Mr Grinch's Garden

Some I mulched with black half-done home-made compost, the rest with leaf mulch, making sure it wasn't touching the plants. Then I put dry hay on top of it to stop it blowing around. The compost forms a crust but I reckon that's a good thing; keeps the ground from drying out in the sun; as long as I dig a little trench away from the plants to water into.

Bit of a poser your lack of growth. But they're such lovely plants and otherwise so tough I think they're worth being patient with. When I rooted the cuttings, you could see the roots start shooting off to the side, about every half inch down the buried stem. The largest roots start from just below the surface. Mine are in a foot or so-wide trench, spaced, I think, about 6'' apart but then again there's just earth either side. I put them so close because I was counting on some dying but touch wood none of them have - so when they're a bit larger I suppose I'll re-plant every other one. I suppose you've got hard core trapping yours? How far are the plants apart from one another?

I really can't see it lacking nutrients if you've got clay but I would think about overwatering: I know mine didn't like it. The only other thing I do is put every worm I can find in with them!

 

Spent this AM cutting all the Hellebore leaf's off. Makes a difference. Some plants only have 1 or 2 flowers but boy was it worth seeing a flower in a cold February.

G

 

I'm about to have a go at growing Hellebores from seed. Why do you cut the leaves off please?

 

They also take years to grow into a substantial plant, hense the price of these in the shops. I usually dig up a few seedlings and pot tem up and leave them be for a few years down the bottom out of sight. Then use them when big enough. Beware though, hot sun they hate aswell as dry soil.
G

 

Where there were just big green leaf's a few days ago, there are now little sparkle jewels in the border. Not big, but subtle and beautiful. That’s Hellebores.

G

 

Please, can you lucky members with them in flower create a Hellebore thread and post some piccies.? I do hope to be able to contribute a little later on in the month,
thank you,
Jenny

 

Just done one.

G

 

Thanks Shiney and Mr. Grinch. At present I haven't any in my garden, which is why I'm going to give them a go from seed. I know they take a while, I'm also growing Cyclamen which take their time as well.

 

Cold, windy, snow, sleet and rain. Garden flooded. Very miserable. I do detest February.

G

 

How can you say that?

February is the best: more weather in February than any other month.

And crocuses! Irises! Snowdrops! Yew and box and holly look lovely.

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And lots to look forward to: getting those gloves and wellies dirty again, getting the ladder out and pruning the apple trees and best of all when the frost goes: digging! Winter evenings planning your spring borders, leafing through plant catelogues you can't afford. Checking on your cuttings nursery and: digging! Mending fences, clearing leaves away from the shed wood, getting lovely mud on your boots and: digging!

Yes; single digging, turning over digging. Double-digging, visiting farms to get that manure and sticking it down deep. Digging through the snow, digging in puddles. Snoozing outside on a deck chair, basking in the reflection of the sun by the back windows on a sunny morning, with a bacon sarnie and a cup of tea, listening to the returning birds. Raiding the compost heap, buying sand and peat, mixing up the perfect soil mix with a robin perched on your spade. Lovely earthy smells again. Get H.I. to treat you to that tree you've been lusting after and planting it on a dry day in the perfect place.

But most of all digging! Digging! Digging.

Lovely!

 

I like your enthusiasm Cacadores but I'm with Mr. Grinch on this one! February may be the shortest month in time but always seems the longest to me. Snowdrops won't grow in my garden. The lawns are waterlogged, no snow here just rain, rain and more rain and the same with the wind, it's just too uncomfortable to work out there.

 

I'm afraid the only good thing about February for me is Pancake Day