General Gardening Discussion

They aren't too difficult in the ground if you just pollard them every year. You then get a difference in the foliage too, as it's longer rather than rounded, and the colour is more intense If you decide to re pot though, the one that isn't happy might just need a bit more shade while it...

The sweetcorn I planted out are getting away happily. Thoroughly enjoying the rain and warmth. The babies I moved into the greenhouse are stretching themselves out now and beginning to get bigger. I am very nervous about planting out the courgettes, squash etc. I feel there is an army of slugs...

Yes, the winters can ruin anything. Last house was up on moors at 300m and for 30 years I battled with weather - much easier down here. So can I buy lilac and put it in now, or is there a set time to plant it??

I think it looks better now that it's aged some.

Oh that's ok, it'll be perfectly fine on a fence with wires..

This was splendid in my last garden but died in the current one. But the soil is really hard where I put it and although there are trees around I think it got too much sun

The branches feed the trees and you will always have more growth from the upper parts of the tree because its where most of the energy goes.With the grass it's an idea to cut away a few feet from the trunk. It's not this simple but for young trees the roots will probably be around the width...

As long as we dont get another 'beast from the east'.

No @JWK I put the fleece round the Hostas I was more fussed about as only had a limited supply of fleece. Poor old Ligularia got absolutely slaughtered as the slugs were obviously pis.ed off that their favourites were awkward to destroy and turned their onslaught onto the clump of Ligularia that...

Hi all,Last November we had around 100 metres of 60-90cm Hornbeam bare root whips planted at 5-7 per metre.We're ultimately wanting them to turn into one tall hedge that can't be seen through for the most part. To encourage this, I plan on pruning the outward growth while leaving the leader...

Smallish very full front garden. It'd have a job to spread. But I'm on to it now anyway So long as it behaves it can stay

I don't think any major event, horticultural or otherwise, can truly claim to be 'sustainable' for the reasons given in the article. What events such as the major flowers can do is give people ideas and advise on making their own gardens sustainable. That could be far more productive in the...

Thanks!

Spittlebug...

The problem with it here is that it gets quite soft and lush through summer, because it's wet, but warm enough, for lots of growth. Then the winter arrives, and they can't cope. I expect if we continue to get the warm winters we've had for the last few years here, that might change, but it's...

It's alive and thriving, but no longer a topiary ball!If original box top hadn't died due to the extreme December 2022 temps, box tree moth would have got it summer of 2023 anyway, they have been prolific and devastating in my area (North Bucks).

@Goldenlily26 your comment about a 'kick up the ....' reminded me of an incident quite a few years ago. My wife's sister and her kids came round and our nephew had shot up since last time we saw him. He was wandering around and said "Auntie Ros, have you seen the dust on the top of here?" ...

Not that I've noticed, but I'm awful vigilant @ViewAhead

This year, we actually had a very wet February, 76mm in total (more than double the long-term averages). However there were 15 days with no measurable rain, and 7 with only between 0.5 and 2.5mm. Most of the rain fell on 8th-9th-10th, 15th-16th and 21st-22nd, leaving plenty of grass-cutting...

interesting! i think thats the one that surrounds the air base. i wonder if they own the field nearby we walk in, theyve just started what seems to be a walnut orchard there this year and they used a lot of mulch.