General Gardening Discussion

Only cost me £4 in total to build

That is very popular here Loofah, especially on larger expanses. We just have 3m x 1.5m area where we have it so just lay it flat. It is very cheap here as is artificial grass which could be an alternative as a roof.

Charlie, if I might go back to your original comment - who told you to use top soil and for what reason? I'd be turning it over with composted manure

I use the Mini Bark Chips as i think they look much nicer than the large ones and they also dig in easily every few years when the garden needs a new layer. In previous years i have found that storing them in bags in the shed tends to encourage white gooey stuff which is presumably rot due to...

Ah, thanks for the clarification. Nettle and Comfrey tea for the veggies and flowers alike it is then

I've always just found a good section of rose, chopped it into about an 18" length and shoved it in the ground until it starts to grow. Mostly worked OK for me as long as you don't stress them (baking hot sunshine for example)

Because you are I looked at that, but that pipe is EXPENSIVE!! I reckon it will have to be Blue MDPE Water pipe, its a lot lot cheaper. I have some lying around, but if you don't you might find 25M is the shortest piece you can get - I've done the maths for you that's 1,000 x 1" tall...

That is good news, JJ

Make sure you cut all the straggly flowers off after flowering, and neatly trim the bush, but as C1 says don't cut back into old wood as it won't regenerate. When it starts to get too large & unwieldy take a cutting and replace the mother plant with that (you need to root the cutting a year or...

Good point

yes i can see all the pics now simplest option...get rid of the kids!

I'm still developing my tastes really - not been gardening long enough, and don't know enough about it to say that I have changing tastes. I am a sucker for a mallow or similar though, as well as some of the more traditional cottage favourites - lavatera, malva, petunia, morning glory,...

Thanks I doubt that anyone would actually steal them, not least because I have never had any problems with the baskets etc that are out the front, and as I say the neighbours and the street are spot on. I think the only thing I might have suffered from would be the opportunist or inebriated...

Just a bit more Monsanto bashing. I know everyone hates the chemical companies but can we actually live without them. I use glyphosate a few times each summer, it makes my gardening easier. The council actually sprays the weeds coming up through the pavements, chemicals are all around us.

That says 2,4-D Amitrole Diuron whereas Scotts site:has the product label:which says: Contains 20 g/L diflufenican and 125 g/L glyphosate formulated as a suspension concentrate I don't reckon we stand a chance!!

I bought one Pennisetum burgundy giant a couple of years ago from a garden centre. It had burgundy red leaves and long rosy / maroon plumes. A most handsome plant indeed. I knew it was tender, but still by October it died . I think some of them probably need tropical conditions . Unfortunately...

Sounds delightfully well-organised, wish my set-up was so straightforward! I have my hose on a pieces of twine hanging from the landing window so it can be hauled up and attached to the bathroom tap - the kitchen sink tap is one of those daft modern ones and I don't know how to attach a hose to...

Hello and welcome I like the ivy, but it would be good to see it in context from some photos of the larger area. Maybe your parents could tell you what they think is wrong with it, and what they'd like you to do to help. I understand the situation (I think). My dad is slowing down a bit so I...

Your Guzmania will die gradually after flowering but two or three young shoots (pups) will emerge from the base, these can be removed and potted up separately.

The new fronds have now grown to almost the same length as the old ones now and there are still some emerging from the crown. Only 3 of the old fronds have gone brown... sorry I made such a fuss over nothing Wish I was having the same success with my lemon tree... it just won't give up...