Nature gives and Nature takes away...
By busylizzy
20 comments
I have been walking around the garden today checking out various areas for damage done by the long lasting snow and frost. I was shocked to see the Hebe ‘Andersonii Variegata’ has suffered badly. I planted this about four years ago and it has never had a problem during the winter – it has grown to a respectable 3 feet high and lived happily under the Eucalyptus Tree covered in lilac flowers loved by bees.
The question is, will it recover? Should I cut back all the frost damage and wait and see? Or should I bite the bullet and take it out?
The Passiflora seems okay – it looks a bit sparce in the centre
but is showing healthy signs of growth further along – during the summer months it is usually covered in flowers and fruit, I hope that it will survive to do so again.
This Yucca isn’t looking too healthy now – the leaves has gone from a deep red/brown colour to a sickly looking pale colour. I have read that if the trunk is sound you can cut the leaves back and new growth will emerge in the spring – this is one of three in the garden, the largest being about 12 foot high. All the others are looking as healthy as ever..
With Spring in mind I bought a couple of Agapanthus to plant in the stone containers either side of the French doors
I soaked the plants as instructed and planted the crowns – the packaging says that any growth sprouting will not hinder the growth of the plant, my worry is, will the continuing cold weather kill them off? Should I cover them in straw/mulch or keep them in my (unheated greenhouse)? Should I remove this growth back to the crown and wait until Spring for new growth?
Growing my vegetables is easy – I plant them, they grow, I eat them….
Growing shrubs and flowers is altogether a different ball game – to a novice grower like me its full of mystery and doubt, coupled with delight and surprise. I suppose I am going to have to deal with loss as well as new growth, but I do wish there were an easier way to learn…(sigh).
28 Jan, 2010
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Comments
OK thanks for that Louise, I was so shocked to see it like that - I must have stood there for five minutes with mouth open....hate to think of it not surviving.
28 Jan, 2010
Aww, Bl, you wait .... it'll rally round :-)))
28 Jan, 2010
Nearly didn't recognise you there Louise!!........I agree with you, leave everything till the spring....its surprising how the most "dead looking" plant can spring to life. Fingers crossed they come through :))
28 Jan, 2010
I agree aswell. Wait and see. I wouldn't leave the Agapanthus outside yet though. I'd put them in a conservastory or greenhouse. It's only January. We have a while to go yet.
28 Jan, 2010
Hi Liz My Little Hebe looks just like Yours :( Lets hope theyl be OK :)
28 Jan, 2010
Mine too Jacque,all the top leaves are falling off too,but I will leave it for now :(
28 Jan, 2010
:(
28 Jan, 2010
Thanks guys - I will leave the Hebe and wait and see...I have moved the Agapanthus inside until the frosts are over.
28 Jan, 2010
Exact problem i have with a Hebe even though it's in the most sheltered part of the garden. I'm sure it will revive in the Spring.
28 Jan, 2010
The annoying thing is I took three cuttings in the summer and yes I left them outside ! Idiot ,or what ? I am in the midst of trying to salvage the remains !
28 Jan, 2010
Just to give you hope, I thought I'd lost a hebe last year - I dug it up and planted it in a pot, cut the really dead pieces back, and lo and behold, it's doing well! I have to get it into a better shape now before I can plant it out again, but I was amazed that it even survived!
28 Jan, 2010
Where there's life there's hope - I'm taking inspiration from you all and keeping my fingers crossed!
28 Jan, 2010
For what its worth am leaving all for now as they predict another "freeze" so am hoping for damage limitation by waiting to see !
28 Jan, 2010
Thanks Spritz there's always hope :) It's been colder this year than any we've had for a long time so like Busylizzy I'm not sure what will survive. It's a good job we're an optimistic lot :)
Yes BB it was on the forecast that another freeze is likely for February :(
28 Jan, 2010
Think we have lost a lot..but as you say Aster...hope springs eternal !!
28 Jan, 2010
Thats just what we need! - another deep freeze on the way :o(
28 Jan, 2010
I know...........feel like starting to prune...but best to wait ?
28 Jan, 2010
My agapathus have been in my greenhouse all winter, as for reast i would just hold back and see what happens its only January.
29 Jan, 2010
Carol - do you keep your greenhouse heated or is a cold one? I don't have heating in mine and am curious as to whether they would be okay in it, at the moment they are in the hallway!
29 Jan, 2010
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I'd leave that Hebe alone for a while and then in the spring scratch the stems and look for green 'life' within the stems, if it's present i'd cut it back and it'll sprout nice new growth.
I have a couple and i cut them hard back each year, in the spring, and they're fine. I believe it invigorates them !!!
28 Jan, 2010