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did I kill them with the mulch or did the heat get them?

wsh4nannygrenthmb

15 years ago

New to Hostas here and need HELP!

i planted several varieties in a new bed about a month ago where it gets a little morning sun and a few hours of sun around 3-5pm. The rest of the time it is shaded or dappled. They were doing great until I decided (and could afford//newly constructed home) to put mulch and weed fabric down. This was also during the very hot spell we had running for 1 1/2 weeks this first part of June.

The leaves on all of them in that bed are turning brown on edges and look more burnt then sickly. The ones on the other side of steps that are more shaded are looking good. I tried to not get the fabric too close but would the mulch and fabric keep them to hot? Or was it the heat spell and them being newly planted? What should I do to save them?

Thanks

Judy

Comments (12)

esther_opal
15 years ago
Pull the weed fabric up as soon as you can.

Read the piece on going from low light to high light, that is my guess.

I put 14 inches of mulch on these hosta and 24 inches of mulch on the second photo, it ain't mulch.

Here is a link that might be useful: Planting new hosta grown in low light
whip1 Zone 5 NE Ohio
15 years ago
New plants need water. probably more than you think if it's really hot. I think the weed fabric isn't worth the money, but it's too late for that. keep watering them daily.
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lindac
15 years ago
Another who says get rid of that weed fabric.....and water....water....water!
Linda C
Janice
15 years ago
Hi there, 'wsh4nanny--etc.'! ;o) If you have any of your fabric left over, put a large square of it in a pot and pour water into it!
I'm betting the fabric isn't letting the water and moisture through!!! I discovered this, when I thought to line a whiskey barrel with it,
before planting and for some reason put some water in the barrel! It held it like it was plastic--even though the barrel had plenty of
drainage holes drilled in it!!!

I bet your plants aren't getting near the water you think!

Good luck!!

Janice
esther_opal
15 years ago
I'm serious it is not to late to take up the fabric!

It is never to late!
thisismelissa
15 years ago
AGREED!

Take up the fabric. Just like you, last summer I put down a LOT of fabric and everyone here told me to take it up. I'm now glad that I did.

1. It may not let moisture and air circulate... and that's critical to plant health
2. It's a ROYAL PAIN in the arse when it comes time to fluff mulch, add plants, move plants, dig, walk, blow your nose, pick your wedgie, whatever you might do in the garden. There is nothing more unsightly than exposed landscape fabric poking up thru the mulch.

When I replaced my mulch this year, I could not WAIT to get that fabric up!

yes, I have a few more weeds in the areas that I didn't put the fabric down last year, but, the plants are happier. It's just not worth the trouble for that fabric to be there.
thisismelissa
15 years ago
Also, if you're just allowing your plants to get a "sprinkle" of water, it may not even be penetrating thru the mulch!

Be sure you deep soak each time you water.
esther_opal
15 years ago
AND it will not help with weeds, really!
wsh4nannygrenthmb
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks everyone for your replies! I thought I was doing so good and keeping the weeds out of this large spot. It was more than enough work just getting all the rocks and construction debris out of there while trying to get bed ready to plant as well as working in good soil with the lovely clay we have.

Do I or can I trim the bad leaves ? Will that help the growth concentrate on the good leaves?

Thanks again. Looks like I have some work today in the garden before hubby comes home.
Judy
esther_opal
15 years ago
Every leaf that has green is producing root, if you don't like the appearance cut them off but it does not promote growth.

If you had come here first we could have saved a great deal of work, there was no need to improve the clay or remove the rock unless they were more than 50% of the soil.
wsh4nannygrenthmb
Original Author
15 years ago
I wish I had known of this site but only found it while trying to find some tiger/ditch lilies that my grandmother used to have around her paio. Now I am addicted!But with all the rock and construction debris we had it really needed cleaning out before planting. If I ever need a 2nd job it could be selling rock! Never have I seen so many. Dig 2-3 inches and hit some as large as softballs!
Thanks to everyone for their help. I can't wait to get more varieties planted.
Judy
p/s I love your name Esther opal! Both my grandmothers were named Esther and Opal. Esther is the one I wish I had her green thumb (thus my nicknmae) She could grow anything anywhere! Sounds like you can too. Thanks for your help!
esther_opal
15 years ago
Esther Opal was my mothers name.

Take the time to look at the rock in landscape thread.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rock

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