General Gardening Discussion

A little bit of trivia I just picked up from the American Brugmansia & Datura Society ..."The genus Brugmansia belongs to the nightshade, Solanaceae family which includes tomatoes, potatoes, tobacco, many kinds of peppers, eggplant, and also includes Datura, petunia, nicotiana, solanum,...

Most marginal pond plants sold are totally hardy, there's one or two that can be a bit tender but then only in a severe winter. I just cut the dead leaves down, to stop them rotting down in the pond, and let them get on with it.

congratulations - celebratory piccies please :D

:D Isn't it great - some plants are so happy to grow for us!! I do the same with loads of plants, and end up with very odd mixtures. There are two happy little kalanchoes in with a ficus benjamina!! I really ought to repot the lot....

Well done Liz! I know where some plants are and they look to be very vulnerable by a pavement in town. Will try to get some seeds or even offsets if possible. If succesful I will raise some in my garden and share with any of you that want any.Looks like a good link Liz, I'm all for...

I've just gone through the garden digging little Jacarandas up that are popping up here and there having seeded themselves. I have five now so I'll see if one or two can survive.I also have three offshoots from the Oleander to play around with also. Sometimes I get one that has seeded...

HelloSome Ivies can be very pretty. I have a sef-rooted Hedera hibernica (Irish Ivy) in the garden. Its a nightmare. I have dug it up so many times - and every time it grows back bigger and stronger. I have been trying to get rid of it now for 6 years. Therefore I don't like Ivies very...

There is Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)and Virginia creeper(P. quinquefolia). They have differing leaves, but are similar in habit, appearance and uses in the garden. The Boston Ivy usually has a palmate leaf ie hand like - bit like a vine (but this is variable - hence its old name P....

Primulas in bud and so are some narcissus - in September!! Very heavy rain last night put the lawn under water. Great flood swept down the hill, into my drive, poured into the garage where it rose to a depth of 2 feet. Greenhouse paving under water too, but luckily the heater is off the...

thanks for your fab suggestions all!BM - I have a large peony plant actually, it's under the pear tree and needs dividing so I will put a clump with the lupins. I really like that creeping dogwood - the leaves are like mini hostas! It will go perfectly.Honey Bee - well said, I must get some...

Thats a good one Hornbeam, Its always much more satifying to bring on a half dead one, to flower. And its one thing that most orchids seem good at, coming back from the dead.

No, only to about 17 so far! It was fine last year. Have moved it from the one side of the outdoor living room to the other this year though, east rather than west facing.

I've not known them do it..... They were abundant in Hemel, not far from Fran - but I can't say I've seen little ones near the main bushes, so I guess not!

Fran, only the IoW from Plymouth and back!Sorry, DaveP, t'other half only stops for fuel along the way .... can't even have the cuppa with Marge that was offered! :(Thanks, Strongy, I've still got some of your seeds to incubate ... :D :D :D Will they be Stronlols or Lolstrongs or .......

you could use something like a fuchsia in the centre of the round pot, with trailing aubretia round it. 8" isn't very big, but if you use anything with a tallish stem, you can put traily things around it - but you need to feed and water well. For the trough type, how about a tallish plant in...

Hi Prastio ... love your avatar! Sorry, I can't answer your question but I do want to welcome you to GC!

beginers luck PETE. NEVER SEEN THIS beauty before.

Good morning! I wonder if anyone could give me some advice on feeding/caring for my pampas grass. It is planted in a container in a very exposed coastal location , its now 3 years old and this season's plumes have just appeared.I haven't really done anything in particular to it before apart from...

I felt the same way about my back garden but eventually thought enough is enough and got some gardeners in... best decision i've made. I had quotes for �£5K but these guys did it for �£3K and made a top class job.Have you considered having a multi level garden and putting all that earth to...

Thanks badsal72 for your kind comments, a good idea as your plot tends to get swampy, you will find that the soil in your raised beds will drain much better and also warm up quicker in the Spring, the paths will enable you to continue to work on your plot even if the weather is poor, regards Steve.