The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Gardens => Topic started by: valr on April 30, 2010, 05:57:51 pm

Title: dead hebes
Post by: valr on April 30, 2010, 05:57:51 pm
 ???

I have 4 very large well established hebes which appear to be dead! The leaves are totally brown and the branches are snapping off really easily.

Would it have been because of the bad winter we have had do you think? Anyone else experienced this? It is a shame as they were so lovely when in flower. :(  Not to mention the fact they were quite expensive when I bought them!

Should I just try to dig them out or is there any point in cutting them right back and hoping they recover? ( Right down at the base the main branches seem to still be greenish at the edges when you cut into them)

I'd be grateful for any advice.
Title: Re: dead hebes
Post by: Sharondp on April 30, 2010, 06:16:28 pm
Might be worth cutting them back - I had some similar and put them on the compost, noticed a week or so later there were new shoots appearing so re-planted them!
Title: Re: dead hebes
Post by: doganjo on April 30, 2010, 06:19:38 pm
Yes, I have a huge one just the same.  I did wonder about cutting it back but wasn't sure if I should maybe leave it a bit longer in case we have more frosts?
Title: Re: dead hebes
Post by: Daisys Mum on April 30, 2010, 07:54:21 pm

I had 2 and they both went like that so I dug them up and dumped them.
Title: Re: dead hebes
Post by: Rosemary on April 30, 2010, 08:34:16 pm
Give them a chance. If they were well rooted they might come again. Cut them hardback and give them a dose of fetilizer and see what happens.
Title: Re: dead hebes
Post by: doganjo on April 30, 2010, 08:36:17 pm
My one takes up a corner that is tucked away, so no harm done if I cut it back and leave it to see what happens. To be honest I'm not even sure it IS a hebe.  But it's big and brown anyway.
Title: Re: dead hebes
Post by: valr on April 30, 2010, 09:59:27 pm
Shame - must have been the weather if the problem is widespread. I'll cut it right back and see what happens. It would be a hard job to dig it up so that is the easier option in any event. Thanks guys
Title: Re: dead hebes
Post by: ballingall on April 30, 2010, 10:29:31 pm
Ours is the same, we were just talking about it the other day. We've had ours for about 10 years, and managed to make it move house with us, but it is all brown too, and doesn't look very good.


Beth
Title: Re: dead hebes
Post by: doganjo on April 30, 2010, 11:51:11 pm
Well, it's been bucketing all night here, but if it's reasonably dry and not so bloomin' awful cold tomorrow, I'll take a picture for here, and cut it down, then take another photy.
Title: Re: dead hebes
Post by: valr on May 01, 2010, 12:02:53 am
How do you post photos?

??

Get to your bed Anne! Your chooks get up earlier than mine in the morning!  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: dead hebes
Post by: doganjo on May 01, 2010, 12:06:41 am
It's only just past midnight ;D ;D ;D  Anyway, you're still up!  I've had an exciting day so need to wind down!  Been on the radio!  http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00s5hc3 (about half way along)

To post photos - you need to reduce the size (I save them onto my desktop with a different name so I still have the original photo.), then click on 'additional options' below the message box, then browse for the photo and post.
Title: Re: dead hebes
Post by: Touchwood on May 01, 2010, 08:32:57 am
We've lost quite a few big shrubs this year including viburnum which always thought quite hardy and several Rosemary bushes, which is understandable I suppose. Always worth cutting them back and wait to see if they reshoot.
Title: Re: dead hebes
Post by: valr on May 01, 2010, 01:56:03 pm
Good for you Anne! Very well and forcefully put.
Title: Re: dead hebes
Post by: HappyHippy on May 02, 2010, 01:17:28 pm
Go Annie !  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: dead hebes
Post by: NLL on May 03, 2010, 08:47:29 am
hebes are not a long lived shrub , so at 10 years they are probably passed their best.
Title: Re: dead hebes
Post by: Wizard on May 03, 2010, 10:22:14 am
Kath and I was in the Alford's G.C. Yesterday and we saw some Hebes in 6"pots nice healthy plants but the price I wanted a plant not a bloody garden to plant it in as well ??? ;D ;D ;D :farmer:
Title: Re: dead hebes
Post by: valr on May 03, 2010, 10:33:46 am
I didnt know they were past their best at 10 years! Interesting. Anyway mine were 6 years old. They cost about £7 in the garden centre near me....  How much were the ones you were looking at Wizard?
Title: Re: dead hebes
Post by: Wizard on May 03, 2010, 01:21:13 pm
£10.99 Vair but its a upmarket type of place where we only go for a look round.Just in passing aren't Little Bay Leaf Trees expensive I've tried to get cuttings to grow with little or no success ??? :farmer:
Title: Re: dead hebes
Post by: valr on May 03, 2010, 04:02:00 pm
Yes bay trees are expensive. I fancied a couple in pots for the front door but they were too expensive.
Title: Re: dead hebes
Post by: doganjo on May 03, 2010, 05:31:13 pm
Some plants grow very readily from tiny bits - especially if you have a wee polly bag in your pocket :-[ ::)
Title: Re: dead hebes
Post by: Wizard on May 03, 2010, 05:50:19 pm
So true Annie There is a Bay along a East Wall at Brocklesby  must be 20yds I have had all sorts of bits with Tom's permission he says it can be very tempermental to get going.I have several bits of things from plastic bags in pots  :D ;D :farmer:
Title: Re: dead hebes
Post by: doganjo on May 03, 2010, 05:54:43 pm
I have a piggy back plant which was grown from a leaf of a piggy back plant ,which was also grown from a leaf of a piggy back plant, which was in iteself grown from a leaf of a piggy back plant nicked from a  garden centre ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: dead hebes
Post by: Wizard on May 03, 2010, 09:23:17 pm
Oh Annie love you ain't half 00000000000ty ;D ;D ;D :wave: