All my hellebores got a severe 'haircut' last month, then a thickish mulch of about 6" home-made compost..should rot / settle dw to about 2" by early spring, say Jan 2nd here in SW coastal Pembs. Then I await those gorgeous early-season blooms!!
All the above doubles still produce pollen for the bees. there are forms where the stamen etc have become petaloid and no longer function.
The main reason for removing the old leaves (usually by us in February) is that the plant no longer needs them and they can become infected with various fungi. Removing them does the plant good as it does not have to fight off any pathogens from the leaves.
This of course only applies to the x hybridus types. All the others should only have dead leaves removed as and when you see them, especially H. niger and its cousins.
Diana Guy, who won the first BBC gardener of the year competition some years ago, and is a Hellebore specialist is coming to talk to our hortsoc. in February. Really looking forward to it. She lives quite close by in Dorset.
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All my hellebores got a severe 'haircut' last month, then a thickish mulch of about 6" home-made compost..should rot / settle dw to about 2" by early spring, say Jan 2nd here in SW coastal Pembs. Then I await those gorgeous early-season blooms!!
Prefer singles to doubles... better for the early bees.
All the above doubles still produce pollen for the bees. there are forms where the stamen etc have become petaloid and no longer function.
The main reason for removing the old leaves (usually by us in February) is that the plant no longer needs them and they can become infected with various fungi. Removing them does the plant good as it does not have to fight off any pathogens from the leaves.
This of course only applies to the x hybridus types. All the others should only have dead leaves removed as and when you see them, especially H. niger and its cousins.
I think I prefer the simplicity of the singles anyway. For me, doubles are good, singles better.
I love single roses, dahlias too.
Turning up the flower and being delighted by the beauty of the patterning and colour is one of the gardening joys of Spring?
Verdun, have you ever been to Heligan in their Hellebore week? Stunning!
Diana Guy, who won the first BBC gardener of the year competition some years ago, and is a Hellebore specialist is coming to talk to our hortsoc. in February. Really looking forward to it. She lives quite close by in Dorset.