July 2011
November 2013
I was getting awfully proud of my planting of native Pachysandra procumbens (Allegheny spurge) in the Hall with Balls. I had gotten my original plants from Charles Cresson's Swarthmore garden over a decade ago. Year after year, I divided the plant until it created a carpet underplanting the boxwood rounds in the Hall with Balls. Just as the carpet had nearly filled in, it began to falter and gradually, then more rapidly, it disappeared. This summer it was entirely gone.
My post-mortem evaluation revealed vole activity, but more importantly, mushy roots. I knew this part of the garden was too sunny for Pachysandra procumbens but I thought as the enclosing yew hedges grew and the central Cornus officinalis matured, the garden would become progressively more shady making the Pachysandra procumbens increasingly more happy. My hypothesis is that the pachysandra had succumbed to Volutella blight, caused by the fungus Volutella pachysandricola, because it was stressed from being in too hot and dry of a situation. I will watching this part of the garden carefully because pachysandra may also be a host for boxwood blight and the Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum fungus. Apparently, plant species within the genera Buxus, Pachysandra and Sarcococca have been reported as hosts to this fungus. Fortunately the boxwoods appear to be healthy so far.
I have replaced the pachysandra with Carex flacca 'Blue Zinger', a sedge from Europe and North Africa which has fine narrow glaucous leaves. The whispy texure of 'Blue Zinger' will contrast well against the dark green foliage of the boxwoods in the Hall with Balls and should form a clumping groundcover in about five years.
How selfish of the Pachysandra to die and spoil your plans! Bet the Carex 'Blue Zinger' will look sensational though. I blame the voles (words I have always wanted to write !)
ReplyDeleteThose damn Voles!!!!
DeleteWhat a shame! It looked rather splendid! Having said that I do rather like 'deduction' in the garden a lot! I think those 2 photos are very informative for those who lack the vision to plant in such a relatively simple fashion! Death the lecturer!! Does Vinca minor survive for you in your territory?
ReplyDelete'Groundcover' gets a lot of negative stick from time to time from the fashionista's BUT I think when used well it is a most valuable method of planting...I use it a lot and gasp I clump and intermingle within the mass..I was just admiring a section yesterday which always looks good whatever the season! This mix consists of Convolvulus/Silene/Senecio/Geranium/a weed/Zauschneria/another weed/and somewhere there is Vinca minor..........they mingle and clump beautifully. A lovely chunk of pure magic. Not ALL did I plant but I am an 'allowing' gardener! I allow plants to alter my best laid plans!
Graham Stuart Thomas book Plants for Ground-Cover is the bee's knees (like so many by this plant master) To quote him .."The planting of ground-cover might well be called the carpet bedding of today, but it is the antithesis of the Victorian concept........."
I can grow Vinca minor. In fact, there was a huge stand of it in the Woodland Garden when we bought the house. It works really well on dry slopes. I have been breaking it up with ferns and woodland perennials. I am a big fan of epimediums. They look good much the year and are tough as hell. I like the contrasting texture of Sesleria autumnalis, Luzula nivea and Luzula sylvatica which have all prospered in the woodland. I have playing around with what I call high intensity/low intensity areas. I am aiming for large areas covered with groundcovers that are self sufficient and then smaller areas that I will fuss with more. Thanks for the GST tip. I'll have to get that one.
DeleteAhhh I did not realise it was so cold tolerant! I too love the Epi tribe and had a couple of lovely species but they have been swamped by that very gregarious mingler Vinca Major..sounds like the Aroid tribe might be just the ticket for your mixture. (woops i mean mingle!)
ReplyDeleteThe barrenworts hold their own nicely against Vinca minor here. I actually have used it to as a barrier to control Vinca minor from getting too rambunctious. Perhaps that is why they call it minor.
Delete(mixture, mingle; wasn't is matrix??!!)
The Summer-time steps - formal and pronounced - are so different to the same steps in Fall, Michael, when they get a bit leggy. I guess the absent groundcover says it all, but they look just as good at either time of year!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Faisal. Well-designed and well-built structural elements go a long way in the garden. Even if the garden is neglected and declines after I am long gone, those steps will be there calling to the future owners to claim a garden for themselves.
ReplyDeleteWow, it's too bad. The combination with the boxwood was really stunning. I like the Blue Zinger. It's been slow to establish for me, but worth the wait
ReplyDeleteIt was a crowd pleaser. A gardening friend from RI came to the garden in 2010 and his favorite part of the garden was that combination. He returned this year it was depressing for me to have him see it all disappear. Gardening is ephemeral. I have to remember that and enjoy the successes when they happen. Thanks for the encouraging words about 'Blue Zinger'.
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