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Moonbeam Coreopsis turning brown

14 years ago

I just bought a moonbeam coreopsis this spring. When I first planted it, it looked fantastic... full and covered in flowers. Within less than two weeks it started turning brown, starting at the ground up. Now, about 1 1/2 months after planting it, it's laying down and brown except for a few branches, with very few flowers. I can't figure out if it's a problem with not enough or two much sun (it's against the front of the house, facing East), or not enough or two much water. I'm new to this... can anyone help?

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Comments (7)

kentstar
14 years ago
You don't have a problem with moles or voles do you? I had an echinacea that was planted last year, did great in beginning of this spring then went brown. A vole or mole ate the roots right off! It was eaten from the ground up!
Otherwise, just keep it evenly moist, not overwatered. maybe give it some shade for a few days and see if it improves. Have you been fertilizing it? Don't give it too much nitrogen which can make them floppy and weak.
Maybe others have some ideas too.
jodi44
Original Author
14 years ago
Actually yes, we have a HUGE mole problem. I never even thought of that! Now that you mention it, the other day when I was watering I noticed a hole near my foundation right between my coreopsis and my columbine - all of the water was running into it. Now that the coreopsis is almost totally dead I wonder if he'll move on to my other flowers. Any suggestions on keeping them out of a specific area? There's no way we can afford a grub prevention on our entire lawn - it's quite large.
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Anything that needs to be coddled doesn't belong in my flowerbeds so I'll pass on Moonbeam--reluctantly--unless I come across it on a markdown table at some point and try it again with that below grade planting. Sienna Sunset didn't come back either but that was definitely my fault so I'll give that one another chance if I find it somewhere. Zagreb has more than outgrown the spot where I originally planted it so that'll get divided this year and planted in a few other spots around the garden.
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I just came from the garden center where I purchased SEVEN one-gallon pots of coreopsis (I think Ive just found my favorite perennial).....LOL :-) I bought three Creme Brulee, two Heaven's Gate, and two Moonbeams. Im gonna wait until the sun starts to go down before I put them in my flower beds but it looks like the Moonbeam is gonna have to go in a corner by itself...its looking like it will probably grow to be too big for my small 4x12 bed to handle. As a matter of fact, even the itty bitty Creme Brulee looks gigantor in my little "piece" of a garden (especially compared to gottagarden's oasis). I'll take pics tomorrow and post them so you all can tell me what you think :-)
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Thanks gardenpal, this one has me stumped. I have Coreopsis auriculata " Nana" , a huge patch, and stuck "Autumn Blush in right next to it. Then I also have Coreopsis verticillata "Moonbeam" and "Zagreb" and three different lanceleafs also in this garden area ( same sun at seven plus hours and same soil which has not been fertilized) and all of these thrive and bloom really well. It just seems to be the new one that doesn't like something , I'm just not sure what it is. I planted it at same level as had been in pot with the dirt top level with the soil I entered it into. Coreopsis is usually a plant and water plant for me, so I'm not sure what to think on this one. Do you suppose I need to raise it up a bit?
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I found this thread looking for information on whether or not seed is savable from Heaven's Gate... Forget overwintering, I couldn't even get Heaven's Gate to oversummer! Another impulse buy from (I think) Lowe's. It was stunning when I put it in the ground immediately - mine is clay as well... is that a problem? I kept it well watered, and it almost immediately began turning brown and apparently dying... the other plants in the same spot have done well. Right now it is trying hard to come back - there is one bloom and one bud, with a few green stems. Could the problem have been the intense heat, even though it was being watered? Can you overwater these in times of drought? And my original question - can seed be saved? I know Moonbeam was supposed to be sterile (it didn't overwinter for me either), and HG doesn't have anything in the dried heads that I'd recognize as seed but I've missed things before. Thanks in advance for any guidance. Terri
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swvirginia
14 years ago
Get a =^..^= or =^..^=, =^..^=.

Problem solved! :)
buyorsell888
14 years ago
Moles are carnivores, they eat worms, bugs and grubs, not plants.
jodi44
Original Author
14 years ago
Actually I wasn't sure of the difference between moles and voles, and after doing some research I believe we have both. Voles do eat plants and roots, and they leave smaller holes without mounds of dirt around them - that's what I found in my flower bed. (The larger holes with mounds are mostly in my grass.) So any thoughts on getting rid of voles? Although I'm sure my cat would love it, I won't let him outside - too much traffic. :)
Oakley
14 years ago
We have golphers..are those moles? My cats do a good job but they make tunnels around the flowers and I have to go in there and step on them to pack the flower again. Now I make it an evening habit to walk around in there just to see if there are any new tunnels. When they dig the tunnels, they also dig up the plant. Grrrr.
Terry Saccoach
9 months ago
i buy moonbeam every year even though it'sa perennial

my plants do the same thing as yours

look great when planted then turn brown and die

so sad as i really love this plalnt

if anyone has the reason why i would love to hear from you

i have no moles or voles just bunnies

thanks

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