NEW Gardeners !

Hello everyone,New to gardening here and one of the first plants to arrive is a small Magnolia Satisfaction. It arrived with a label to not transplant before its well leafed since spring was late this year.I think there is a lot of mulch all around its pot,i cant see any soil. Kept if...

I am in South Somerset.I used some well rotted horse manure for the first time this year, back in early spring and will try to do so again in autumn.

Yes I think you might be right there His are on a retaining wall of about four feet at the front of his house. I think the amount of sun is probably the same but drainage probably better.Thanks for the advice though, will look for a better position before planting.

Hello @JWKThanks for the reply.I will steer clear of the push in testers then, it was more for convenience than anything as I do not tend to leave the house much.I will search online and order from there.ThanksKevin

I thought Kale was a winter vegetable. Not that I've ever grown it.

Seeds need good contact with the soil. The larger the seed the deeper it can be covered as a rule of thumb. Some seed and cover lightly, some put soil down, spread seed and then lightly rake them in.

@Captain Autumn - More info here: Post pictures of your radishes here...

You say that you have some manure. Definitely don't plant directly into that. Manure needs to be dug in to the soil as you can't be sure of how well rotted it is. sometimes it can be a bit strong for young plants.

No problem happy to help

HelloThanks for the reply.I have other things that are taking my money at the moment but I am making a list of the things that need to be undertaken as and when I can afford to Unfortunately I have no one that can help me which is why I am going to have to get someone in to do the work for...

Hi Charlie, and welcome to GC I am not sure what the plant is atop your fence, but unless it is some sort of clematis like montana, I reckon you will struggle to get it to grow downwards - no harm in trying to train it down by using garden twine to tie some of the overhanging ends to the...

Hello TettersThanks for the advice, much appreciated.Kevin

HelloThanks for the reply.Actually 15 years may be slightly conservative Due to poor health the garden has been neglected for a while but I am determined to get on top of it sooner or later, starting with these shrubs.ThanksKevin

Hi and Welcome to GC I use Cacti potting compost for mine, don't let it dry out completely, but have a read here as this is what my USA friend sent me a link to a while back.. Aloe Vera

So unless you're at altitude your winter lows are probably not dissimilar to mine here in the Cotswolds?Then shrubs are probably not the best idea as they tend to have a specific (limited) bloom period. Maybe a good hardy Fuchsia, a Jasmine and perennial Sweet Pea arch and bulbs/corms/tubers...

Yes it is asparagus @Rhydian but if you are only getting one spear each year not sure if you could get more. You could try moving it but it is the wrong time of year now. They are specific in their needs. My bed is on its second year so still not tasted any as they need two years to settle in....

I grow ''flashing lights'' and it is not orange - there is another one called ''Brilliant - or Brilliance'' and although it also has reddish flowers they are a more orangey red. ''Flashing lights'' is a deep pinky red.Having just read that back, it sounds a bit like a double dutch tongue...

Oh, thanks pete, will give them a very good water every day as we've got a good few dry, sunny days coming up!

Hello allHere are the pictures, five in all starting from the left and going round the garden ending at the house back wall.ThanksKevin

Maybe this would be a good time to start looking for the right nurseries! Where are you based? If you can find nurseries where they actually grow plants (rather than import them in their hundreds) you will save money. Another good idea is an area set aside for propagation. Cuttings are not...