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Erigeron

WildlifeloverWildlifelover Posts: 380
in Plants
Morning all,

I’ve just gone in the garden for the first time since last year and noticed all my Erigeron kar. look like this - is this normal? This time last year, they were still quite green but in the autumn just gone, I cut them down quite a bit as they had got huge last year. 

I can see a tiny amount of green at the base of a couple but most look completely dead - are they likely to come back ok?

Many thanks. 

Posts

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Wildlifelover I would take a look low down for sighs of life. Is the soil well drained? Normally this plant comes through the winter no problem. However it has been wet and cold I can remember years ago when I had seven or eight plants only one tiny piece survived the bad winter weather. On the plus side it was enough for me to start again. In my garden it grows in the path some is showing green leaves in parts I would keep your fingers crossed. It may have set seed elsewhere too.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • WildlifeloverWildlifelover Posts: 380
    Thanks, as I mentioned, a couple have green leaves right at the base but most don’t. The soil is well drained and these are planted on a slight slope so the water runs away. Should i cut away all the dead looking stuff right to the base and see how they go?
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    I would expect to lose a few of those after a hard winter but you should get some seedlings appearing


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I have cut mine back. What I don't know is if the top growth offers protection or encourages rain to run down to the roots. In mild winters they can retain all their leaves. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    I have some in my back garden in a lightly shaded bed, they are still green and looking quite healthy.  Some in the front garden which gets full sun, is exposed and has shallow soil are looking dishevelled - I will cut these to ground level towards the end of February.  Last year they regrew with renewed vigour!  It really depends on your soil and conditions. I have found them quite tough survivors.  Although they prefer full sun, they also grow well in light shade.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Some of mine went like that after the cold snap in December. I'll cut all the dead stuff back when I get around to it and they'll most likely bounce right back. I have the well-drained conditions that they like. Green growth at the base is promising and if the others don't come back you can take some cuttings.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • WildlifeloverWildlifelover Posts: 380
    Thanks. Hopefully they’ll be ok and come back as good as before!
  • ciaranmcgreneraciaranmcgrenera Posts: 313
    I went away last July for 3 weeks and a spot where I have a lot of EK on a wall had two plants just like that due to the extreme heat. I cut them down to the ground, gave the whole thing a good water and feed and they came back full scale by the autumn.
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