After the season we've had so far, I'm contmeplating removing my astilbes. It's been too dry and even though I've been watering every other day, it doesn't seem to be enough for them. Never really had a problem with them in previous years, and they are in a partly shaded, heavily mulched bed, but obviously those are still not the conditions needed to keep these without more maintenance. So they may go, sadly.

What's keeping me from taking them out now is that I have a friend who has a garden that's almost a swamp most of the year, and even her astilbes there aren't looking so good, so maybe it's just a particularly dry year and they'll do better nexgt year. The thing is, the way the weather has been, who's to say that next year will be "normal"?

But, if you want to keep yours, yes, keep them watered and they *should* come back next year, I believe.

Dee

I agree. They should come back - no guarantees - but they just might. If you look at that photo closely, you can see there are still green stems. The leaves are toast, but that bit of green might mean they are not totally dead. I've had this happen in the past.

It must have something to do with actual rain. Mine are doing very well this year although the temps have been horrible like last year, we've had more rain this year.

Kevin

whats weird.. is the hosta behind.. is showing no drought problems...

take a teaspoon.. and dig small holes near each.. is the soil consistently moist ... then water.. and do the same.. compare info ..

total WAG ... the potting media of the astilbe is divergent from the native soil.. and interfering with water movement thru the soil/media

its a long shot.. but two plants side by side.. shouldnt be that divergent as to drought... but it is the garden ... lol

apparently the drought handling sedum doesnt care ..

ken

Hosta are drought tolerant. Astilbes aren't. That's all that is going on here.

Agreed. The problem is the drought.

i have 1600 DIFFERENT HOSTA... they are NOT drought tolerant

they may be deeper rooted.. and less prone.. but that is an absolute statement ...and is wrong ...

ken

I have hostas next to my astilbes, and the hostas are not nearly as wilted, droopy or damaged from this dry spell as the astilbes are.

Dee

I have hosta under a red maple that have never been watered. Not even when I first planted them.

All drought is not created equal. And hostas can definitely handle our droughts.

In my experience, hosta like moisture but can handle lack of moisture much better (especially in summer heat) than astilbe.

Astilbe CAN'T handle lack of moisture. That's why I tossed the majority of them out, only a very few left on the nothern side of my house and protected from the winds. As soon as I find replacements for them, they are ALL GONE. (water is expensive here). One day of hot wind from the south and their leaves are brown and staying this way for the rest of the season.

Wow and I thought mine were suffering. Then again mine are under a pin oak tree and get water every 3 days. I did lose one in the first heatwave and now that we are on the second round.... Anyway, I would check the soil like Ken suggested. Are they getting morning or afternoon sun?