General Gardening Discussion

I cant find the dax in the pesticide book that i have, although it is a couple of years out of date. Find out what the active ingredient is because there are often cheaper alternatives that do the same thing but without the big marketing budget. Im glad to hear that you are getting somewhere...

Mmmm, one of the nice things about birches and rowans, is they are small and airy trees - rhododendrons will be evergreen and can be quite dark. If you want to change to something lower, how about the dogwoods, they have the advantage of colourful winter stems, as long as you cut them back.

beci, be brave and cut the top off, use it as a cutting, the stump will probably sprout a few little ones, which you can grow on or cut off and make more cuttings. pete.

That was a great post Steve, thanks. I have emailed the UK website for a quote and the height of their varieties. Regards, Sara.

Yes use a rotovator, but you want to incorporate some gritsand at the same time. Heavy soils go solid again when you start compacting the soil by walking on. Spread sharp or grit sand at a rate of 1 tonne per 10 square metres and rotovate as deep as you can, at least 4 inches preferably 6. I...

Are you sure it isn't Clematis josephs coat of many colours

Frogs and toads are great for slugs, I alway find them around my containers and they are very welcome. They come from my neighbours pond - I just have to be a bit careful when digging.

I'll keep my fingers crossed. Thanks all for the advice.This is great being able to ask questions that I can't find the answers to in all my books.

Hi LynneAthyrium niponicum The Japanese painted fern is one of my favourites, beautiful colours for a fern http://www.perennialplant.org/ppy/04ppy.htm

Thats a good point and worth considering Mrs Cloudy, If I can afford it. thanks, sara.

i'm fed up to the back teeth with my neighbour's cats who use my garden as a litter tray. i get on well with them, but i can see a major ruck coming one as they insist that as they supply a litter tray for their vermin, sorry, cats, they can't be held acountable for the sh*t they produce in...

thanks helen its quite a demanding hobby this gardening it all makes me wonder if it really is right for me i am only a dabbler with plants lillies and roses are my favs ,saying that my first rose tree i had i gave up on and put it out in my front garden and it has never been better ,and hubbie...

thank you both for your help i will cut down thw watering a bit incase i am drowing it as i have a lot of touble bring up things that like naglect as i am to nosey and interfeareing lol spider plants hate me thanks again

I love art in the garden and have just started collecting for my own.Kew is a bit of a trek for us Northerners, so we'll miss out but.......I can recommend the Yorkshire Sculpture Park near Barnsley any time of year.

Hi BayleafI've looked up all the plants you suggested and am going to use swathes of the Prunus, Lonicera and Cotoneaster. I'm going to a section at a time as its so big using the geotextile you suggested.I don't suppose you would be able to tell me how far apart to plant the above?Also I...

If your deadheading rhodies be very careful - the new leaves bud just below the flower head, break the stem just below the last flower and not to the base. Me I tend to leave then alone.

woooh lynne that was heartfealt I can tell :eek: . :D

Ah so that's how to get rid of unco-operative neighbours then

Let it do it's own thing, it will die back a bit in the winter anyway. If it's smothering other plants you could tie it up.

Hi Photinia red robin make great subjects for clipping - encourages more young red shoots, so you can keep 'em quite short. (they lose the intense red in the shade)