Lupins

I split this lupin up after it flowered this year and put it in three pots as it was such a pretty colour and I wanted another two roots. They have been growing beautifully but the leaves are now covered in a grey film. Mould or mildew?????? do I cut them back? leave them? or spray them?
.

 

At a guess mildew - happens to lupins and indeed asters - especially if they get a bit dry.

You can spray them with a fungicide - but I would be inclined to remove the affected leaves, plant them where you want them to go, and give them a good drench.

Lovely border

 

Lovely garden, laburnum! Just what I'm aiming for - but I gotta long way to go yet!

 

What a lovely neat garden wish my lawn looked like that. I had the same problem with my lupins and I lost a lot of them, but know what the problem is now. :D

 

Is that a crinodendron on the right? Looks to be flowering well.
How cold does it get up there in winter? They're supposed to be a bit tender arn't they?

 

Crinondendron hookerianum from Chile...can be quite hardy, once established and mild winters...but kept dry.

Ladybird

 

Pete - I got one in my north facing clay front garden but sheltered by a fence - and its done really well. The flowers are just magic.

 

Yeah I also have them, but I was under the impression that -5 or -6 C was there limit, and definatly no continuos frost.
Mine gets the usual redspider mite every year and looses 50% of its leaves.

 

Spot on Pete and Ladybird with the crinondendron.. It gets quite cold up here in the winter but shrub is well established and gives a marvellous display every May.
My next post was going to be how do I chop it down. It is now about 20ft high and 10ft wide and has outgrown its little corner. I was standing at the ready today with loppers, but I hadn,t the heart as there are hundred of little white buds showing, so it has got a reprieve until after it flowers next year.
Thanks all for help with lupins I hope I can save them I will cut them down tomorrow.