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Verbena Bonariensis drying up

donnabrumheaddonnabrumhead Posts: 1
in Problem solving
I have two large verbena Bonariensis plants that were originally newly planted in April. We moved one in June over a few inches in the same bed and it is not happy. I was wondering if the flowers are drying up because it is waterlogged or whether it just needs more water? There were quite a few large stones / bricks when we dug down. Has anyone else had a waterlogged plant that looks like this? 

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Are they just setting seed? Some of mine (self-sown and left in place) are already setting seed. I think the hot dry spring brought them on earlier than usual.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    June is a funny time to move perennials, it could be just needing extra water, depends how much rain you had lately, can you get some cutting off it or save seeds. If it self seed you will have lots more. 
    If your soil is stoney it won’t be water logged. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    When I move perennials around in summer, I also tend to cut them back quite a bit. This helps make sure the roots can support the top growth (you lose a lot of fine roots in the process of moving). Things like Verbena soon bounce back, even if you cut them right down.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Perennials are quite easy to move here in summer as it's cool and damp, but if you live somewhere warmer, it's possibly just a shortage of water as @Lyn describes.
    A plant that's growing strongly at that time of year will tend to struggle if it's warm and dry, as it's hard for them to get enough moisture up to the whole plant. 

    They are very easy from cuttings though, so if you want to cut back as suggested, there will be plenty of material  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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