Show us your gardening purchases 2025

That’s a nice one @LunarSea, you made the right choice .

 

Yesterday I bought a small French Lavender from Lidl. Hadn't planned to, but loads outside the store, most already dead, a few looked like they could be revived. Put it in a bowl of water and gave it a gentle shower and it's looking much happier now. I should have taken a before pic as it was wilted and distressed looking.


I've not had French Lavender before abd know they are more tender over winter. I'm just wondering if I should put it into a large pot or slightly smaller pot until it grows a bit?? Can I use gravel from the garden or do I specifically need horticultural grit? I have peat free compost and soil, will it be OK with a mix of the 2, more soil than compost ( it's already mixed)?

 

Looks lovely, @luciusmaximus. There is something so satisfying about bringing a plant back from the brink.

I would pot in on in a slightly bigger pot, but not too large. Should be happy in a compost/soil mix. Were you thinking of the gravel to go on as a top dressing or to mix in with the compost/soil? If on top, garden gravel is fine. If mixed in, choose the smallest bits you’ve got. Lavenders can thrive on pretty stony, dry ground so it shouldn’t be a problem.

 

I used a mix of 50/50 topsoil and horticultural grit with mine last year @luciusmaximus plus a handful of MPC and some gravel for extra drainage, in a pot which was 30cm wide and deep. They grow quite fast when it warms up and need regular watering in containers until established when they become drought tolerant. But don’t feed with anything. They can need winter protection as they are not as hardy as English lavenders.

 

The gravel is small pieces, not chunky gravel. I might have some aquatic gravel and sand too, but have to go burrowing to find out if I still have it.

 

I have a 34 cm pot so can use that. I wish I'd bought a couple more now ! I've had English Lavender, it was in the ground and was fine, I never needed to water it and the bunnies enjoyed munching on it as it was next to their run!

 

They are easier in the ground @luciusmaximus if you have space, no worrying about pots drying out . They don't tend to flag in the ground during hot and sunny weather but I have found that they do in pots.

 

I only have 2 very shallow and narrow borders to grow in and have already planted them up. There is a 3rd border, but sun doesnt get onto it until 2 pm and in shade again by 6 - will change as sun gets higher over next couple of months. Its in deep shade for winter. Have yo manage with pots for time being. Hopefully my next house will have a decent garden with plenty of ground to grow in !

 

A treat to myself after a frustrating morning yesterday . Anyone recognise the grasses? They have no label, priced at £2.50, so had to get them.

 

Possibly Calamagrostis 'Overdam'. Good price. @Plantminded will probably know.

 

Today I went to Dobbies and bought a beautiful brunnera "Jack Frost". It's currently soaking, ahead of planting in a bit:



I also bought some plants for a small container pond:

• 2x hornwort (oxygenating plant, not very interesting visually).
• Scirpus cernuus (some people refer to it as "optical fibre plant", you can see why).

I also want something with floating leaves and I might take my chances with a dwarf water lily, despite the container pond being in a shady position. I have read online that not having enough sun affects flowering, but I am more interested in the leaves anyway. And there are some which are (relatively) shade tolerant e.g. "Shady Lady". I couldn't get that in a shop, so I warned my partner that I will have to "look for a shady lady online"

 

I couldn't resist this Vriesia Davine, one of four different hybrids at our local Spar which often have unusual plants, cheap at £6. I was nearly tempted to buy the other three!

 

It looks a very healthy specimen. Is it an indoor plant?

 

Nothing cheers me up more than plants… New additions to the new garden some wallflowers, scabious, coreopsis, salvia, echinacea and a climbing persica rose.

 

I have just ordered a water lily "James Brydon", from a site called "Puddleplants" that gets good reviews. Most online shops for aquatic plants don't.

I was originally going to go for a Shady Lady, but I found that James is even shadier.

This photo was found online.