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Ann Folkard geranium roots eaten

helsandlauriehelsandlaurie Posts: 3
in Problem solving

Question for fellow gardeners...

I have a small border of lovely geranium Anne Folkard. Except that about a week ago the end one started looking very sorry for itself and despite watering has turned up its toes. I have just lifted it out and found these neatly cut roots...any ideas of the cause/culprit?

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Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Looks like natural break off ready for new shoots to emerge later. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • helsandlauriehelsandlaurie Posts: 3
    Thanks but the other three plants next to it are fine and doing what they do each spring. Nothing really left below ground level. The image showing root s is the upsideown clump - just came away in my hand 😕showing the root ends is the clump upside d
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    That  is not typical vine weevil damage either. Have you a problem with moles or mice?
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    It looks strange. I am not disagreeing I do not know how it should look if mice have nibbled it.
    But it looks almost cut through as if with a blade. Is that what it looks like if mice do?

    And is the level it is broken off at the same as the bottom edge of the raised bed plank?
    It is right on the corner I just wonder if that has something to do with it for some reason.
     
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Any vole tunnels in that bank?

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited April 2019
    I don't know of any critter that would make such clean cuts, all at the same level.  It looks exactly as if someone has pushed a spade in horizontally under the plant and sliced it off, but I'm sure you'd know if someone else had been working in your garden.
    PS are you sure they are Ann Folkard?  The leaves on the live ones adjacent don't look right. This is Ann Folkard.
    Edited to add:  I think yours might be one of the G. cinereum varieties.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    I am sort of glad you see what I do @jennyj . It looks too clean unless those little mice or voles use gardening tools too.

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    They grow from tiny bits of root, you could split it up and replant and see if it takes. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • helsandlauriehelsandlaurie Posts: 3
    Thank you everyone. I put my finger down into the space where once there were roots and found a wiggly finger sized hole running off ....so vole I think is the culprit. It was all several inches below ground and below the edge of the bed. As for the G.species. Happy for it to be something else - this is the only image I can find of it out.
    thank you all once again. It is great to know you are out there 🌻
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    I think JennyJ is correct. The leaves don't look right for Anna Folkard, and after seeing your last photo, the clump looks very low growing, the size and form fits Geranium Cinereum.
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