Penstemons Wilting at Base

Question:

Some of my penstenoms have wilted at the base (Brown colour) and appear reluctant to flower.

Answer:

Sorry to hear about your problem with your Penstemons. Could you have a look at the soil around the base of the affected plants to see if there are any grubs or other pests which could be causing the problem. If there is no signs of pests then it is most likely stem rot or foot rot. In either case the chances are the plants arrived with the problem and there isn’t much you can do about it at this stage. Dig up the affected plants and destroy them along with the surrounding soil. Don’t compost them as it will spread the disease throughout the garden. Try planting something else in that area next year to avoid passing on the infection.

I hope this helps and if you do find any grubs send me a photo to help identification.

Plant of the Month for September – Japanese Anemone

Our plant of the month for September is Japanese Anemone.

Japanese Anemone are beautiful plants, are very easy to grow and flower their heads off from August through to the frosts. During September they are at their best when there are few other plants around. The Gardening Register has two varieties in the garden Anemone ‘September Charm’ and Anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’. Honorine Jobert has been in for nearly ten years now and it never ceases to amaze me every year. September Charm was planted last autumn so this is it’s first true flowering season. The plants need to bulk up a bit before they’ll be as showy as Honorine. Take a look at the plants in our garden.

They are happy in full sun or partial shade and prefer moist, fertile soil. They are fully hardy and flower between July and September or even to the frosts if you’re lucky.

To care for your Japanese Anemones:

• Cut back the stalks after the flowers have faded
• Tidy up old dead leaves in March
• Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant in spring
• Avoid moving the plant since it resents disturbance
• Where necessary lift and divide congested clumps in early spring

BUY NOW

Click here to see the whole range of Japanese Anemone from Crocus.co.uk

Blueberry Problems

Question:
We have two blueberry bushes about 3 yrs old which we moved from pots into garden last year. They are in fruit but all the leaves have been eaten? On odd remaining ones there is what looks like a yellow mildew.Can you advise if fruit once ripened is fit to eat and also what the problem is.

Answer:
Blueberries are often pest and disease free, but can occasionally suffer from powdery mildew and vine weevil. Click on the links to find out more from the RHS Advice Centre. Here is also a link to find out more about blueberries in general.

It is also worth noting that they prefer an acid soil so it would be as well to test the soil around the planting area and if it is not acidic enough perhaps consider putting them back into their pots:

I would say that the fruits will be fine once they ripen but if you have sprayed the plant make sure you wash them well.

Cordyline Drying Out

Question:
I’ve just got back from holiday to find that my cordyline red star has unexpectedly dried up. Everybody else’s in the close seems to be doing well. What could have gone wrong? Is there any way I can salvage the plant?

Answer:
I’m sorry to hear about your Cordyline. I think we need to establish whether the plant has dried up because the ground dried out or because it has been affected by a pest or disease. Is the soil around the plant dry and if so how far down is it dry? If the soil is damp a few inches down then the plant could be infected which has caused it to shrivel. Have a look around the leaves and the surrounding soil and let me know if you find any evidence of pests or diseases and I’ll investigate further.

In the meantime I would give it a good drink of water and a sprinkling of fertiliser. Add a couple of inches of well rotted manure around the base to help keep the moisture in.

Orange Lichen on Hibiscus

Question:

I have a Hibiscus which is several years old. This year it has many orange fungal looking blotches on its branches. What is it & what should I do about it?

Answer:

This sounds like Common Orange Lichen (Xanthoria parietina) and is not dangerous or harmful to your Hibiscus.

Rust on Roses

Question:

How can I prevent my rose bushes getting rust, also do I need to put a pot ash in soil, they are just starting to get the leaves, then during the summer they get what I think is rust and they fall off.

Answer:

Rose rust fungi can survive over the winter on fallen leaves or on the soil surface. They can also become attached to objects such as stakes, fences and rose stems.

Spray your plants and surrounding area with a fungicide now before the overwintering spores germinate, make sure you spray both sides of the leaves and the stems. Try one of the following: Scotts Fungus Clear, Systhane Fungus Fighter or Roseclear 3 (the last two also contains an insecticide if this is needed), you should be able to get them at your local garden centre. These sprays also help control powdery mildew and blackspot.

If you prefer not to use chemicals pick up and burn or otherwise dispose of fallen and infected leaves. Prune the plants to keep them as open as possible and allow air to circulate. Cut out and destroy any rust lesions on the stems, as well as old and weakened wood.

For best results use a combination of natural and chemical solutions.