Mr Grinch's Garden

Ordinarily i would agree but it wouldn't be a loss of a single plant or even two. It would be the loss of the whole structure of your garden, especially in my garden which is based on Box.

G

 

I think it was that incredibly wet summer (from the day that they announced the hosepipe ban!) that did the damage. Not sure sharp drainage would have been enough, as foliage was perpetually wet that year. But drainage is all I can do ... or perhaps a cover so they are indoor" and out of the rain!!

Sadly I don't know of a garden where that exists in enough quantity that I can nick 1,000 cuttings without being detected!

For parterre / Knot gardens its the loss of the whole garden though, rather than just a few plants within an overall garden. Dunno if you saw Gardeners World? I though Monty Don was very "brave" about it, I can't believe he actually felt as sanguine as he made out.


18 mins in, and also 27:47 for the bonfire at the end :(

 

Yup, I saw that program last year too, but he said that now its got so bad he didn't think there is any chance of them pulling through.

I did think his Box edging was too tall for the beds ... so he may grow to like it not being there, for a change ... but its still a big wrench.

Still can't decide whether I should risk planting mine, or chuck them ... or flog them on eBay!!

 

Stick with it Kristan. Keep and plant. I agree with you that the blight was noticed 2 years ago in that wet summer and clearly it took hold. I do think that he didn't do himself any favours, his hedges even during winter was crisp and clean and while looking nice it begs the question whether they were cut away from the usual May period. If he cut them say September and it was a wet autumn then clearly blight would love these situations.
When mine are to size, i will trim once in May during a drying period and thats it.
I also agree that taking them out was a complete wrench for him, you could see it in his face. He LOVES hedges especially Box and in a rare Twitter chat with him last year (before he came off it) he did say when i suggested Crenata that he was thinking about it as a replacement. Personally, Box IS Long Meadow in my view and is the core structure and centre to his hole garden.

G

 

If memory serves me he did allude to that effect in an episode last year

"On Derby Day" is the tradition - add to that "when there is a week's dry weather forecast"

He also took out a huge hedge (in Episode 1 I think?) under his Pleach. Its opened up an area that got poor light, but I did think it made his Pleach look a bit strange, as it only has one or maybe two "horizontals". When not bare, and covered in leaves, it will probably look fine ...

 

I know i mustn't say this but last nights rain was welcome.
It was the first in 2 weeks and believe it or not, i had to water the lupins a few days ago as they had started to wilt.

Things look fresh now and hopefully my newly refurbed lawn will start to grow now.

G

 

Wow more worms under the rotten garden shed than in my borders.
G

 

Construct more sheds??

 

Lost a few plants this winter. Once again the Delphiniums haven't made it. I love these but i cant get them past a winter in my garden. Lost a few Aquilegia as well which is odd as these are usually hard as nails.
Fed all the roses this spring as i haven't done it for years. Last year they were suffering with foliage discolouration and weak growth so time for a perk up. The new foliage coming looks healthier already. Little tip, to stop black spot and rust, give them a spray of a fungicide around now when the new leaves are coming and this seems to help them along and saves spraying lots in the summer. I probably wont spray now until the second flush of flowers, around August time.

G

 

Yes the mild winter should have helped but they hate my wet clay and just rot off no matter what the winter is like. A shame.

When is Shiney open day ? Any link to a thread ? Missed the last few but i think i maybe around this year.

G

 

Morning Mr G...it's the last weekend in May ...take a look in 'Events'...sorry i'm not good at putting links up