I remove scabby looking ones on a regular basis aym. It will depend on the hellebore, but it's mainly when they're budding up and flowering.
As Berghill says, it only leads to disease, but it also allows the flowers to show well, especially as we often don't see the flowers well because of their habit
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Now is the ideal time because leaves have taken some winter weather stress and they're not looking great. A little bit of judgement when looking at your plants too.
It's like any plant really - good ventilation and air flow means less disease, so it's about good practice to keep the plants healthy, as much as - or more than - the aesthetics. It also allows the flowers to be pollinated by early insects too, as they're not obscured by foliage. They're late winter plants generally speaking, so the sunlight they get isn't that big a factor regarding their health. Dappled shade is the ideal site.
Mine get very little sun, as it's too low to reach them at this time of year, and we don't get much anyway. I have some which flower almost continuously right through the year - Blue Lady. Good value
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I start in January, but that is because it take such a long time to et round them all. I noticed that Bodnant Gardens had cut theirs down a lot earlier than that. They are a lot milder than we are though. I also have just dug up a hundred or so seedlings from round some yellow flowered upright facing ones. Good time to do that. Also planted about 50 in the wall outside the garden (road side verge which belongs to us). Mainly to get rid of the plants rather than any aesthetic considerations. Splitting plants is best done in September though. They form new roots as the soil cools down.
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Fairy, yes it's a hellebore but I can't remember which one. The red double one is still in tight bud.
Logan, those Hellebore leaves really could do with removal. the plant does not need them now and they are just a source of potential infection.
I remove scabby looking ones on a regular basis aym. It will depend on the hellebore, but it's mainly when they're budding up and flowering.
As Berghill says, it only leads to disease, but it also allows the flowers to show well, especially as we often don't see the flowers well because of their habit
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Now is the ideal time because leaves have taken some winter weather stress and they're not looking great. A little bit of judgement when looking at your plants too.
It's like any plant really - good ventilation and air flow means less disease, so it's about good practice to keep the plants healthy, as much as - or more than - the aesthetics. It also allows the flowers to be pollinated by early insects too, as they're not obscured by foliage. They're late winter plants generally speaking, so the sunlight they get isn't that big a factor regarding their health. Dappled shade is the ideal site.
Mine get very little sun, as it's too low to reach them at this time of year, and we don't get much anyway. I have some which flower almost continuously right through the year - Blue Lady. Good value
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I start in January, but that is because it take such a long time to et round them all. I noticed that Bodnant Gardens had cut theirs down a lot earlier than that. They are a lot milder than we are though. I also have just dug up a hundred or so seedlings from round some yellow flowered upright facing ones. Good time to do that. Also planted about 50 in the wall outside the garden (road side verge which belongs to us). Mainly to get rid of the plants rather than any aesthetic considerations. Splitting plants is best done in September though. They form new roots as the soil cools down.
Last edited: 03 February 2017 21:10:03
Lovely pictures, cheers me up knowing spring nearly here
I haven't noticed any snowdrops showing here yet
Last edited: 03 February 2017 21:23:01
Aym, thanks. Their all self seeded plants.
lovely morning light and a hoare frost (I've learned!)