Mr Grinch's Garden

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Mr Grinch, Jan 14, 2012.

  1. Mr Grinch

    Mr Grinch Total Gardener

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    Will have a look
     
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    • Mr Grinch

      Mr Grinch Total Gardener

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      The Sorbus tree's both of them have not come into leaf yet. The buds are there but so far nothing. They are edging nearer to the compost bin. Treated the lawn today, cut it, raked it, forked then top dressed with a mix of top soil and sharp sand. Then brushed in. It was then lightly seeded then brushed again before i watered it. Looks horrible now but in a month, it will look lush. The lawn is still wet though. Clay horribleness. Especially top right had corner but what can you do.

      G
       
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      • Mr Grinch

        Mr Grinch Total Gardener

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        If you ever have algae issues in your pond. Encourage tadpoles as they hoover it up with relish.

        G
         
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        • Ariadae

          Ariadae Super Gardener

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          Oh I hope so, I had 2 big clusters of frogspawn and now loads of taddies along with loads of algae. Daren't try and wind it out with a stick as they get stuck in it, so hoping to see a reduction soon
           
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          • ARMANDII

            ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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            It sounds more like Silkweed rather than algae, Ariadae, if you wind it out with a stick. Algae is more likely to colour the water.......but both are due to too much nutrients in the water.:dunno::coffee::snork:
             
          • Mr Grinch

            Mr Grinch Total Gardener

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            I thought silkweed is a form of algae ? The tadpoles devour this also.

            G
             
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            • ARMANDII

              ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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              You're right, Mr "G", Silkweed is a form of algae but because it forms in strings it is referred to as a weed form and it is treated as such. Like many algae it reproduces via spores which can travel through the air and populate other areas but it likes areas with high nutrients so if you can, over time, remove the nutrients out of the water by either lots of marginal plants or an interconnected bog garden then it will disappear as it doesn't like competition. Sunlight is another factor as like all forms of plants, algae it likes the Sun[​IMG]
               
            • Ariadae

              Ariadae Super Gardener

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              Spirogyra, I think, technically a green filamentous alga.
               
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              • "M"

                "M" Total Gardener

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                Blanket weed by the sounds of it - had some of that in my pond after a friend gave me an infected pot :doh:
                Even once the tadpoles have gone it would be good practise to lay your winded blanket weed next to the pond so any of the (microscopic) pond wildlife can wiggle back into the pond. Then, when it has dried out, stick it in the compost bin :thumbsup:
                I used to clear mine even with tadpoles in the pond; they *do* find their way back into the pond (if you follow the advice above) despite how binding that particular pond weed looks ;)
                 
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                • "M"

                  "M" Total Gardener

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                  Sage advice Our Mandy (aye!)
                  but on this point, as much as I dislike contradicting you ...

                  ... I had it in my pond in the old garden. Some of the pebbles, which decorated the tops of pots, we brought here in a bucket for when we get around to digging in the pebble fountain. So, basically, those pebbles have been in a bucket, in the garden with nothing but themselves for company: and no New Tree Ants for them! :nonofinger:
                  Naturally, rain has filled the bucket since we've been here (we've had a drip or two of rain :heehee: ) but I have noticed ... blanket weed on the pebbles!!! :yikes: :wallbanging:

                  Or, perhaps, two years isn't quite sufficient time? :dunno:

                  Think I may need to resort to a bleach solution to kill it off before the pebble fountain gets given a permanent home (if it ever does).
                   
                • ARMANDII

                  ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                  All water, unless boiled or distilled, "M", with have extremely low quantities of nutrients such as Nitrogen, Potash, Phosphorus, trace elements in them. If you leave a bucket of water, with or without pebbles, in the open, with a little sun, then some form of algae is bound to appear:dunno::heehee:. It either be in the water already, brought in on the air, on the bucket sides, as spores, or probably in your case, unseen, already on the pebbles, even one spore would be enough to colonise the bucket.. It's surprisingly hard to kill Life especially if there is water around, and it only needs a minute amount of nutrients, light, and some warmth for it to start to thrive. I've often put what I thought was wrapped "sterile stuff" in the Fridge only to find a couple of days or so later a mould on it.:heehee:
                   
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                  • "M"

                    "M" Total Gardener

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                    I bow to your knowledge Our Mandy :love30: Thank you :)
                     
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                    • Mr Grinch

                      Mr Grinch Total Gardener

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                      wow pair of goldfinches in my garden. First time ive seen them in this garden.

                      G
                       
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                      • Mr Grinch

                        Mr Grinch Total Gardener

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                        Have i missed much ?

                        Loads of tadpoles again this year. Thinking about a design change after the lawn also.

                        Very dry here now for about a year. Usually during winter the garden is flooded for large amont of time but this winter, i can count only happening once and this lasted a day before draining. Seems the water table is low as when it does rain, its gone quickly. Im not complaining though.
                         
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                        • "M"

                          "M" Total Gardener

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                          Hope you are saving every bit of domestic water? You will most likely need it for the garden this summer.
                           
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