When and How to Fertilize Astilbe

A mainstay in many shade gardens, astilbe will be at its best when given the right food at the right time.

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But fertilizing is not a one-size-fits-all solution if you want to see these flowers reach their full potential.

We’ve got all you need to know right here, so without further ado, here’s our guide to fertilizing astilbe.

You’ll be able to give your plants everything they need, all without anything extraneous, while providing maximum impact on their growth.

This shade-loving perennial prefers a setting with consistent moisture and slightly acidic to neutral soil. You can learn more about the basics of growing astilbe in our guide.

It can be a heavy feeder if allowed to really take off and do its thing, and in my experience it values receiving two good feedings each year.

Because these plants spread via rhizomes and flower profusely in season, they can use up a lot of nutrients annually.

At the very least, a slow release fertilizer should be applied in the springtime for the happiest and healthiest plants, but a secondary fall application is beneficial as well.

That fall fertilization is important for astilbe that blooms early in the spring. Let’s look at the specific types of fertilizer I recommend, and then we can look at when to apply each.

While I’ve picked out a few specific types of fertilizers for you to use, you can get away with using either of the first two options and calling it a day.

A tried and true favorite, using compost offers the lightest touch we can have when fertilizing anything in the garden.

Compost is a