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Gunnera didn't make it

Elizabeth36Elizabeth36 Posts: 7
in Problem solving
A two year old Gunnera Manicata died off last June even though it was planted close to a stream edge.  I had covered it with shredded leylandii the winter before, could this have been the cause?  It had flowered and was looking quite healthy and had grown leaves several feet in diameter and about 4 ft high.  Any ideas before I repeat a mistake and give it another go?

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The shredded material has probably rotted the crown. Ideally - just fold the old leaves across the top, or use fleece.
    Any wet, finer material on top isn't great for them as it will tend to get down into the bit that that needs protecting.  
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Elizabeth36Elizabeth36 Posts: 7
    edited April 2018
    Thanks, Fairygirl, will avoid this in future
  • DampGardenManDampGardenMan Posts: 1,054
    I have the baby ones, G. magellanica, and The-Beast-from-the-East played havoc with them, but they're recovering ...

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I had gunnera manicata in Belgium and to get them through winter they had to have their leaves folded over the crown and then be buried under about 3' of compost form the heap to protect from frosts.  I lost 2 at several years old because they weren't prepped for unannounced frosts below -8C.

    For my third attempt I kept it in a pot which I covered and stashed in a bubble wrapped greenhouse for winter.  It has survived and come with me to this new garden and will be planted out this spring - just as soon as I work out how to cut it out of the pot!
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Elizabeth36Elizabeth36 Posts: 7
    I did the leaf folding thing over the winter but lost mine in June which is what confused me, however it may have been the shredding material keeping the crown too wet which caused the problem in my case. Thanks everyone
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