Hellebores (oriental hybrids)
Some of my hellebores are looking a bit worse for wear. I normally wouldn't think about cutting back the old foliage until spring.
Would cutting them back now be wise? I also note that a couple are looking a bit nutrient deficiant, this one's even flowering. They were all fed with chicken manure pellets last spring, is there anything else I can use to give them what they need. Thanks in advance.
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The main reasons for cutting back the leaves is to see the flowers better and to prevent the spread of fungal diseases like black spot.
Your hellebores are showing the equivalent of a few wrinkles - they are a bit weatherbeaten and have the odd slug hole but no sign of major fungal infection that I can see. Cutting them off too early would deprive the plant of the nutrition they would provide. We all show signs of having lived!
One of mine is flowering too. It's been a funny year!
The main reasons for cutting back the leaves is to see the flowers better and to prevent the spread of fungal diseases like black spot.
Your hellebores are showing the equivalent of a few wrinkles - they are a bit weatherbeaten and have the odd slug hole but no sign of major fungal infection that I can see. Cutting them off too early would deprive the plant of the nutrition they would provide. You could remove the one or two worst offenders,but leave the rest for now. We all show signs of having lived!
One of mine is flowering too. It's been a funny year!
Thank you Buttercupdays. I'll leave them well alone for the time being.
We have the odd one flowering,my cuts them back in November to December time if its not to cold.I have never known a year so mixed up as this years been we have several plants flowing now that shouldn't be flowering till spring. Regards peter