Hollyhocks and Lupins

dollparts

My lovely hollyhocks have succumbed to the dreaded leaf rust I have removed all the affected leaves as they appear but will most likely have to pull it up eventually and get rid.

The Lupins I have next to them have started wilting recently and now the leaves on the 'inner'of the plants (it's quite a large gathering of plants) are turning pale green and dying off.

Is it possible the hollyhocks are affecting the lupins albeit in a different way? I have already had to think quick and fill the gaps left by the pruning of the diseased leaves so am hoping all is not lost.

Ant help would be great

gardenroute

Hollyhocks will always get rust at some point. But it can be made worse by poor air circulation and wet conditions. Lupins are generally trouble free except on heavy wet soils when they can get rot.
As a guess maybe both problems are down to the plants being too close together in a heavy soil? - you said you had a large clump of lupins so maybe it might be worth trying to seperate them out a bit - the rot will get worse if you leave it.
If you replant them it might be worth putting some sand/grit into the soil to open it up a bit.
Hollyhock rust will not affect the lupin, but lupins like a bit of space around them - so it could affect them slightly.
A photo would def. help