Astilbe Red

Soil: Easily grown in average,  well-drained soils.Good soil drainage is essential. Plants will perform poorly and may not survive winter in hard clay soils that retain moisture. Sandy/gravelly mulches will protect plants and help to avoid onset of rot.
Light: Best in full sun, but will tolerate some shade.;
Water: Medium moisture. Plants tolerate heat and some dry soils once established.
Spacing: Should be equal to mature spread of plant, so 1.5 - 2 ft spacing allows for good air circulation, and root growth.;
Fertilizing: Feed with a general purpose fertilizer in spring as new growth emerges.
Winterizing: Where winter survival is a potential problem, plants should be sited in protected locations (e.g., southern exposures) with leaf and flower stems being left in place over winter for additional protection.
Maintenance & pruning: Deadhead spent flowers to promote additional bloom. Trim back in early spring, before the plant exhibits new growth. Cut back the plant with pruning shears to a height of 6 inches.  Plants rarely need dividing, but you can divide every few years to thin the flower bed, or propagate.