General Gardening Discussion

Thanks for all your help, @VerdunI've wrapped some fleece around plant and container - looks like we're going to be in for a perishing winter up here, so I hope that's enough to save it!Re: pruning - how far back would you suggest taking it after the frosts?Thanks again, Andy

Well, there are two firm schools for and against using coffee grounds as soil improvement agent. Apparently some plants love it thanks to the nutrients (Nitrogen compounds) and slightly acidic effect, and some hate it. I have tried previously in the garden but didn't see any notable difference....

What a load of cods!!!We've got them as well. Blooms every year and only smells bad for one day (to attract the pollinating flies).

They do give off oxygen Pete, but I think they take it up again either through the water in the soil or via leaves. Bottle gardens that are completely sealed work fine with only solar energy to fuel the respiration and growth cycle.

Just looked up this plant ''lapsana communis'' and found this description.... It is a leafy plant, the uppermost leaves being narrow lanceolate, intermediate height leaves are wide laceolate, some with blunt fowardly-directed teeth whilst the lowest leaves are nearly oval but tapering to a...

I think we're on the path, at the moment, to doing just that, Vince

@ARMANDII and @Ian Taylor

@NigelJ for the additional info - mind you now ya got me looking at Amaryllis varieties to add to me garden too ....OHhhhh!!! I do need little encouragement to spend on the garden

I've got two Clematis, one white and the other pink. Brought them young and as soon as they started shooting growth I was entwining them up the fence and across the top I've interweaved them so we get a good show of them both mixed, they're not in flower on my pic.

We did have in the back garden two large curry plants and when the sun hit them, omg the smell was like draw/cannabis in the air, I had them removed and binned lol

No real convention on watering Gary. Some plants need regular watering esp in certain circumstances.....e.g. Plants in hanging baskets may need twice a day watering; this is because of limited compost, exposure all round to drying wind and sun and the number of plants fighting for limited...

Let's hope Parkers are reading this. A lot of customers and potential customers are. Perhaps they will do the right thing and send Caroline proper replacements. Then she can report better news about Parkers

The bacteria that break down leaves etc are oxygen loving but they survive nicely in soil, along with the worms, fungi, insects in the soil that also do the same job. To be honest I wouldn't add nitrogen as it will encourage soft and leafy growth in plants and it's the wrong time of year to add...

Well, this is what happened. I initially put the water container beside the mat and @pete you're right. The water was acting like it was being suctioned with a tube! So I dug around and found something to sit the container slightly below the mat. Works lime a charm I now have it in both of my...

I also grow Garrya ''James Roof'' this variety has the longest katkins and we propagated it at the nursery. I was quite fortunate then, as the boss asked me to plant some choice shrubs at my place as extra ''stock'' ....... result

Will do, Victoria.

Keeping fingers crossed that things turn out better than anticipated @NigelJ

Looking forward to hearing how you get on with them. As you say, it is good that you already have some so you can compare and contrast. How very kind of Inkbird to select you for the trial!