Death of a Hellebore

[arch01]

My mum has hellebores in the front garden. Most are doing well but two (planted next to each other) packed it in over the winter. They were, apparently, of similar vigour to the others. What might have caused their demise? Disease?

I am afraid I don't have much detail on what occurred as I am just got the general detail from my mum--'they are dead'. Was thinking I might want to dig out the soil before replanting in case there might be a soil borne pathogen responsible.

Thanks!

[muddled]

Don't know much about hellebores but I had LOTS of peonies in my front garden, all thriving.

Then one and then another simply died.
No soil pests, no diseases...just dead.

Turns out a tomcat sprayed there...then Mrs fox weeed there to outstink the cat...who came back to spray over the scent of the fox..and so on, ad infinitum.

Two dead peonies.

Eventually, next doors cat died (I had nothing to do with it) and Mrs Fox stopped weeing there as often. Now she and her cubs just lay around, driving my dogs mad and squashing my Irises

[arch01]

Don't know much about hellebores but I had LOTS of peonies in my front garden, all thriving.

Then one and then another simply died.
No soil pests, no diseases...just dead.

Turns out a tomcat sprayed there...then Mrs fox weeed there to outstink the cat...who came back to spray over the scent of the fox..and so on, ad infinitum.

Two dead peonies.

Eventually, next doors cat died (I had nothing to do with it) and Mrs Fox stopped weeing there as often. Now she and her cubs just lay around, driving my dogs mad and squashing my Irises

Fun with wildlife. When I was living in London, the foxes and cats just ignored each other, which pleased me as the foxes were HUGE! The foxes did like to leave surprises for me in the backgarden grass though.

[muddled]

I do hope the culprit isn't this;

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=167

Ask your mum if the plants went black and died as opposed to just didn't come back this spring?


I'm rather fond of foxes, odd really because I keep chickens, but still feel childish excitement when the vixen brings her little family into my garden.

[arch01]

I do hope the culprit isn't this;

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=167

Ask your mum if the plants went black and died as opposed to just didn't come back this spring?


I'm rather fond of foxes, odd really because I keep chickens, but still feel childish excitement when the vixen brings her little family into my garden.

Thanks for the link. Not an intimidating name at all! Shall ask her about them but I expect the response will be, 'not sure, found them dead'.

[jackarmy]

@muddled, a cat and a fox killed your ponies? , is that fight on yootoob ?