General Gardening Discussion

Bamboo likes a peat/soil(JI3)/compost mix and plenty of food in the growing season. Cut out all the spindley shoots as these remain the size they sprouted at and will not thicken. This promotes the production of stronger thicker canes and ultimately a healthier specimen. I also mix in mini bark...

thankyou strongylodon,i put it outside cos the ivy was trailing all over my microwave!seems a bit daft to put the ivy in with house plants,or maybe its me thats daft for planting them out?the parlor palm was a bit scorched from being near the kitchen window (i wondered what was wrong with it) ...

This year I would ease up on the watering and let the roots go deeper to find their own moisture. In N. Ireland you shouldn't be bothered by prolonged drought but if the weather does get dry then restart regular watering. Winds can sometimes be more drying than a hot but humid day.You also...

wellI could never spell anyway! What wat wut!!!

Thanks for your kind offer Pete, I would love to have said yes - but I already have 200 or 300 seedlings/small plants sitting on my patio and absolutely nowhere to put them. I think I might take up "virtual gardening" on the internet. You can expand as much as you like - and no weeding! Come...

oh, and i forgot welcome katiejane just new member myself, enjoy.

You would be suprised how many people do not worm their animals..I work as a veterinary nurse and despite trying to educate owners unfortunatly there are still quite alot of people who refuse to worm their animals, they dont seem to realise that its a risk, they buy a puppy/kitten worm it for...

iff you put a trellis against the wall buy a climbing shrub called solanum glasnevin it is ideal for a sheltered spot, i have got one growing on my balcony, iff you can get one now it will grow fine but will not flower until next year, great coverage, the flowers on mine are coming out now they...

must learn how upload my pictures, i have a balcony, quite shaded in a large pot i put a summer flowering climbing shrub called solanum. glasnevin ideal for wall ot trellis it is superb. put it in last year and it has grown so quick with the added bonus of lovely light purple flowers with yellow...

That is one stressed fuchsia from what I can see - and from the look of the compost overwatering may be the problem. Check the compost - if its very damp then that is likely to be your problem.What I find works best in that situation is take it out of the compost remove it from around the...

I have a shaded balcony in large pots i have been succesful these past four years growing honeysuckle, russian vine{mile a minute}excellent fast growing and jasmine. I have a hop golden vine fast growing it died down had it 3 years thought it had gone and it has come back with a vengeance. I...

Hi Kandyfloss, thanks for that. My seeds were free with AG last year. Looks like I won't have to grow any more seeds!

Thanks very much for the advice. I have enough to experiment so I will try planting some early, and hold some back. I found your points about lupins and foxgloves interesting frogesque, so I will put some little ones in quite soon and see what happens there.

Yes, mine looked like a proper yokel with bunches of green stuff sticking out of his mouth too!! :D

Palustris, lovely photos again! I suppose it wouldn't be hard to make plywood moulds if necessary? I remember playing with cement when i was small and ending up with very sore hands. Now all I need to do is finish planting my new border, install the brick edging, sort out my pond and the water...

Thanks everyone - am off to pull up the forget me not and cut back the daffs - that should tidy it up a bit!

If they are in pots why not just rest a slate or similar against the pot on the sunny side. That will put your pot in permanent shade and reduce the temperature quite a lot. Or even put another pot with some decent growth in front to shade it.

Great time of year, almost everyday something diffrent to look at and admire. Of course its enough for any man. I do believe our GC naughty word catcher is at work earlier I tried to mention Ar**nal footy team and the first 4 letters were missing now your sp*rc* is well and correctly noticed.

I have recently fallen in love with gardening and all things green, including bonsai. My son gave me one for my last birthday, a Serrisa Foetida, tree of a thousand stars, I then purchased a chinese elm. Both common I believe for starters. So far, all seems really well with both of them, but...

They were literally the death of my plumerias! I have not grown any more since. :(