been drier than dry here, except for the last 2 days we FINALLY got rain!

mayeb I just don't have enough shade here for them...I LOVE astilbes...I'm trying to build up shade on that side.....should I fertilized them when they're sick like this or wait till they get better (IF they get better)?

Hi, Here is a small suggestion: when my Astilbes look like this--yes it may be a number of factors. But here is a question for you: can you afford to lose them? If you answer is no you can attempt the following. Immediately lift one to the surface--trim off the dry, and place the remainder back in the soil (possible a new location?)--I often do this and divide as well. But only your gardener's green thumb can give you that answer. Sometime we fail, Sometimes we succeed. Another alternative is to trim the dry, and quickly place a small amount of compost around the bottom--1"-2" and water; or thirdly evenly place a newspaper over them during the hottest part of the day--caution--they still need light but the unusual dry with extra hot humid then dry days with the winds will do the damage. I have a saying--can't afford to loss--always place some in another part of the garden--for spares should some die or just not do so good; or to share among garden friends. Plants are just like people--need to be planted-yet still some are simply fickle! Good Luck!

Lynnie, it is the equivalent of standing in front of the open oven door....after a little while you start to brown....grin.
Morning sun won't do much damage if they stay well watered...the afternoon sun is the open oven door....they may not have gotten any rain while you were gone and if it has been windy that just dries them out that much faster. If you don't want to move them, trim back the dead stuff, give them a shot of fertilizer, water them well and set a potted plant in front of them to give them a little extra shade. Once your other stuff is in place, they should do fine....just remember to water the potted plant...GRIN

That's my shadiest spot, where they are, I should have waited till I built up more shade there. They get early morning sun, then a reprieve, then afternoon sun. Ugh. I'll go put something in front of them. My pots got cooked while I was gone. There was some rain, the soil isn't dry and the rain barrels are 3/4 full (well not now I just emptied them lol)
I'll go cut the crispy tops & find a sun blocker...too bad I can't move those big rocks myself lol
Thank you Moon & 2gonefishing!

I can just see you....Mamma gardener to the rescue....tote that rock. Lynnie, you can even set a lawn chair in front of them if need be...unless neighbor's would take that as an invitation to 'set a spell' lol

Remember the mulch--your own home compost is best, they especially enjoy a little after the bloom state. And remember divide if fried! try!

Happy Gardening!

"God's Garden" Wildlife Habitat

for more Home brew and ideas check out the other categories like today-blackberries, birds, wildlife, beginners -- I've posted in, tried today to answer questions with possible answers and if not that then to open the door to the world of possibilities. The stories are true--give these ideas a try and report back--thats what gardening is all about. When you reach the level of 35 plus years gardening and you finally pull in the final phase--the wildlife and domestic critters--you are in for one wild ride. Hence the Federal Wildlife Habitat program--amazing! Only God can create such a garden-the caregiver. 2 gond fishing!

Off to the gardens the wildlife and domestics await!

Moon I don't mind the neighbors visiting, but unfortunately the chairs would blow away lol this street is like a wind tunnel usually (but not today) that little chair in the other picture has rocks on it to hold it down (what else?)
2gonefishing when I build up that area for shade I plan on using shrubs & trees for birds and butterflies. I have done a little research into wildlife gardening, I want the area across from my cooked astilbes to be more of a woodland garden, and hopefully I'll get more shade on that side. That can be my wild side lol

Rock Steady....maybe that could be your new user name. Grin

moon I like it!

Maybe we could all take on new rock names.....we are already a band....grin

ROTFL

If you're taking Rock Steady, I'll be Bee Bop. You can tell what I used to watch as a young lad...

You'll have to be a little more forthcoming Grantman...I think there was a serious Kid'sTV gap in there for me. My youngest Daughter is 32, and my oldest grandchild is 15. And if I remember correctly, you are in the middle of them.

When I think of BeeBop, it is BeBop a Lula by Gene Vincent and also Elvis Presley.....(1958) Large grin, but with all my own teeth LOL

Haha yeah you forced my age in another thread. I'm talking about the good old Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (not the stuff you see on TV nowadays, the original). Yeah I'm 24 lol...Beebop and Rocksteady were characters from the show.

I remember TNM turtles, all named for classical artists, guess I didn't watch closely enough...Master Shredder the rat kinda put me off....LOL

Haha yeah classics from my childhood. That and GI Joe were my all-time favs.

Classics reduced to plastic action figures....probably made more money than the TV shows

Hey, I melted many a GI Joe in my wargames...grins...

Buzz and Woody would be very upset with you....grin

Sorry to derail the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle discussion, but I've been wondering the same thing about my astilbes. But I'm sure they've had enough water (lord, the summer we've had ... half of my plants drowned) and they're in almost complete shade.

So that leads me to one other thought -- I planted them this spring in a lasagna bed that is built up off the ground but not contained, and one day I went out there and realized the soil/compost had washed away around a large part of the root ball. Would that also have the effect of frying the plants? And will they return next year now that I've fixed that problem?

As long as there were still viable roots on the plant when you replaced the soil, the plant should revive. How did you construct your Lasagna bed?

Newspaper, seasoned compost, peat, seasoned compost, peat, compost.

Guess I should have contained it somehow so it wouldn't wash away. Then again, I wasn't expecting the summer of the ark ...

at least your astilbe didn't get eaten by the earwigs like mine. Think Noah let the earwigs on 4 by 4

My DHJim made a lasagna bed for me...he did not shred the newspaper up at all. nor did he soak it thoroughly. Rain rarely ever made it through the newspaper to the ground.....just gentle washed the bed out level around the edges and exposed a lot of roots...it took it a while to realize what was happening, because the mulch was settling out also.

Solution for the problem of earwigs--thinking! thinking! Still thinking however here is a list of flowers sure to send in the soldiers--and walla problem solved! try planting some of these near your trouble spot--will attract beneficial insects--a fine balancing act! Basil, Daisies, Lemon Balm, Thyme, Cosmos, Dill, etc... You will love the basil--also rids those mosquitoes!

Have Fun Gardening!

God's Garden Wildlife Habitat 2gonefishing--check us on the forum--all the stories and solutions--true and tried--yes true stories Have Fun Gardening! Go fishing and let God take care of your wildlife habitat gardening--he does a Grand job! P.S. throw back the fish only keep what you will eat! Share! Share! Share!

I have about 7 different basils growing but unfortunatly with the New York weather this year nothing helps. I tried bug getta plus, oil traps everything.

Oh well there is always next year.