Mines looking kind of crappy, too. I have three clumps of it in various sun/shade locations and all three look about the same. I've never fertilized or watered this.

I have SW in several spots in my yard and they are all looking bad. They fall apart from the middle but put out new growth there. Sure hope someone has the answer for why it does this. Lamium does the same thing and I may have a clue about that. The only nice clump of lamium I have is a volunteer growing between the stone border and gravel driveway. Perhaps the amended soil is not what they want.

I think I will try some fertilizer. The ones growing under the Rhododendrens had the benefit of some acid fertilizer that I sprinkled around the Rhodes. Perhaps this will work on the rest of them.

Thanks for your input. Nice to know mine are not the only ones doing badly at this time of year.

I have some growing in my greenhouse and some in my yard. I do not water the plants in my yard and they are in the shade. I have mints, roses and Primrose blocking the direct sun in the morning. These plants are doing great. Good color and flowers.
The ones in my greenhouse are not so good. They are drying out, thinning and not as green. I water the plants 2 to 3 times a week. This section of my greenhouse is considered my wooded area. They have the following plants around them: Ginseng, Goldenseal, Chives, Wintergreen, Lobelia, Cat's Claw, Blood Root and Wild Ginseng. I have blocked the amount of sun this area gets but I think it gets to much sun and not enough water sometimes.
I have even grown the plants in direct sun in the first setting I discribed and they did good enough I sold some of them. However, it was just the morning sun and than the house blocked the sun after about 1 pm.

Walter Lemons
seagle52@insightbb.com

Mine are doing great. They are under my white pines where it is dry and very shaded. They get no fertilizer or compost other than what naturally develops from the fallen pine needles. I think they prefer shade and dry, soil and that may be why the ones under your maple are doing well..

Mine look as good as they did in the spring. They are nestled inside a half-circle of small variegated hosta, in a sort of hollow between a tall Star Magnolia and a tall Red-Twigged Dogwood. The total effect is very restful, looking into that little calm oasis.
Evidently, they need shade and to be left alone.

I have lots of SW, and it always falls apart this time of year and looks shabby. Don't worry, it will be full and lush again next spring. I have grown it for 10 yrs. and it spreads nicely, just looks a little ragged this time of year. I do nothing with it, and it always bounces back next spring, once it gets growing again. Good Luck.
You can always try thinning it out.

My SW is on the north side of my house. Those plants closest to the house look really good. The rest are looking pretty shabby, thin and brown leaves. The ones by the house get the least water and the most shade. So maybe that is the key. I love it in the spring but almost feel like pulling it this time of year because it looks so bad.

Not much going on on the woodland forum here, I just am here to agree that sweet woodruff peters out in late summer and fall. I'll just say that if you shred your fall leaves, and spread them where your SW and other shade plants will be coming up next spring it will help them retain moisture. I have the same issues with mine. My shade garden area is still adding plants, including a shade tree. I have to water in between rains, but, really with the SW it does seem like they are vigorous in the spring and early summer, and they have been getting some shade all along, but, I've added a shade tree now, because there is a good bit of ground in full sun that I want to grow shade plants in. I did want to transplant SW under some trees in my yard but, the SW seems to (at least in my yard) need extra water if we don't get alotta rain.