To keep astilbe healthy and protected for winter, mulch around plants in the fall with a two-inch layer of organic matter.

Q: I have two astilbe plants which have been in my garden for about four years. They are about 20 inches tall and have given me pretty plumes. The spikes are now brown and the foliage is turning color ...

I tried to find a fall-blooming clematis vine, which has white flowers and the perfume of jasmine. What I was sold has small blossoms and no odor. What was I looking for? The deliciously fragrant one ...

Most perennials prefer to be planted in spring or autumn, when the weather is cool and rainfall is abundant. But some drought- and heat-tolerant plants can be planted in midsummer too if you keep them ...