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Astrantia

laura101187laura101187 Posts: 13
in Problem solving
Hi everyone
We have an issue with slugs eating everything so I recently made an effort to only buy plants slugs hate. One I got was an astrantia and it has been obliterated, the leaves are yellow and it’s covered in small slugs. I don’t really want to use poison because we have a toddler, and cats, and hedgehogs visit. Is there anything I can do? It keeps happening that supposedly slug unfriendly plants still get eaten (hydrangeas, Rosemary etc). 

I’ve tried wool pellets, coffee grounds, eggs, copper tape and manually removing and spraying with soap.

Do people think this is a lost cause? Are there any plants I could plant that would resist? Also if anybody knows how to revive my astrantia I’d be so grateful!

thank you!


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Posts

  • LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,923
    edited December 2021
    Hi Laura,

    You'll not be able to revive your Astrantia now because it dies off above ground for the winter. It's one of the most welcome signs of spring when it starts to send up its new green shoots from the previously bare earth.

    They are largely slug-resistant but you may find that they move in to clean up when the plant is naturally dying back. I've got two varieties of Astrantia major and have never had a problem during the flowering season.
    Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. 

    I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
  • laura101187laura101187 Posts: 13
    VictorMeldrew said:
    Hi Laura,

    You'll not be able to revive your Astrantia now because it dies off above ground for the winter. It's one of the most welcome signs of spring when it starts to send up its new green shoots from the previously bare earth.

    They are largely slug-resistant but you may find that they move in to clean up when the plant is naturally dying back. I've got two varieties of Astrantia major and have never had a problem during the flowering season.
    Thank you! Maybe it has just died naturally, should I cut off the dead bits? I’m never sure when to cut things back… sorry if it’s a silly question!
  • LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,923
    Yes you can clip off the old 'woody' stalks to make it look nicer. That's what I've still got to do with mine. To be honest you can't damage it now unless you start digging into it. 
    Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. 

    I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Hi there @laura101187, as @VictorMeldrew says, your plant should revive in Spring with fresh new growth, it's just dormant now, not dead.  You could protect the new growth when it starts to appear in Spring with a temporary barrier by cutting a plastic drinks bottle into a number of rings about three or four inches high.  Use one of these rings to surround for your astrantia while it gets established and produces tougher leaves.  Remove the circle before the plant gets too big - by that time there will be other more tasty temptations for your slugs' attention!  They are lovely plants and bulk up well once they get established.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    My complainr about atsrantias is they multiply so rapidly they overtake everything else and they are a nightmare to get rid of it in the border. They seed prolifically into other parts of the garden as well, popping up everywhere.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    That's odd, mine don't. They've stayed in nice tidy clumps and don't self seed.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    @laura101187, have you tried Penstemon, particularly the more busy types like 'Garnet'? I find mine slug-proof and so far slugs don't seem to eat hellebores, gaura or erigeron in my garden.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • laura101187laura101187 Posts: 13
    Plantminded said:
    Hi there @laura101187, as @VictorMeldrew says, your plant should revive in Spring with fresh new growth, it's just dormant now, not dead.  You could protect the new growth when it starts to appear in Spring with a temporary barrier by cutting a plastic drinks bottle into a number of rings about three or four inches high.  Use one of these rings to surround for your astrantia while it gets established and produces tougher leaves.  Remove the circle before the plant gets too big - by that time there will be other more tasty temptations for your slugs' attention!  They are lovely plants and bulk up well once they get established.
    Thanks! I’ll try that, nothing seems to really take so I’m hoping it’ll get bigger 
  • laura101187laura101187 Posts: 13
    Lizzie27 said:
    @laura101187, have you tried Penstemon, particularly the more busy types like 'Garnet'? I find mine slug-proof and so far slugs don't seem to eat hellebores, gaura or erigeron in my garden.
    I haven’t tried those, I’ll look into it. These slugs seem to eat everything so I’m desperate!
  • laura101187laura101187 Posts: 13
    VictorMeldrew said:
    Yes you can clip off the old 'woody' stalks to make it look nicer. That's what I've still got to do with mine. To be honest you can't damage it now unless you start digging into it. 
    Great, thanks!
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