Frequently asked questions
■ Something has been taking bites of the edges of my heuchera leaves. What’s going on?
THIS is a sign of a vine weevil problem. These small black adult insects eat notches out of the edges of the leaves, but the small, white C-shaped grubs, with orange heads, eat the roots without you noticing. A plant may look a little sad, and its foliage may wilt in the sun, as the grubs eat away unseen. Sometimes the most obvious sign of serious damage is that the crown of foliage comes away from the roots completely.
There are now organic, biological treatments that can solve the problem although often the first thing to do is dig up the infested plants, and the soil on the roots, and discard it – the garden waste collection service is a good option.
■ My heuchera seems to be rising out of the ground, showing its woody stem. What should I do?
THIS is not unusual, and is a sign that attention is needed. The simplest approach is to dig up the whole plant in spring, or late summer, improve the soil and replant with those bare woody stems below soil level. They will produce roots and a large new plant will be the result. It is, however, a better idea to break the plant into pieces – each with both leaves and roots. These can then be replanted in the same site, or elsewhere. You can also snip off individual side crowns and either replant them straight away or grow them on in pots for a few months in a sheltered place before planting them in their new homes. Also, keep an eye out for vine weevils (see left) and treat accordingly.