Gardening Aspirations For 2018

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by "M", Nov 26, 2017.

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  1. Verdun

    Verdun Passionate gardener

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    Yes, prob one plant.
    Take advantage of your friend's window ledge :)
     
  2. Jack Sparrow

    Jack Sparrow Total Gardener

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    How big a pot should I use? Would I have a plant big enough to plant in the ground by the summer?

    G.
     
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    • Verdun

      Verdun Passionate gardener

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      No, not really......for a start it will simply look insignificant in a place you could plant something decent to look at for a year or so. Don't overpot. An ordinary plant pot will suffice for now and just enough to accommodate the roots. Agapanthus flower best when root restricted but for first year or so you want to concentrate on its growth so repot a couple of times. Ordinary mpc will suffice for this period.:)
       
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      • Jack Sparrow

        Jack Sparrow Total Gardener

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        I got a leaflet through my door highlighting Polemoniam Kaleidoscope.. what can you tell me about it? I was thinking of the space between my apple tree and my summer perennials. Would that work?
        G.
         
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          Last edited: Mar 5, 2018
        • Verdun

          Verdun Passionate gardener

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          Looks similar to one I grow.....polemonium Stairway to Heaven.
          Its not a plant to just "poke" or squeeze in somewhere in my opinion.......variegated polemoniums can be fickle if not given good rich soil and placed out of midday or strong afternoon sun. Lovely though if it performs. I think it is classy :)
          A variegated nepeta would grow in poorer soils.....nice foliage, blue flowers??
          Lovely if you can place it with red heucheras or small purple shrubs like berberis atro nana.
           
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            Last edited: Mar 5, 2018
          • Jack Sparrow

            Jack Sparrow Total Gardener

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            • Verdun

              Verdun Passionate gardener

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              Good soil needed again.....nice arrangement for a corner in a group:)
               
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              • Jack Sparrow

                Jack Sparrow Total Gardener

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                RE Salix Flamingo

                Groupon are selling a pair for £26.99. I only want one. :frown:

                G.
                 
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                • Sheal

                  Sheal Total Gardener

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                  A couple more decisions made today as I still can't get anywhere near the garden to put things into practice. :doh:

                  We must have a shed! Having had such a bad winter this year our car has suffered sitting outside and the garage is full. With a wide space at the side of my bungalow which gets little sun (north east) it's the ideal spot, the only drawback being the shed can be seen from the road. To solve that I will use branches from the trees that have to come down to create a rustic fence for climbers, the shed will back onto that.

                  The shock to my system is I've decided not to have a greenhouse. :hate-shocked:Growing is actually my favourite part of gardening, so a difficult decision. :doh:I used to grow up to 300 annuals a year and take many cuttings from plants to grow on and the greenhouse was also full of tomato plants once the annuals moved out. This garden will be mostly herbaceous perennials and shrubs.

                  I have a good sized sun room in the bungalow that is three quarters glass and that will be enough to grow on the lesser amount of annuals for pots and cuttings. I can start tomatoes in there and move them to a sheltered sunny spot in the garden later, or possibly invest in a medium sized 'blowaway' greenhouse for them should they suffer outside.

                  Another decision made recently is to forget the idea of trying to retrieve one of my front lawns from nature. Tree roots as thick as my lower leg run through the lawn, some of which are partially exposed. The lawn itself has no grass but is covered in moss, so with no mowing needed there I'll plant it with bulbs and various plants like primroses, possibly foxgloves etc. These will blend in with the natural, rural area I'm now living in.

                  I'll add some pictures tomorrow of the areas I'm referring too. :)

                  Edit: Pictures as promised.....

                  Taken looking from the back garden to front.
                  IMG_3825.JPG

                  Taken looking from front garden to back.
                  IMG_3828.JPG

                  IMG_3829.JPG

                  IMG_3834.JPG

                  IMG_3835.JPG
                   
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                    Last edited: Mar 11, 2018
                  • Jack Sparrow

                    Jack Sparrow Total Gardener

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                    A woodland garden sounds idyllic. I would have liked one those.

                    G.
                     
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                    • shiney

                      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                      @Sheal what type of shed will you get? Wooden ones are quite expensive. Metal are nearly half the price but take a bit more effort to erect. We ended up with metal after the wooden sheds had been invaded by wildlife - mainly rats eating through the floors and walls :hate-shocked:
                       
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                      • Verdun

                        Verdun Passionate gardener

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                        Sheal, a woodland garden appeals to me too :)....total contrast to here....and I think you are right to match the natural surroundings and work with nature there.
                        Look forward to seeing your pictures :)
                         
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                        • Sheal

                          Sheal Total Gardener

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                          Pictures now added to my previous post #159 above.

                          The first two shots are of the side area taken from both front and back. The plan is to erect a fence for climbers level with the front of my bungalow and erect the shed in front of that on the back garden side.

                          The front lawn as you can see is rough terrain, so with tree roots and rocks to contend with it's easier to let nature carry on as it will but with planting additions as I mentioned in my previous post. There are nine trees on this lawn at the moment, five Pines, two Sycamores, a Beech and a Rowan. One of the Sycamores and the Rowan will be taken out, I still have to decide whether the beech will remain. All but the rowan are a minimum of 40ft high.

                          Thank you for your comments, all taken on board of course. :)

                          @shiney I've always had wooden sheds and despite the possibility of rodents this next one will be too, thanks for your thoughts on that. :) I've lived in a rural position before so am prepared to take a chance on that. I think a metal shed up here will rust very quickly, it's not only rural but approximately 500ft above sea level.
                           
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                            Last edited: Mar 11, 2018
                          • Verdun

                            Verdun Passionate gardener

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                            A wooden shed will fit in much more naturally I think reflecting the trees and habitat :)
                             
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                            • longk

                              longk Total Gardener

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                              I had to google it and I nearly puked! If ever there was my idea of plant hell encapsulated that is it. @Jack Sparrow - nowt personal, I just have an aversion to variegated plants and that is variegated on speed!

                              So to get serious now..............
                              That seems way too small for the Flamingo Tree if that is what it's for. It will be over every time there's a stiff breeze.

                              Quality is variable from the bargain shops. On the whole their tubers are too dry to be worth bothering with but if you buy carefully (open the packets if you have to) there are bargains to be had. GC's are a better bet in terms of quality.
                               
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