Thank you for sharing your experience @Skylark001 I was already wondering about the nematodes - I tried them a few times but never noticed any significant improvement. And they are indeed quite expensive.
I would try that strong pesticide, shame it’s not available to general public. I read that another option is to pick them by hand - is that even possible? I have never seen one in my garden, only a few grubs when planting. But I already can see the first damage, so it is time to start doing something about it. Where do I look for them, on the plant or on the ground around it?
Maybe I could dig up the affected plants and riddle out the grubs? Then reduce the number of bergenia plants? Hellebores would be an early flowering choice, or other suggestions?
I'm not so attached to bergenia, just some early colour
My neighbour's, the same stock, are about 20 feet away from mine and as she hasn't kept up with her garden and there is little organic matter in the soil which is quite hard despite the rain. Maybe they prefer poor soil? Gardening can be baffling.
I'm going to have a go at her bindweed before it is a really serious problem and have stocked up with glyphosate!
Like me, you'll probably find the nematodes less than successful @berarde. It's too cold up here, and by the time the ground is warm enough, it's too late, and they have a stranglehold. They do like damp, cool spots too, so the sites you have them in may not be the best for them. The east side is generally drier than the west, and if your ground is hard, and lacking organic matter, that may be the problem. Your neighbour might have heartier soil, due to it being left to it's own devices. Ironic eh? You can always try cleaning off the soil, but a healthy plant will cope well enough. It's the grubs/larvae which do the damage below ground, so unless they suddenly keep over, it's just the aesthetics of them. A good load of well rotted manure will help the condition of the ground they're in, so it might be worth doing that. Hellebores like similar conditions. They'll both cope with sun as long as they don't get too dry. Bear in mind that a new plant can take a little time to get to flowering stage too, and it will often depend what competition there is for nutrients etc.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Just an update, they have flowered quite well, they've just been about 4 weeks behind my neighbours! I haven't really worked out what is the difference of placement, but my neighbours soil has had no attention with organic matter, fertiliser etc, so maybe they just like tougher conditions?
Just an update, they have flowered quite well, they've just been about 4 weeks behind my neighbours! I haven't really worked out what is the difference of placement, but my neighbours soil has had no attention with organic matter, fertiliser etc, so maybe they just like tougher conditions?
in addition to the rejuvenating, it might just get a little more sun, a little earlier and have slightly lighter soil that can warm up quicker. maybe also yours are in a rain shadow.
Talking of variables, Golden Rod facing North against a low brick wall in my garden flowered at a different time than the South facing clump about 20' away. Same soil and same neglect.
Posts
I was already wondering about the nematodes - I tried them a few times but never noticed any significant improvement. And they are indeed quite expensive.
I would try that strong pesticide, shame it’s not available to general public. I read that another option is to pick them by hand - is that even possible? I have never seen one in my garden, only a few grubs when planting. But I already can see the first damage, so it is time to start doing something about it. Where do I look for them, on the plant or on the ground around it?
I'm not so attached to bergenia, just some early colour
My neighbour's, the same stock, are about 20 feet away from mine and as she hasn't kept up with her garden and there is little organic matter in the soil which is quite hard despite the rain. Maybe they prefer poor soil? Gardening can be baffling.
I'm going to have a go at her bindweed before it is a really serious problem and have stocked up with glyphosate!
They do like damp, cool spots too, so the sites you have them in may not be the best for them. The east side is generally drier than the west, and if your ground is hard, and lacking organic matter, that may be the problem. Your neighbour might have heartier soil, due to it being left to it's own devices. Ironic eh?
You can always try cleaning off the soil, but a healthy plant will cope well enough. It's the grubs/larvae which do the damage below ground, so unless they suddenly keep over, it's just the aesthetics of them. A good load of well rotted manure will help the condition of the ground they're in, so it might be worth doing that.
Hellebores like similar conditions.
They'll both cope with sun as long as they don't get too dry. Bear in mind that a new plant can take a little time to get to flowering stage too, and it will often depend what competition there is for nutrients etc.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
so many variables.....