General Gardening Discussion

I wouldn't worry it was prolly roosting - its early for wren's to be on the next. At the moment the male will be building/choosing a number of nests for his lady love to choose which she prefers.Smashing little birds - very much ground feeders amongst the leaf litter. So don't tidy your beds...

In respect of the apple trees - the sap is rising and therefore I would not attack these til leaf fall in the autumn. At that time remove the crossing branches, and then prune back. You should be able to see the fruiting spurs - best not to prune these out - if you want apples next year :D

After flowering I nip off the dead heads and get another bloom...All but Montana get this treatment...and I've got seven which flower for months

They can climb the stairs, we had one in our bathroom. The cat may have bought it in, but it was funny when my wife found it. Boy, did she scream.

I agree with F & T, it has been competing for moitsure and nutrients and looks like it is losing. Nice Camelia though. :(

Do you think THAT would scare off others? :D :D

ermmm...were you a close relative to Queen Victoria?

Aldi are selling healthy little busy lizzie plants in plugs for �£1.99 for 24. I bought some last week, immediately repotted them and they're going great guns in the greenhouse despite the ghastly weather.

That'll confuse the plants!! And there are so many things I need to do, but can't because of the weather! You can't dig in this stuff, and you certainly can't weed! and as for redefining the edges of a lawn when the weather alternates between constant rain, heavy snow and frost - it's not...

Unless you keep keep them heated your kitchen will look like a compost heap instead of a garden centre. These plants were grown grown at around 23c and will not survive night temperatures around 2/-3c which we are getting at the moment.Keep them as warm as you can.

Lynne for my two pennyworth - I would go with the lower decking not being laid on a well drained surface with ventilation. Wouldn't be at all surprised if the smell is due to the rotting of the (?treated) frame - plus anything (like a rat) decomposing under the deck. As its not in the basement...

I assume the blue-tits weren't there at the time? :D

Thanks PeterS, the fothergills red gem are the ones I have been looking for. :D

Thanks nixon, the avatar, still hav'nt found a suitable pic to represent myself (old git!) or are you suggesting that I use the MG pic.....bit girly for me though? Sorry if it's off topic, but you started it! :D :D

HAVE USED LEAKY HOSE FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS IN BORDERS ETC. AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH IT AT ALL. AS LONG AS IT IS COVERED WITH MULCH THE MOISTURE SEEPS INTO THE GROUND QUITE WELL, DOWN TO 9" IN SOME PLACES

can i use jeyes fluid on my allotment? ron

RON ...... are you sure you have the correct product?

Are you sure it just hasn't been too dry? If this was the problem then It might resprout with some water or rain- sounds daft I know but I've had some periods this winter since christmas when I needed to water containers. Now it's gone to the other extreme. I hope it hasn't died, how big was it?

shouldn't need that, Ursh - at least, I've never done it! Just let them grow enough so they're ready for May. Are they the standard type or the trailing ones?

Jungle Seeds emailed me to say they are now selling all their tubers/roots ie cannas, hedychiums, cauleyas, colocasias etc postage free this month. Check it out if you're interested at www.jungleseeds.co.uk