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Dormant or Dead?

emmabrooksbank17emmabrooksbank17 Posts: 1
in Problem solving
Hi all, pretty new gardener here and not gardened in a winter that got down to the temperatures it did last last year. Are these plants still dormant or dead? I'm thinking dead but want to be sure before pulling them all? All of these stayed green the winter before
In order of the photos below:
Penstemon after splitting a branch
Hebe after splitting a branch
Fuchsia
Hebe
Group of Hebes

Posts

  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    There doesn’t look like much hope there I’m afraid, time to plan some new planting!  Many others have reported similar losses due to the recent winter weather.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Penstemons start new growth from the base, so cut it  back and hope to see some new shoots soon,  I’ve got some with good size shoots,  others very tiny growth. Same with the fuchsias. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    The best test is to scratch the bark to see if it is green and alive.  The best course of action is to wait and see.  If all the dead wood annoys you, keep pruning it back until it shows life.  In some cases the roots may still be alive if all else is dead.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    It is still too early and cold to see growth on a lot of plants. Wait for another month before giving up all hope.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It depends where you are as to whether the Hebes will revive @emmabrooksbank17 . Many of them get affected badly in winter if they're wet and then get frosted or frozen. Cutting back doesn't always work either.
    They regularly die off here where I am, so it can just be one of those things with them. Some are tougher than others too. Last winter was very mild here, and this winter has been mild too, [apart from the couple of sharp spells] after hotter, drier summers,  so they've done better.
    You can either cut back and cross your fingers, or wait a little while longer to see if new growth happens.  :)
    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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