It seems a bit odd that nothing at all comes back up. Even in really bad slug years all my plants still come up. I can't grow scabious - only as annuals - as they don't like my acid clay soil. I made the mistake of buying lots and none came back.
I mean geraniums are bomb proof!
I hope there is nothing buried under your garden that is killing them.
Have you dug the remains of your plants up to take a look at the roots? You might have Vine Weevils or Leather Jackets. The Vine Weevils are white with brown heads and are usually curled up; the Leather Jackets look like greyish caterpillars. These creatures eat the roots so the plants cannot survive. You can also treat them with Nematodes but you need to know whether it is one of these creatures or slugs because the Nematodes to choose are specific to each pest. They don't come cheap so you'd need to be sure what the problem is.
I wondered if it might be that your soil gets waterlogged in winter so the plants rot away - but it sounds as though you have nice soil so maybe not.
My next thought is that perhaps it is still a little early to give up on everything. The delphiniums in my sunniest border are only just peeping through the soil & it's the same with lots of the geraniums and astrantias. I can't even tell where most of my hostas are. I'm in relatively mild East Anglia so if you're in a colder part of the country it might just be that things have not woken up yet.
My final thought is that perhaps you are putting plants in when they are still a bit too small and not able to withstand the winter. I pot plants on until they fill a1 litre pot before I plant them in the borders. I only plant perennials in spring - never autumn because they sulk and rot in my cold wet clay soil over the winter.
Plants such as aquilegia and some of the geraniums maintain a 'presence' through the winter so you can keep an eye on them.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
I'm in the south east and my hostas and geraniums have only come up in the last week. Astrantias and salvia only just starting to appear. My lupins have been up a while longer though. But the whole thing sounds really odd especially as it happened last year as well. Poor you! I would have said geraniums were fairly bullet proof whatever your soil though. Presuming that you manage to sort the issue out I would have a look at phlox comes in white, pale blues and pinks, allium, sedum matrona all do well in my soil (inclined to be wet)! Maybe look at self seeders like aquilegia as top bird suggested, foxgloves, lady's mantle etc
Sue, like Topbird some of my astrantias and hardy geraniums are only just making an appearance. I'm in Devon on clay soil and its been very cold at night here so some plants are a bit late. For mid height plants l have peonies. I know the flowers aren't around for long but l love the foliage too. Francoa is pretty with spikes of little pinky white flowers, it's evergreen too with rosettes of pink tinged green leaves. I couldn't be without japanese anemones. Queen Charlotte is a wonderful variety with mid pink double flowers. Slugs haven't touched these plants at all. Also a few weeks ago when l was replanting some self sown forget me nots to where l wanted them to flower, l noticed scores of slugs hiding underneath the plants so l had a good long spell of squishy squishy to rid them from my garden. So l think this autumn l may not keep so many forget me nots to try and stop so many slugs having somewhere to hide. If only l could find where they 're all hiding and blitz them in one go.
I really can't thank you enough all for your answers, I so appreciate the time you have taken to reply. I have just sat and taken notes on everyones suggestions. I have removed some of the forget me nots and have not found any others pests as in Glynwyn's idea. I have lightly hand forked the area and it does seem as there is not much left. So sad. As with Lilysilly, - (with your name you would make a wonderful friend!!!!!), I do think I have left too many forget me nots and that has allowed the slugs to wreck havoc. I did try to remove some in the autumn as I had the same problem last year and thought it might be that. Two years of loosing my lovely plants is heart breaking. I will wait a bit longer, as suggested, and keep my fingers crossed that something might come up still. I am in Kent, so it is warm and my soil is basically good, not waterlogged. I might try and see if I can get some cheap plants on line rather than go to a garden center as they are so expensive. Thanks once again all of you. Keep your fingers crossed for me, my garden is my safe haven!
Now you have cleared the area, your plants might still be waiting to come through. As now they will enjoy full sun and you might find some have pulled through. I also suggest the following:
1) try not to use slug pellets - they are harmful to birds who are a gardeners friend. I recommend the following which I have found very effective. Lay a small jar onto the soil with maize flour or polenta (same thing) the slugs and snails will eat until they explode - effectively serving up stuffed snails.
2) clear weeds from the area where possible - they act as a hiding place which makes them less visible to birds.
3) I too have a cottage style garden packed with herbaceous perennials. If slugs/snails are the problem, I recommend larger plants as the root system is able to compete with slugs/snails. Take cuttings where you can and collect seeds for hollyhocks, Salvia, sweetpea, cosmos etc- giving you free plants.
4) if you are 100 percent sure the plants are dead, take a look at the soil contents - are the roots being eaten by anything else?
5) suggested plants - Rambling roses - they flower well on current years growth (make a wigwam of bamboo, hazel sticks or even and old pair of step ladders) - available in lots of cottage garden colours - lavender, mint, rosemary, catnip, globe artichokes, sage - (blue/silver)
6) fill the gaps with sweat peas grown on your window sills - when they are large enough slugs/snails tend not to bother - also plant coriander - treat as an annual - it has pretty lace white flowers. Foxgloves will give unsupported colour and height too!
7) invest in box and or bay to give evergreen all year round structure to your garden. Start small and allow to grow and take cuttings.
Good luck with your garden - I have attached a few images for you to act as encouragement.
Sorry it's so long ago but must thank you for such a wonderful reply. Opened all the comments up again so I could save it all and print for further reference and then realised I had not thanked you. It was the last reply but so helpful. Thank you for taking the time for me. Sue
is the plant behind the bench (the big silver leaved massive plant) a cardoon? and if so how long did it take to get that big? i bought a perinnial one and seeing yours i think i have planted it in the wrong place, mines only got about 5 leaves on at the mo and been planted a couple of weeks
Posts
It seems a bit odd that nothing at all comes back up. Even in really bad slug years all my plants still come up. I can't grow scabious - only as annuals - as they don't like my acid clay soil. I made the mistake of buying lots and none came back.
I mean geraniums are bomb proof!
I hope there is nothing buried under your garden that is killing them.
Have you dug the remains of your plants up to take a look at the roots? You might have Vine Weevils or Leather Jackets. The Vine Weevils are white with brown heads and are usually curled up; the Leather Jackets look like greyish caterpillars. These creatures eat the roots so the plants cannot survive. You can also treat them with Nematodes but you need to know whether it is one of these creatures or slugs because the Nematodes to choose are specific to each pest. They don't come cheap so you'd need to be sure what the problem is.
How disheartening for you Sue.
I wondered if it might be that your soil gets waterlogged in winter so the plants rot away - but it sounds as though you have nice soil so maybe not.
My next thought is that perhaps it is still a little early to give up on everything. The delphiniums in my sunniest border are only just peeping through the soil & it's the same with lots of the geraniums and astrantias. I can't even tell where most of my hostas are. I'm in relatively mild East Anglia so if you're in a colder part of the country it might just be that things have not woken up yet.
My final thought is that perhaps you are putting plants in when they are still a bit too small and not able to withstand the winter. I pot plants on until they fill a1 litre pot before I plant them in the borders. I only plant perennials in spring - never autumn because they sulk and rot in my cold wet clay soil over the winter.
Plants such as aquilegia and some of the geraniums maintain a 'presence' through the winter so you can keep an eye on them.
Sue, like Topbird some of my astrantias and hardy geraniums are only just making an appearance. I'm in Devon on clay soil and its been very cold at night here so some plants are a bit late. For mid height plants l have peonies. I know the flowers aren't around for long but l love the foliage too. Francoa is pretty with spikes of little pinky white flowers, it's evergreen too with rosettes of pink tinged green leaves. I couldn't be without japanese anemones. Queen Charlotte is a wonderful variety with mid pink double flowers. Slugs haven't touched these plants at all. Also a few weeks ago when l was replanting some self sown forget me nots to where l wanted them to flower, l noticed scores of slugs hiding underneath the plants so l had a good long spell of squishy squishy to rid them from my garden. So l think this autumn l may not keep so many forget me nots to try and stop so many slugs having somewhere to hide. If only l could find where they 're all hiding and blitz them in one go.
I really can't thank you enough all for your answers, I so appreciate the time you have taken to reply. I have just sat and taken notes on everyones suggestions. I have removed some of the forget me nots and have not found any others pests as in Glynwyn's idea. I have lightly hand forked the area and it does seem as there is not much left. So sad. As with Lilysilly, - (with your name you would make a wonderful friend!!!!!), I do think I have left too many forget me nots and that has allowed the slugs to wreck havoc. I did try to remove some in the autumn as I had the same problem last year and thought it might be that. Two years of loosing my lovely plants is heart breaking. I will wait a bit longer, as suggested, and keep my fingers crossed that something might come up still. I am in Kent, so it is warm and my soil is basically good, not waterlogged. I might try and see if I can get some cheap plants on line rather than go to a garden center as they are so expensive. Thanks once again all of you. Keep your fingers crossed for me, my garden is my safe haven!
Hi Sue,
I empathize with you.
Now you have cleared the area, your plants might still be waiting to come through. As now they will enjoy full sun and you might find some have pulled through. I also suggest the following:
1) try not to use slug pellets - they are harmful to birds who are a gardeners friend. I recommend the following which I have found very effective. Lay a small jar onto the soil with maize flour or polenta (same thing) the slugs and snails will eat until they explode - effectively serving up stuffed snails.
2) clear weeds from the area where possible - they act as a hiding place which makes them less visible to birds.
3) I too have a cottage style garden packed with herbaceous perennials. If slugs/snails are the problem, I recommend larger plants as the root system is able to compete with slugs/snails. Take cuttings where you can and collect seeds for hollyhocks, Salvia, sweetpea, cosmos etc- giving you free plants.
4) if you are 100 percent sure the plants are dead, take a look at the soil contents - are the roots being eaten by anything else?
5) suggested plants - Rambling roses - they flower well on current years growth (make a wigwam of bamboo, hazel sticks or even and old pair of step ladders) - available in lots of cottage garden colours - lavender, mint, rosemary, catnip, globe artichokes, sage - (blue/silver)
6) fill the gaps with sweat peas grown on your window sills - when they are large enough slugs/snails tend not to bother - also plant coriander - treat as an annual - it has pretty lace white flowers. Foxgloves will give unsupported colour and height too!
7) invest in box and or bay to give evergreen all year round structure to your garden. Start small and allow to grow and take cuttings.
Good luck with your garden - I have attached a few images for you to act as encouragement.
ER
Sorry it's so long ago but must thank you for such a wonderful reply. Opened all the comments up again so I could save it all and print for further reference and then realised I had not thanked you. It was the last reply but so helpful. Thank you for taking the time for me. Sue
did anything come up sue?
Last edited: 13 May 2016 19:01:15