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hadleyweed_gw

Stunted hollyhocks, non-blooming yarrow Why?

hadleyweed
14 years ago

I've had some odd results in my perennial garden this year and am wondering if there is an explanation. I live in Seattle, and we did have an unusually dry spring and summer. The hollyhocks (some Charter's double and some alcea) I planted last year did bloom this year, but all the plants were only 1 foot tall. My delphiniums were also unusually short this year, 3 feet versus their usual 5 feet. I also have yarrow that won't bloom. It bloomed the first year, I moved it last year, no bloom, and no bloom this year. All these plants are in just barely full sun - 5-6 hours per day. I top dressed with Bailey's compost, 3 inches, and did no other supplemental feeding. My campanulas were all stunning this year. I would think the opposite would be true - in a dry year, the hollyhocks and yarrow would do well and the campanula would suffer. I did do some supplemental watering - I have drip hoses in the beds, but probably did not water that consistently, maybe every two weeks. Ideas anyone?

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