Do you know what @Fairygirl ... I think I'll take the advice of the John Innes Centre scientists up the road (leading world authority on plant rusts) and the experts at Kew Gardens and the RHS rather than the suppositions of someone who's been gardening a few months and quotes Jurassic Park.
Have you ever been for a walk in the woods in the autumn and looked at the leaves? They're covered with fungal spores. They're what makes the world go around.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
That Jurassic Park line is for a bit of fun. No need to be all serious and grrrr...
You'd be amazed what catches a ride on the plants and fish that arrive that I buy for my fish tank. I put the plants in the quarantine tank and within 2 weeks snails hatch, or algae break out. I then have to treat them for removing these before I add them to the main tank. There is a tablet for the fish that helps get the riders out without discomfort to the fish.
Yes you quoted the RHS but l, as I’ve explained, out of context.
And no I wouldn’t be amazed at all … been there and done that … the wonderful world of nature, wildlife and gardening do not and cannot exist in a series of sterile boxes.
Algae and snails eh? Our pond is full of them … and frogs, toads, newts and grass snakes … we didn’t put any of them there … they just ‘arrived’ …. that’s nature for you. 😉
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Your Birch never caught rust from your hollyhocks.
You're absolutely correct @Balgay.Hill, but it's the OP that has the birch - and no hollyhocks. It's all become a bit confusing
I don't often wander in woods @Dovefromabove, but many of the lower slopes of our hills are covered in woodland - mainly birch and rowan, with a smattering of various other species thrown into the mix. Cairngorms are a prime example, as you can't access many of the hills without ploughing through large swathes of it. Always delightful at this time of year though, and then into winter with all the lichens etc. Beautiful. Funnily enough, I often admire a lovely multi stemmed birch in a garden near me, and I did that today. The site it's in is more protected than where I am, and it's still looking great. Most of the ones near me that still have foliage, are looking quite ropey now - in a fungal-y kind of way
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I wouldn't home compost if any foliage material is really bad in terms of disease, but - you can certainly put damaged material [of any kind ] in the council compost bin, where the temps created are considerably higher than a home compost bin, and therefore it isn't a problem.
It generally comes down to good husbandry though, as to how bad any problem is, and also your own climate and conditions. As with much of gardening. Hollyhocks are renowned for being rust magnets. Most people are aware of that and plan accordingly with other plants to hide them, or they don't grow them at all because it's too much of a faff trying to keep them healthy. The old adage again - right plant , right place
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
My tree (whether it is birch I am not sure) and my garden had been there for decades without catching rust until my hollyhocks plugs brought rust into the garden. There is an elderly lady who has lived in the apartment above me much of her life who told me. I hold the lease for the garden, having the ground floor apartment. I am doing what is right and responsible to get it back to its previous infection free state without infecting other people's gardens.
Don't be confused. I never said that hollyhocks is the only way that rust arrives in a garden.
Rust is known as the curse of hollyhocks. It is a plant that is native to much less humid and much more dry and sunny Middle East where I am told it is much less of a problem.
Posts
I'm baling out now. My head's sore from banging it against the wall...
Indeed @Woodgreen
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Have you ever been for a walk in the woods in the autumn and looked at the leaves? They're covered with fungal spores. They're what makes the world go around.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
That Jurassic Park line is for a bit of fun. No need to be all serious and grrrr...
You'd be amazed what catches a ride on the plants and fish that arrive that I buy for my fish tank. I put the plants in the quarantine tank and within 2 weeks snails hatch, or algae break out. I then have to treat them for removing these before I add them to the main tank. There is a tablet for the fish that helps get the riders out without discomfort to the fish.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I don't often wander in woods @Dovefromabove, but many of the lower slopes of our hills are covered in woodland - mainly birch and rowan, with a smattering of various other species thrown into the mix. Cairngorms are a prime example, as you can't access many of the hills without ploughing through large swathes of it. Always delightful at this time of year though, and then into winter with all the lichens etc. Beautiful.
Funnily enough, I often admire a lovely multi stemmed birch in a garden near me, and I did that today. The site it's in is more protected than where I am, and it's still looking great. Most of the ones near me that still have foliage, are looking quite ropey now - in a fungal-y kind of way
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It does not have to be full of disease.
It generally comes down to good husbandry though, as to how bad any problem is, and also your own climate and conditions. As with much of gardening.
Hollyhocks are renowned for being rust magnets. Most people are aware of that and plan accordingly with other plants to hide them, or they don't grow them at all because it's too much of a faff trying to keep them healthy.
The old adage again - right plant , right place
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Don't be confused. I never said that hollyhocks is the only way that rust arrives in a garden.
Rust is known as the curse of hollyhocks. It is a plant that is native to much less humid and much more dry and sunny Middle East where I am told it is much less of a problem.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.