NEW Gardeners !

Hi,Thanks @ricky101 a very good point and why I'm so keen to get this area clear of couch grass allowing me to plant shrubs etc next springtime. Hopefully once the new garden starts to establish it will prevent further soil loss; I don't want to start mowing grass again up there umpteen times...

I took delivery of two berberis yesterday, julianae. Those thorns, wow! Wish I'd found these first, they're brilliant. Reckon I can keep on top of those with some garden-shears. The holly that I've put in around the edges could have been a bit closer together. No matter. I shall plant more...

I would also consider that we are coming into winter and they do shed a lot of leaves naturally.

Yes - pruning of that type [mophead or lacecap] should be done in very late winter/spring, depending on location and conditions. It's always better to be prudent and wait, rather then being too eager to trim off old flowerheads or stems, and when in doubt, take less rather than more. Paniculatas...

Right now is a great time to be planting hardy shrubs. The Cotinus will be happier in the ground for the winter, as long as it doesn't get waterlogged. They will be dropping their leaves for the winter soon anyway. Once they are settled in they can grow very tall even from a hard spring pruning...

I agree with @Escarpment . I don't know what they are either but the fruiting bodies won't last too long before they start to die off. If your cousin is worried then cut them down and dispose of them. I have to add that I rather like the look of them tho - absolute beauties

As said your diverter should have a lever on it to allow the rain water to bypass the diverter and continue its journey down the down pipe. Make sure your butt is not completely full and drop a tennis ball in as recommended above. If still worried wrap the butt in bubble wrap. If you are buying...

I followed Sarah Raven’s advice when sowing the viola seeds. No hotter than 20c and lightly covered.

Basically, either top or bottom, if you cut through where it has callused over, it will invite rot in. For carving it won't matter much as it will still keep alright for a week or more outside but if you wanted to store it for longer indoors, to eat, then you might be in trouble.

At one centre near me I’ve seen the same member of staff standing in one spot with a hose and turning to water the plants within the range of the hose’s pressure capability. I doubt that much reaches the compost in the pots but it keeps customers at bay . I rarely buy anything there.

Thank you, your advice is much appreciated

boiling water with a kettle or in oven at 70c works. this will also kill any plants in it!goodluck with the apple. stake it well and im sure itll be happier next year.

It looks, as Pete suggests, like an anthurium, albeit a bit of a leggy one.Whoever suggested cannabis was probably smoking it at the time.

How about a Daphne "Perfume Princess"? It will give you flowers and perfume in the winter when there's not much else performing. My two both came from B&Q.

Hi @Irishdids - that's a nice little lawn you've got. Hopefully it'll establish nicely and be a good green space next year. I'm guessing you may be in Ireland/N. Ireland, going by your username, but correct me if I'm wrong! It's always useful to know roughly your location, as that always helps...

I can't help with plants that like chalk @FelicityA , as we don't have that here, but others will be able to offer suitable suggestions, and you can also look at other gardens near you, to see what's thriving. If you don't know what they are, you can [sneakily!] take a photo and post on the...

An Amelanchier would look nice or maybe a dwarf crab apple. To cover the fence I would plant a Trachelospermum Jasminoides.

Would a Ilex argentea holly tree work on the other side?

Thank you for your help, I thought it looked like canker but I wasn't sure - im not sure how much is a lot - do you just treat it kikw vlaxj spot on roses - cut it off and destroy. I have started to water it. Ive not noticed any other damage or splits in the main trunk. Is it a crab apple ? If...

It tends to be bitches that cause dead patches in lawns. To me your grass just looks dry like most peoples does this year.