What Fertiliser?

Hi all, not been in here since last summer - bad me. I had yet another pretty poor year, with many bought plants lasting a few weeks and then vanishing forever. I dug in a few bags of manure in spring and i think that did make a difference, the established plants were bigger and better. What can i do to stop everything I buy and plant dying off on me? I get bigger plants and they aren't cheap. Also the manure was expensive too if I got a lot of it. Everything has to come from Amazon in wee bags, as we arent fit enough to lift heavy stuff.

 

What climate and temperatures do you have where you are fumanchu? What type of plants do you want to grow, shrubs, annuals etc?

Amazon is not cheap to buy from, have you got a local nursery or garden centre that will deliver to you and place them where you want them. From there you can split the packs and take what you need in a bucket a little at a time.

Manure can be obtained from most local stables and often free if you collect it yourself. But an alternative would be to buy compost and dig that in along with chicken manure pellets which are a good substitute. I can't lift heavy items now and have had to adapt, so the above is what works for me.

 

No garden centres, I live a bit remote. I did see chicken manure pellets on Amazon and Ebay but wasn't sure if that was any good.
I'm at 1000ft between hills and a moor, my front garden is on a slope and faces south. I'm trying for a cottage-gardeny type of look. It works well in Spring as I have loads of Aquilegia of all colours and its nice - but once they are finished then all I have are buddleia & lupins! Even some buddleia I put in last year have vanished. It's so discouraging :(
I will try a mix of compost and chicken pellets then Sheal, ty.

 

Maybe its not the lack of food thats killing the flowers but night time visitors..deer and rabbits ?
If its just a lack of food maybe try some miracle grow in watering cans as its easier and cheaper than amazon manure.
Is your garden sheltered from the winds ? Your high up and if its exposed everything will be getting dried out in the summer and wind childed in the autumn. If so a bit of netting or some native bushes planted up may give enough shelter from the winds to enable the soft stuff to grow ?

 

It is windy and cold yes - and right now its a north wind that cuts right through the warmest coat. I'm probably trying to grow the wrong things in the wrong place because every year its the same and it really gets me down. I have to moan in here because if I moan at the hubby he says I TOLD YOU TO GRASS IT ALL - and that would be dead boring. I might need to stop just buying what I like and start buying what will grow... maybe I need a list of suitable plants for Siberia

 

The only trees I can suggest are probably pines and possibly Sorbus (Mountain Ash) but I'm not sure the latter will cope with the wind.

I have a windy coastal garden and I'm gradually turning my garden over to herbaceous perennials. Yes, the garden looks bare in the winter but because these plants become dormant they survive for the following summer season.

Rugosa roses are hardy and are good as stand alone shrubs or hedging, they will put up suckers though as a species plant but easily mowed off if in the lawn.

I'll have to do a bit more research to see what I can come up with.

 

I havent really got room for proper full blown trees. I have got a bit of rugosa that took a while to get settled but is ok now. Am thinking of a hedge though, between us and next door. That is to the west side so would stop the wind a good bit. Currently it's open plan as we get on with next door. (It's a row of 6 cottages)

 

Griselinia is probably the hardiest plant for hedging but it does grow quickly so will need regular pruning. I have Escallonia which stands up to the wind but likes a well drained soil. It tends to start dropping it's leaves if there's long periods of rain. Both of these are evergreen.

 

Last couple of years it seems like it has never stopped raining sheal ! I'll go and google these, thanks. We've def decided on a hedge now. Plus chicken manure and more suitable plants.
Love this forum!!!

 

A hedge is a good idea it will give your garden and plants screening. When a young hedge is planted in adverse conditions it's a good idea to give it some screening until it's established. Something like fine netting would be enough, just to create a temporary wind break.

Both of these nurseries may be helpful. It is probably worth contacting them via email and explaining your situation.

http://www.plantswithaltitude.co.uk/pg/catalogue.htm

http://www.botanyplants.co.uk/plants/

I have found a couple of lists of plants in one of my gardening books that may be useful, I'll get back to you later with that.

 

Oh that place in Cumbria looks highly promising - will take a good look at that one now, thanks!

 

I've picked out these two lists of plants because they will be more suited to your climate, I can't guarantee them though so perhaps it's worth checking out the individual plants on the internet.



I've had a read through this list below and I was surprised to see Acer and Sambucus there. I would omit those as they are not wind hardy. They don't survive in my windy garden and that's almost at sea level.

 

Thanks so much for this! My neighbour likes Sambucus but they keep dying on her. Will work on this list now, TY

 

Some really pretty plants in that list, I will def have some of them

 

You could try Geraniums (not Pelargoniums) and I discovered Knautia 'Macedonica' a couple of years ago, both of these are herbaceous perennials. The Knautia I grew from seed. It has an open, sprawling habit and bees love it.

Geranium


Knautia 'Macedonica'