Gunnera didn't make it

Elizabeth36

A two year old Gunnera Manicata died off last June even though it was planted close to a stream edge.  I had covered it with shredded leylandii the winter before, could this have been the cause?  It had flowered and was looking quite healthy and had grown leaves several feet in diameter and about 4 ft high.  Any ideas before I repeat a mistake and give it another go?

Fairygirl

The shredded material has probably rotted the crown. Ideally - just fold the old leaves across the top, or use fleece.
Any wet, finer material on top isn't great for them as it will tend to get down into the bit that that needs protecting.  

Elizabeth36

Thanks, Fairygirl, will avoid this in future

DampGardenMan

I have the baby ones, G. magellanica, and The-Beast-from-the-East played havoc with them, but they're recovering ...

Obelixx

I had gunnera manicata in Belgium and to get them through winter they had to have their leaves folded over the crown and then be buried under about 3' of compost form the heap to protect from frosts.  I lost 2 at several years old because they weren't prepped for unannounced frosts below -8C.

For my third attempt I kept it in a pot which I covered and stashed in a bubble wrapped greenhouse for winter.  It has survived and come with me to this new garden and will be planted out this spring - just as soon as I work out how to cut it out of the pot!

Elizabeth36

I did the leaf folding thing over the winter but lost mine in June which is what confused me, however it may have been the shredding material keeping the crown too wet which caused the problem in my case. Thanks everyone