Gardening: Hints and Help!

Coo, every day is a learning day Bakers. I had no idea they weren’t a natural UK species, we loved seeing them in the hedgerows in Cornwall. So much so, I bought some a couple of years ago and put them into a shady spot in my garden. They don’t seem to have spread, thankfully, but I shall keep a wary eye open now.

Looks like it’s either dig out the bulbs, which might take a few efforts, or it’s chemicals. 

I have an invasive plant in one of our rockeries, called houttuynia. I bought a small pot, liking it for its multicoloured foliage and rather nice orange smell. It’s supposed to like damp and water, so I put it down by our pond. It did absolutely nothing, a few straggly shoots. Somehow or other, probably replanting a few bulbs, it’s got up into our warm, bone dry rockery, and has gone berserk😡 Every year I dig out as much as I can see, every year I am fighting a losing battle. Short of taking the whole big rockery apart, I am having to live with it. I though last year’s intense heat and drought might have killed a lot of it, but no. I can see shoots waiting to burst forth, again. Visitors often ask what it is, can they have some, but it comes with a garden health warning. It completely takes over around July each year and I take the shears to it.😡

Bitten the bullet, weed killer it is. Good chat in the garden centre, recommends spraying while theres lots of green. A tad warmer and drier before applying, first of several treatments. Also suggested covering the area to stop the light getting to it. Once I've treated it I'll cover it using the bags the bark came in. Waste not want not 😉, I've got enough to do a couple of layers at least 😀

Someone asked for some when I dug it up. Having researched it I texted her to say I thought to much of her as a friend to pass any on! Can't lose newly made friends 😉. She's was very grateful I felt that way. 

Beware ANY plants at bring and buy sales, generally there cos they spread well......

Your plant sounds pretty, but I'll pass thanks 😊 

Old carpets/ rugs are good as well Bakers if you have any. We used a huge old rug on a big patch of our allotment to kill everything off.

Saw an unusual item today, plant related. We were walking the grounds of Wortley Hall, and came across what looked like a huge stone carving of a tree stump. We found an information board close by that explained a bit more. It was actually the fossilised remains of a real tree that had been dug out of a mine. Reckoned to be around 25-30 million years old, back from when the are was a tropical swamp! 😁

Remember we've just moved, too many big jobs, so no decorating or recarpeting yet. But it's lodged in my brain. Interesting to learn about the tree. Similar to the one at Stanhope?

Do you know, we drive through Stanhope nearly every year, but I have never spotted that tree🤣 I had to look it up. On our radar now👍 The one at Wortley wasn’t as tall, but in one piece and you could see where the roots branched out from the bottom of the trunk. I should have taken a photo, will do next time we go.

We had a neighbour, moved last year, who used our right of way (and others nearby) as a dumping ground for his garden waste. Now we have what I thought was wild garlic marching out into the countryside...will now check out which allium family member it is (the plant not the person.) At least you can eat either type and the bees like it. I never use weed killer B2 so sorry to hear you have an invasion ...we will have to dig out any marauders if they appear. Due to another neighbour with a new beehive nearby I'm super cautious about what goes on the garden.

PS will report back later!

Brue I sincerely hope your previous neighbours haven't dumped it. Some people 😱🤐. I'm planning a double attack. I'll apply the weedkiller whilst it's nice and green as soon as it warms up a bit 🤞. As soon as the weedkiller is dry, I'll be watching the area carefully because of our dog and wildlife, then I'll put down plastic or carpet if I can secure some. And leave it like that. 

Last year I dug out lots but made no impression whatsoever and fear I may have inadvertently spread it ...

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I put my wellies on and waded  along the muddy footpath to the bit where they started to grow last year. Lo and behold they are the dreaded variety, just starting to flower! On our neighbours bit just now but advancing our way. One good thing they are totally edible even the bulbs, like spring onions. Free food anyone? 😋 

I have been collecting mushroom containers and coffee cups this last couple of years. A few holes in bottom of each and they make great seed trays, and then colourful planting on pots.

Sorted greenhouse out yesterday, put in some seeds, potted up some small corms and bulbs., all with a thunderous downpour happening outside. Lovely and cosy and warm in greenhouse though.😁 Nice to get some tender plants cleaned up and tidied, split and repotted ready for Summer. Gave some to neighbours as well. Looking forward to Summer now, but still enjoying Spring stuff.

I bought a few more seed packets this morning, I fancy growing some darker coloured flowers this year. I also bought two dark red roses on special offer, 2 for £20. When we visited David Austin this week the roses were £30 each! They were 1p less at the garden centre today...dynamic pricing?!