General Gardening Discussion

Hi, Thanks for your help it certainly looks as though it is probably leaf spot so I will take the appropriate action.Thanks again for your help, I will probably be back with more questions.Pauline

It was a cosmos sonata but I have put it on the compost heap as i needed the pot for a lavender I bought today. it didn't look very hopeful Thanks

Thanks for that advice - seems logical. Problem is most of the young shoots come up through a lawned area which gets mown every week or so throughout the growing season so they are cut anyway. s'pose I'll have to live with it or bite the bullet and spray with something. Anybody any suggestions?

Unless its dead already then it will grow back. You can cut it back hard now, top it to how high you want it and then trim it back a couple of times a year. If you really do want it out then I would have your fencing contractor take it out as he will be used to doing it and will do it in a...

Steve,If you don't want anyone putting a property on the garden, put a covenant on the property against anyone building on the plot. This can be drawn up at any solicitor that deals with property.Nathan.

Thanks Liz this certainly seems the most child and slug friendly (even though the slugs die!) but does seem a waste of good booze!!Thanks Kev

Liz,As mentioned above, Laurel hedging looks nice (much better than Leylandii), and once established, can grow rapidly.See this site http://www.surreyhedging.co.uk/ , has lots of various types of hedging. Also being Surrey, isn't a million miles away.Hope this helpsNathan.

In my experience you can cut them back as hard as you like and they will still grow back.

poor Nathan no more bananas then lol

You won't be able to put the nasturtiums out until maybe late april depending on your area and if its a sheltered position...slightest frost turns them into a mushy green messso you will have to repot them and then the other problem is they will cling and twine around any supports or...

Thanks for all your tips,I think I'll give it a few more weeks then go down to the garden centre with my wish list from you guys.Thanks again

One of the problems with common names is that some plants have a lot of them!! I am assuming your 'apple blossom tree' is not an apple but one of the ornamental Japanese cherries, in which case I wouldn't prune it unless you really have to, as you will lose the flowering shoots. Hope this helps...

Yes, I agree. Consider going for a 2 metre high fence with 6 inch tall gravelboards, 4 ft feather boards or panels and 2 ft trellis (high density approx 3'' x 3'' squares). Go for 6 ft length bays and make sure your posts are no less than 4'' x 4'' size timber and atleast 2 ft in the ground.

Only you know if you can tackle something like this. Have you done anything like it before and have you got anybody who can give you a hand. If your not confident then call in the experts, someone who has insurance.

Some favorites: climbing roses, clematis viticella, climbing hydrangea, ormamental vine. "The tree and shrub expert" by DG Hessayon has a good list of climbers and advice on pruning.

Agree with Simon - the hardy bush fuschias can be effectively cut to any shape you like. Sometimes it's a good idea though to cut them down to ground level every few years as I hav efound it helps control infestation of thrips etc.

More to your last Questions. Hi again..Roses,most need min.2-3ft spacing,good thinking about wasted space, do you want a rose bed or a veg patch ? lol. much depends what types, maybe you can grow some Leeks,for winter picking. Perhaps a few Onion sets,Garlic,shallots,bit of parsley,...

Ladybird, I think I will do that nearer the summer, thanks for the advice.

Thank you, Wildman, that sounds very positive!

Thanks for your advice for my cd since I love birds in my garden and we do get a lot I shall not be using them that way, so I will take them along to the local nusery school where Im sure good use will be made