WHAT JOBS ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2018

Hiya WO....sorry for delay in replying. Just got back

I space plants about 15"....38 cm approx....apart. So 15 plants. Place them first to make sure ends are in place and look right.

If you can add some grit in the planting hole....better still in a trench...so much the better. I never water lavendar except for a light one at planting time

Enjoy your lavendar hedge WO

 

Alana, yep, cutting back cosmos now does recharge their batteries so good call

Also another good call, I think, to accept your veg patch can be better used. A brand new bed to contemplate is pretty exciting. Been there a few times and love the planning stage. Maybe go for plants you really want; maybe consider some amazing plant combinations to give you pleasure over winter and summer. Maybe try for the best planting ever?

 

I agree that Munstead lavender would look wonderful along that pathway Woo, and that it is the pruning that keeps it all so neat. My own lavender hedge out on the campsite is a bit unkempt, with nettles growing in between, because I never seem to have enough hours in the day to keep it manicured, but even so it is supporting loads of happy bees all summer, and doesn`t mind if there is no rain....champion
The main thing to remember with cutting back, is never to cut into the old wood.

 

Hi @wiseowl , what about a border of Dianthus ? A mixture of Pinks would look and smell famtastic along there as well as giving you cut flowers.

 

Back from the beach...... warm. The only sound was the gentle lapping of the surf. Set up for the day.

Helping someone choose a hydrangea or two this morning.....nursery has a surprising range. Might even grab one myself and already have eyed up one little beauty

Hoping to mow lawns later, take more cuttings, pick more produce, continue dead-heading and remove a few weeds

Have a good day folks

 

Well done Mrs Shiney . They all look excellent

Hmmm! Sounds painful Shiney. Touch wood, the bugs dont seem to affect me.....so far

Euonymous scale seems to be esp virulent this year....phytophthora too . Shame when large shrubs have to be removed...like losing old friends !

 

Morning WO....hope you are well and fighting fit

far from me to contradict RHS, but now is absolutely fine too. If you can get the plants. Dont go for plants bigger than 1 litre but half a litre is better. They establish very quickly....soil is warm, moist and we still have several weeks left of good growing weather. Besides, you have something to look at this winter.

If you can only get plugs I would pot on into 9cm pots, overwinter in gh and plant out next spring.

But.....if you are impatient like me you will be keen to plant them now . (Planting out lavendar has to be one of the most enjoyable tasks.....the smell of every plant, on your hands and in the local air is wonderful)

 

Verdun I am very impressed with your lavender hedge. Taking notes

 

These are the lavender plants I bought a couple of months ago. They haven't flowered and I don't think they have even grown any. One of them is not doing very well at all.



I was thinking of planting a lavender hedge along this path. I would take out a 2 ft strip of grass to do it. The square nearest to the house I would leave and place a pot for seasonal colour. The next 6 squares would be where I would locate the hedge. The far end would start the year with spring bulbs. I'm not quite sure what would follow but it's not a problem I need to worry about any time soon.

G.

 

Just transplanting, moving shrubs and plants, dividing hostas to new areas. have a jungle to thin out and rearrange. but the rain keeps coming.

 

Thanks cassie . That lavendar hedge turns at right angles for another 25' . Makes a sensational impact in summer.

Gary, I think the plant not doing very well is over watered. Try to avoid watering too much. I never water lavendar but in those pots they will need a little. Always much better on the dry side. Don't worry about them not flowering....its a good thing. I dont let lavendar flower until the second year; they then produce better, stronger plants. Great idea for lavendar hedge there.....next to a path there is nothing better; it will make a huge difference there. As I said to WO, aim to add some grit to the planting hole or trench.

 

Nice one ..(plus more) Mrs Shiney. I don`t think many of us are really all that surprised at your fantastic success -- your entries shone in the judges eyes too

 

My lavender hedge is also looking good - benefiting from it's post flowering chop.
I've had two good, early hours in the garden weeding, chopping, snipping and checking on my plants.
My hamermelis is looking very sorry or itself with browning leaves. When I planted it, earlier in the year, I followed all the planting instructions and I've religiously kept it watered throughout the drought. I'm not happy because it's a shrub I've wanted for ages. I'm tempted to dig it up and look at the roots to see if something is eating them.