Storm damage

Discussion in 'Other Plants' started by Shaneoak, Apr 7, 2024.

  1. Shaneoak

    Shaneoak Gardener

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    Hi

    we have storm Kathleen wreaking havoc in northern England as we speak !! I’ve had an amazing growth of tulips for the first time after ages & Sod’s Law a storm hits early April! I haven’t protected the tulips and already one has snapped . I haven’t dealt with storms before affecting tulips - I guess in my mind they’re flexible enough , but obviously not. Hycianth have been flattened and snapped too . Any advice to ward against future events like this ? I was thinking staking each tulip but there’s like 300!Dreading going out in morning to see the potential damage!
     
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    • shiney

      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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      Sorry to hear of the damage :sad:. There's not a great deal you can do about smaller plants :noidea:

      I don't think we had it quite so bad yesterday but we had to stop working in the garden as we were being bombarded by branches, most of them only one or two feet long, from the poplar trees that we have on our border next to the fields. Some of the branches flew 150ft :rolleyespink:

      I've been out there this morning clearing up. More winds forecast this afternoon but hopefully not as strong.
       
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      • Michael Hewett

        Michael Hewett Total Gardener

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        I put my tulips in pots so that I can move them if the weather gets rough, and I can also put them where they can be seen and then moved out of the way after they've finished.
        If you want them in the ground maybe planting them in between shrubs might help protect them from strong winds.
         
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        • fairygirl

          fairygirl Keen Gardener

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          We often get rough weather here at this time of year, so it's always a case of planting anything likely to be in flower [ and a bit floppy] in among shrubs, or potted - just as @Michael Hewett describes.
          I lost my mature white broom a few years ago - completely uprooted, and although I staked it, and really firmed it back in, it was never happy. The joys of gardening!
           
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          • RowlandsCastle

            RowlandsCastle Keen Gardener

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            We are the same. Large pots, or in protected areas between shrubs, away from the prevailing wind.
            Inevitably though, in storms, some suffer breakage. They're the ones that are used indoors!
             
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            • ButtercupDays

              ButtercupDays Gardener

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              Our poor daffodils have been dancing till they dropped! I've got 3 large vases full of windfalls already and no doubt more when I go outside. Never had as many before.
               
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              • Selleri

                Selleri Koala

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                When a storm is forecasted I usually do a round to pick any blooms to bring into vases. Picking flowers from the garden goes against my grain but it's better than watching them turning into mushy peas. :frown:

                Looking at the bright side @Shaneoak , you can just convince yourself that you decided to remove blooms in order to allow the bulb to gather maximum strength for next year. :whistle:

                Storm damage is sad to look at.
                 
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                • glosmike

                  glosmike Gardener

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                  My tulips are also mainly in pots but i have some near a highish hedge but they are getting shredded. The daffs are doing rather better though. Lot to be said for having all the tulips in pots half buried in the garden i think.
                   
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                  • flounder

                    flounder Super Gardener

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                    Down south we only got a bit of gusty drizzle. It was enough to decorate my front path with trachycarpus seeds(again)
                     
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                    • Shaneoak

                      Shaneoak Gardener

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                      Hey thanks for the tips guys£ girls ! Well, it’s totally flattened the Muscari and narcissus. The tulips were mostly intact thankfully. I guess they look a lot stronger than I thought . Everytooks really batters though . It was pretty bad in the York area . Glad everyone was ok though
                       
                    • Goldenlily26

                      Goldenlily26 Gardener

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                      Down here the camellias and magnolias are taking a hammering. It is such a shame. Everywhere is littered with fallen petals. With an amber warning for more strong winds tomorrow.
                       
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