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Lupins

treetop

By Treetop

West Midlands, United Kingdom Gb

Hi all, earlier this year I was given some young Lupins, I have never grown them before. However, after a very decent show of flowers, they rapidly turned to seed. But now the leaves have been decimated by slugs. Being unfamiliar with this particular plant I wasn't too sure what to do. My question is, will it be okay to cut them right back to ground-level ready for next year?




Answers

taz
Taz
 

I can't grow Lupins for that reason, I suffer from slugs and now only plant the plants they don't touch, as I don't like to kill anything even slugs and snails, There are so many plants that they leave a lone, you can still have a garden full of colour all year, if you would like the names of some of these plants please let me know

15 Aug, 2020

 

You may cut them back ,not quite to the ground, but back to healthy tissue. You really should do that as soon as the flowers have finished, that way you may get a second flowering.
Definite snail magnets so you do need to protect them if you can.

15 Aug, 2020

 

I only grow lupins in pots for the same reason and they are protected by copper tape. It works very well.
I think you can safely cut the plants back. I cut mine hard back a few weeks ago and they are now flowering again. Might be a bit too late for that but the leaves should carry on growing. Perhaps you could protect from slugs with copper rings?

15 Aug, 2020

 

Thank you for the advice Owdboggy and Taz yes I would love to know what plants slugs don't touch.

15 Aug, 2020

 

Hardy geraniums are a must for me. Slugs don't like them and there are so many beautiful ones. Sedums are left alone and are drought tolerant. My astrantias are left alone and also veronicas. There are plenty to choose from and a list will be available online.

15 Aug, 2020

 

Thanks folks, much obliged.

15 Aug, 2020

 

They are short lived perennials I got only 1 good year out of them, the second year they were so tiny, I pulled them out. Supposedly they will self seed - if conditions are absolutely perfect. If you really want to grow these, I would treat it as an annual.

15 Aug, 2020

 

Thank you everyone for your response. I’ve cut them back to about two inches above ground level. I’ll see what happens next Spring. In the meantime I’ll get some grit and sprinkle it around the base of the plants and see how well they do, or not.

16 Aug, 2020

 

I usually dead head the whole flower spike as soon as the last flower fades to encourage a second flush of flowers. I have a lucky one [many years old now] that is protected from slugs as the delphiniums sacrifice themselves instead! the others have to take their chances.

I have also grown the annual ones as mid border bedding for a change. they were pretty and I will probably do some in a couple of years.

16 Aug, 2020

 

We did used to grow them in the previous garden, but they were attacked by Lupin aphids so we removed them. The garden below us here has a fine stand of many different colours which seem to thrive. The owner tells me they have been in since they moved here quite a few years ago without any attention. The people are not really gardeners so plants which ought to be cut down are left to their own devices.
Got a couple of dozen seedlings from them and we will see how they grow here and since our Hostas are not being shredded,they may do well.
All you can do Treetop is protect them as best you can. Hope it works for you.

16 Aug, 2020

How do I say thanks?

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