Dividing Astilbe Plants: How To Transplant Astilbe In The Garden

Most perennial plants can be divided and transplanted, and astilbe is no exception. You don’t need to think about transplanting astilbe or dividing astilbe plants every year but calendar the task for every two to four years. For more information on dividing astilbe plants, read on.

Astilbe Transplanting

You can transplant most flowers, including astilbe, whenever you want to give them more advantageous positions in the garden. Moving astilbe plants is the right thing to do when the flowers have been planted in inappropriate spots or have been overshadowed by neighboring plants. Perennials that bloom in the spring, including astilbe, should be transplanted in late summer or fall. This is the right time to divide too, if necessary.

Dividing Astilbe Plants

Astilbe, like many perennials, can be divided if the root clump gets too large. Astilbes do best when they are divided about every three years. This means that you dig up the plant’s root ball and literally divide it by cutting it into several pieces. Dividing astilbe plants is good for the plants because it eliminates the formation of overcrowded clumps, and helps the plants stay healthy. The new plants created by dividing astilbe plants can be transplanted to other garden flower beds.

How to Transplant Astilbe

When transplanting an astilbe, whether or not you divide the clump, you want to reduce the plant’s shock by making sure to site it in good soil and be generous with irrigation. If you want to know how to transplant an astilbe, start by watering the plant thoroughly until the soil is completely saturated. This is an important step in astilbe transplanting since watering loosens the roots, making it easier to remove them from the ground. Before you start astilbe transplanting, dig generous holes for the transplants. The holes should be some 8 inches (20 cm.) deep and as wide as the root balls of the new transplants. The next step in moving astilbe plants is to shovel out the root balls, working a few inches (8 cm.) away from the plant. Remove the astilbe plant from the soil, keeping the root ball attached to the plant. Slice through the roots with a sharp shovel blade, cutting from the top. Create at least four transplants from each plant. Replant each in a prepared hole, then repack the soil around it. Water the plants well.