Mr Grinch's Garden

Ive tried that type of staking and it does not straighten the trunck, infact it makes it worse. This was the only way to keep it upright.

I know there is a debate about tree's and how to plant them. Some say stake at an angle, some stake with two vertical ive also seen some that dont stake at all to encourage stronger roots.

 

Ive tried that. I tried the angle stake from all directions and all directions lean the tree over further.

 

Chopped back more of the Lavatera today. I've been reading up on them and they respond to a chop. I also bought another one to go in a spot in the larger border. I must say these are excellent plants. Just give them sun and they will flower their socks off for months. Ive bought "Barnsley" again as i love the white soft pink flowers with a its red throat. The rose i was worried about that i moved seems to be budding so really pleased about that. The bare root roses i planted last February and shooting away now. My experience with bare root is that they take a good year to get going. Both of mine did nothing last summer and looked sick and dying, now they are growing well.
I also moved an odd Astilbe that was a spare into a wet patch and moved a Geum. Nothing in the wildlife pool at the moment.

G

 

It's not all bad in your garden then Mr. Grinch and roses are fairly tough as long as they aren't starved.

 

Everything seems to be growing well this spring. The Hellebores have lasted a lot longer than usual and still doing their bit at the moment.
Things i need to do this year:
1. Plant Daffs in the East border
2. Plant Snowdrop bulbs in pots then plant out in spring next year
3. After saying i wont buy bedding, i think i will this year in certain parts of the garden
4. Fill a few spaces with perennials (Cistus, Aquilegia and others)

G

 

Its my birthday today. I always count this date of the start of the new gardening summer. I received a lovely gift of 3 nights in Rome, taking in Ninfa and Tivoli gardens. Ive been wanted to visit for a while. Cant wait. Only 2 weeks to go.

G

 

Happy Birthday Mr. Grinch, there is a birthday thread running for you in 'Off Topic Discussion'. Enjoy your holiday!

 

Elder seedlings popping up everywhere !! Nightmare.

G

 

Moved a few things around today. Moved an Aster and planted a Cistus, Aquilegia, re planted some Rudbeckia. The Box at the bottom is probably coming out over the next few weeks. Most have no new buds on and jut look like they will be dead soon. An expensive experiment. I will save the good ones for spares.

Anyone got any good edging plants or small hedge plants that does well in wet clay ?

G

 

I can't think of anything at the moment Mr. Grinch, it's a long time since I gardened on clay!

 

The box have gone. The really bad ones composted, the others posted up and used as spares. I think it was a mixture of things that have done for these, the wet clay and scorch caused by them being planted around the path. It does get VERY hot in summer. A position in the garden of extremes. Its funny, the plants placed going up to the fence seem ok and looking very healthy. I note there is no path near them so maybe helped in the establishment.

G

 

Havnt had much rain at all over the past 10 days so i did a pole test on the border and the soil was still wet after about a foot.

The wildlife pool doesnt have much life in it. Algae and gone a bit murky although the plants are growing ok. No bugs in it at all.
Everything else in the garden growing very well.

G