Horticultural Misery.

Hitherto our plants and pots have flourished.  OK the Oleander died some years ago, but it was -16C that winter!

Last year the Geraniums were most unhappy.  We were informed they were infected with a virus.  So this year we cleaned the pots, changed the soil and used new plants.  Alas the same again.  Apparently the virus is back this year.

And now some of our large, previously vigorous, rose bushes are dying.  They've been watered and sprayed yet, despite our best efforts, they're not responding to our intensive care.   

Is it the intense heat?  Or something else?  Are we alone in our horticultural misery? 

Always good to share experiences, well done "G"! Yes, everything (or almost) is struggling in our garden this year, veg, flowers and trees. Interestingly enough Geraniums also, however we put some in a garden (of sorts) this year and one in a pot under a large poplar tree. These are doing much better than those in pots in lots of sunshine, with the one in almost permanent shade doing best of all. I'm almost in no doubt, as the evidence is there to see, that in every case it's prolonged heat and lack of rain (only real good water). We've tried leaving water standing to get the temperature of it higher and get rid of some chlorine (sure they add more this weather) , only water after sunset. With the veg we have watering systems with timers and increased the duration and frequency a few weeks ago when I belatedly noticed everything was stunted. They have ALL improved, but things like tomatoes get end rot due to lack of water, which does not transpire until much later fruit setting, it's there now! Even our butter nut squash which has always grown like weeds simply stopped growing and fruit withered. Since increasing the watering they have almost doubled their size and produced new fruit, however I suspect I noticed too late... Middle of the night watering on the timers makes a great difference  as both the water and the plant roots have cooled...

... just a little update. Tonight on going down to collect herbs I noticed one of our several sage plants (one of two which are more like trees) was wilting, not something I've ever seen, over here it seems to grow regardless. As the other 3-4' away was looking fine I decided to water immediately. I would normally leave it until last thing tonight or early morning and used stored water, but I wanted to see if it would revive and how long it would take - under 10 minutes! A plant 4' across and over 3' high, whole lot limp, now as good as the other. Still not sure what to do as the volume of water to keep them going would be a lot. I have seen the locals earth plants up after they water to keep the moisture in the ground. I've also done this, with a little soil over it on each watering - might be a good idea. I've soaked the potted geraniums in a bucket of stored water right up to it's soil level, topping it up as it soaked it up. Takes about 15-20 minutes, but makes a lot of difference. They have also all ben moved to a more shady spot for the time being. Crikey even my basil is looking worse for wear....

I've been a bit lazy this year and have not re-planted the few pots with geraniums but used plants mainly grasses from the garden instead and these have done well.  My patch of sage nr the house was showing signs of stress last week and daily I have thrown any clean grey water from the house over it and it has sort of recovered but not fully.  Why is it the weeds continue to thrive with great gusto but the plants you nurture behave in an unnatural way..it must be the extreme heat and humidity.  Nevermind though, the forcast says all change at / after the weekend for the the north and central regions, maybe even a cyclone or two on its way !

Angela Fuller wrote:Why is it the weeds continue to thrive with great gusto but the plants you nurture behave in an unnatural way..

Remarkable isn't it!

Yes Ghiro.....every year a prolific new weed arrives and we do battle.  My worst enemy is the peskie Porcupine though who ate 1000 iris tubers overnight....must have been a herd of them !  This gardening lark is a battle ...

Angela Fuller wrote: My worst enemy is the peskie Porcupine though who ate 1000 iris tubers overnight....must have been a herd of them !

Not that I'm pedantic but the collective noun for porcupines isn't 'herd' but 'prickle'!

Ha !!!!!!!!!! Love it !!

yes, of course you are right ghiro...it was a 'prickle' of the porkies....! not a gardeners best friend !

Ghiro, geranium viruses are a pain and difficult to eradicate. Sometimes it is not only your plants the ones that are sick. There could be other sick plants nearby and this complicates everything. Generally speaking, you will have to repeat what you do. Get rid of the sick plants by burning them, disinfect the containers and start all over again with fresh soil. Spraying the plants on a regular basis with soapy ( use pure Marseilles soap) water will be helpful.
As for rose bushes, this type of weather is a curse. Here is some good advice http://homeguides.sfgate.com/care-rose-bushes-hot-weather-68477.html

This heat is killing everything and in hindsight our decision not to plant lots of Veg this year has paid off. We've had no real rain for months now and the rivers are almost dry, coupled with hosepipe ban and restrictions on getting water from communal fountains it's difficult to even keep the plants/herbs alive.

Unfortunately, if this is bad enough... Get ready for winter European winter prediction 2015-2016:cry:

Oh Gaia!  - the bearer of bad news...... !

Just accept it. Do not shoot the messenger 

Fortunately our comune never seem to have such restrictions unlike some others nearby. We have been told it is because their supply is direct from the mountains? It's early days yet, but an increase in the overnight watering seems to be doing wonders. Odd thing is that we had a great start to the year and have had great crops of all the veg... Just all production seemed to be coming to a halt, which would be very early in the year.

You had me worried then Gala, until I saw it was the Daily Mail reporting it....

You had me worried then Gala, until I saw it was the Met Office reporting it....  

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1202982/Met-Office-left-red-faced-Britains-forecast-barbecue-summer-turns-washout.html

Well totally off subject, but I have to say the associated link resulted in this picture capture , oh dear I hope Gala was wrong about that pizza day....