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Planting suggestions for virus infected area?
I have an important area in the garden near the back door, that is
north-facing, shaded from the south by a fence and tends to be damp. It contains some shrub roses, a chinese virginia creeper, hellebores and lesser periwinkles. I have had to remove one hellebore as it showed distorted leaves strongly suggesting virus infection. The same thing is happening to the periwinkles and I will remove them too. The roses and virginia creeper seem unaffected. Given this information, can anyone suggest some ground cover planting to replace the periwinkles (they were purple and I was looking forward to them dammit) that would be ideally all of the following- evergreen, suited to damper shadier areas but not minding drying out too much, and with pink or purple flowers? I could try one or two small euonymus there maybe- I'd settle for foliage only if I had to. I suppose Icould even have nothing but bark chips around the roses if all else fails. [I have had geraniums picking up viruses here too, though not in this exact location, so I want to avoid them for this area. Belatedly, it is obvious I should only be gardening the virus-free areas with my usual gardening tools, and being very careful with potential contamination of tools, soil, etc, anywhere else- maybe the bark chips idea would save me trouble in the long run...] -- Vacutone |
Planting suggestions for virus infected area?
"Vacutone" wrote in message s.com... I have an important area in the garden near the back door, that is north-facing, shaded from the south by a fence and tends to be damp. It contains some shrub roses, a chinese virginia creeper, hellebores and lesser periwinkles. I have had to remove one hellebore as it showed distorted leaves strongly suggesting virus infection. The same thing is happening to the periwinkles and I will remove them too. The roses and virginia creeper seem unaffected. Given this information, can anyone suggest some ground cover planting to replace the periwinkles (they were purple and I was looking forward to them dammit) that would be ideally all of the following- evergreen, suited to damper shadier areas but not minding drying out too much, and with pink or purple flowers? I could try one or two small euonymus there maybe- I'd settle for foliage only if I had to. I suppose Icould even have nothing but bark chips around the roses if all else fails. [I have had geraniums picking up viruses here too, though not in this exact location, so I want to avoid them for this area. Belatedly, it is obvious I should only be gardening the virus-free areas with my usual gardening tools, and being very careful with potential contamination of tools, soil, etc, anywhere else- maybe the bark chips idea would save me trouble in the long run...] -- Vacutone Since you had two layers before (with the periwinkles and hellebores), I suggest you do something similar with a combination of the following .......... For the ground layer: Chiastophyllum oppositifolium (Lamb's Tails)Late spring flowers Persicaria cv (a ground-hugging form) Late summer flowers Lamium, in variety (there are some good forms) Spring flowers Pachysandra, the plain or variegated form. Late Spring flowers Ajuga, in variety, bronze-purple/variegated lvs., Late Spr. flowers For the taller layer: Bergenia Spring/Late Spring flowers Heuchera Summer flowers (repeats when deadheaded) Epimedium Late Winter flowers Brunnera Late Spring flowers With the exception of the Pachysandra, I grow all of these in my shady woodland garden, and they all do well *and* they don't seem to be troubled by slugs and snails - an important consideration in a damp, shady site. As you say, Euonymous is a good option, but the flowers are insignificant. If you've got room for another small/medium shrub, then Fuchsia 'Mrs Popple' would give you some lovely carmine and purple flowers throughout summer. Spider |
Planting suggestions for virus infected area?
On Tue, 18 Nov 2008 8:43:13 +0000, Charlie Pridham wrote
(in message ): In article m, says... ... I have had to remove one hellebore as it showed distorted leaves strongly suggesting virus infection. The same thing is happening to the periwinkles and I will remove them too. snip unless you have had the material tested it is not likely to be virus, much more likely to be aphids or some other sap sucker that has moved on before you saw the leaves, even if it was virus they are all plant specific and each virus will only affect a narrow group of plants. Try Geranium maccrorhizum types If you're right about this most likely not being a virus then I'd think the best thing is to leave the periwinkles where they are and see what happens- if it's just insect activity the distorted leaves should not get markedly worse. Would you agree? (Geranium suggestion noted- thanks). -- Vacutone PS In case this goes the wrong way- any idea where I can get plant material tested for viruses- and is it expensive? |
Planting suggestions for virus infected area?
On Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:29:15 +0000, Spider wrote
(in message ): Since you had two layers before (with the periwinkles and hellebores), I suggest you do something similar with a combination of the following ......... For the ground layer: Chiastophyllum oppositifolium (Lamb's Tails)Late spring flowers Persicaria cv (a ground-hugging form) Late summer flowers Lamium, in variety (there are some good forms) Spring flowers Pachysandra, the plain or variegated form. Late Spring flowers Ajuga, in variety, bronze-purple/variegated lvs., Late Spr. flowers For the taller layer: Bergenia Spring/Late Spring flowers Heuchera Summer flowers (repeats when deadheaded) Epimedium Late Winter flowers Brunnera Late Spring flowers With the exception of the Pachysandra, I grow all of these in my shady woodland garden, and they all do well *and* they don't seem to be troubled by slugs and snails - an important consideration in a damp, shady site. As you say, Euonymous is a good option, but the flowers are insignificant. If you've got room for another small/medium shrub, then Fuchsia 'Mrs Popple' would give you some lovely carmine and purple flowers throughout summer. Spider Great suggestions- I will have fun looking all these up- thanks! -- Vacutone |
Planting suggestions for virus infected area?
In article m,
says... On Tue, 18 Nov 2008 8:43:13 +0000, Charlie Pridham wrote (in message ): In article m, says... ... I have had to remove one hellebore as it showed distorted leaves strongly suggesting virus infection. The same thing is happening to the periwinkles and I will remove them too. snip unless you have had the material tested it is not likely to be virus, much more likely to be aphids or some other sap sucker that has moved on before you saw the leaves, even if it was virus they are all plant specific and each virus will only affect a narrow group of plants. Try Geranium maccrorhizum types If you're right about this most likely not being a virus then I'd think the best thing is to leave the periwinkles where they are and see what happens- if it's just insect activity the distorted leaves should not get markedly worse. Would you agree? (Geranium suggestion noted- thanks). I would wait and see, and most plants are not tested so there is no way of telling, but outside of a fruit cage its seldom much of a problem, some plants are occassionally effected but often with good culture either live with the virus or get better, there are occassional exceptions like Canna, and Lily. -- Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall www.roselandhouse.co.uk Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and Lapageria rosea |
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