Devastating Plant Loss Over Winter

I was very sad about the devastating plant loss over Winter. February is the month when gardeners, all go out into their gardens to access and reorganise. I was shocked at the amount of Spring bulbs which I had planted in the October the previous year failed to even peep above the soil. This trend continued as I investigated my garden spaces. Read on if you would like to know what I came across.

Table of Contents

Why your bulbs have not come up.

Plant loss over Winter to the continual wet ground is common. Rot sets in, especially when the ground has poor drainage or saturated due to a high water table.
When the roots can’t absorb oxygen, they begin to rot and become vulnerable to insects and worms living in the pot or ground.
Wet conditions can cause mildew and fungus which can attack young shoots. Stems will usually turn white and powdery and die back. If this happens and the ground is still wet and soggy the roots and bulbs will rot away
Slugs will take advantage of young shoots and munch them before they get very tall. This can happen in a short space of time and you would never know if you have not been watching.

What can you do if your bulbs keep rotting?

Make sure you plant them in well drained soil. I have often planted my bulbs into pots or crate trays like you get at grocery stores. I keep them on my pathways where the water can run away.
Towards the end of January I plant them into the garden in the crate tray or pot. This gives them less chance of rotting.
When they have finished flowering I lift the tray or pot and plant something else in that spot. I store the trays and pots in the open until all the leaf has started to die back.
If planting in tubs, use polystyrene chunks to help with the drainage at the bottom of the pots.
When planting new bulbs or replanting older ones, check the bulb ball is firm and has no rot.

What are the signs your plant has suffered from too much water?

Plant loss over Winter due to too much seasonal rain and high water tables has a knock on effect in Spring. Check for yellowish, drooping leaves, these are signs the plant is struggling.
Check the soil around the plants, if it is wet soil that isn’t drying, you should do something to help drainage and provide fresh dry soil for the roots.
Fungus is not always a sign of root rot, but it can indicate that the soil is too moist. It’s time to inspect your plant for potential diseases.
Healthy roots are white or light brown when not covered in soil. They are firm and nicely spread out. Dark, soft roots which release a foul smell are unhealthy and a possible sign of root rot.

My plant loss over Winter extended to my shrubs

Unfortunately I have lost number of wonderful established shrubs due to frost. It seems that the Winter dragged on a bit into Spring, my shrubs started to bud leaves. Before the leaf could get established they got hit by the frost. This basically prevented them from getting leaves and food, sunlight and flower buds. Together with all the wet conditions they stood no chance.

A well established Budleigh had a stem rot right at the ground level. I pulled this large bush out with one tug. The stem was totally rotten and the roots were all broken off. The roots may of broken when I tugged but the stem was completely rotten.
A Broom that flowers every year, displaying so many flowers the bush needs to be staked, has frost buds and leaf buds. It just never got going and is now a month later totally dead.

My lovely ornamental cherry was also hit by the frost. It managed a few flowers and now has got a few leaves. I am hoping the few leaves will allow it to stay alive and recover .

Perennials that were part of my plant loss over Winter.

No part of the garden has been safe this Winter. A beautiful pink Clematis which climbed all over a pagoda just did not get any leaves or flowers. I have found that it had many worms and other bugs where it’s root were. Sadly I can not establish the exact cause of this plants demise. Geum’s, Geraniums, Iris as well as Bleeding heart plants, all large and well established just never appeared and have left no trace in the soil. I think it was too much water.