Herbaceous perennials, winter to spring

This was the post I think may be helpful

 

Thankyou, @Plantminded, @Liriodendron, @Thevictorian, very helpful comments.

Re the honey fungus, I do have woody shrubs that seem fine (sorbus, buddleia, ceanothus, salix). However, after recent rain, I saw yesterday, a clump of 20 light brown coloured toadstools in a potted rose shrub (not in the problem area). I often find toadstools/fungi near that area.

The other thing I would say is that many of my perennials seemed to be visible in January, which made me wonder, could they just be on a different time zone?! Maybe they will come up late?

I have been throwing bits of bird seed on the problem area, since March and some seeds have sprouted, so I think the problem must be deeper in the soil. Drainage seems fine.

I will do some digging asap. I have not seen any vine weevils. I have seen a few tiny black beetles (1/20 size of a ladybird) on clematis and rose leaves. Hardly any slugs or snails compared to most years.