Gardening: Hints and Help!

I haven’t found a decent peat free compost to be honest.  First time ever, I bought some enriched topsoil this week. It’s for a big herb tub, mixed with some compost. I had been hoping to use some of our own compost, but found bindweed in it (from next door🙄), so that idea was ditched. 

Posted on garden snaps when I meant to here!

Back to peat free Compost. Used in this recent local fb bargain purchase.

One on the left is the one I described earlier as looking like dead blackbird feathers. The expensive Dobbies without John Innes. On the right Aldis own.

Both watered by Saturdays heavy rain, yet there's a dry area in the expensive side.....

Re Compost found this 50L bag of Miracle Grow  today 40/70% peat . Used it and found it v good .

Should have included , from Home Bargains store , priced at £4.99 for 50L

We're now using Bulrush Professional which has 50% peat and is chopped up much more finely than the previous Levingtons peat free. A pity the peat free stuff isn't more refined will give it another go next year but we also found the surface dried out very quickly which wasn't much use for water hungry seedlings.

Had some success with acorns planted in the Autumn. 

Posting before I forget! I know you're away as well.

Gardeners world tonight, still on, 12/5. 

I think I caught it right, in 1st 15 mins, Australia rosemary.  Can be used as a substitute Box.

Hoe it's right and helpful. I'll try to rematch later as I liked the look of it anyway.

Also later on a minature rhododendron mentioned as substitute for box

Just seen this Bakers, and thanks, will take a look👍 I am sat here this morning, wondering what ravages our resident squirrels will be doing to the garden, and wondering if the slugs have got to my greenhouse treasures🤣

Takethedogalong just watching Beechgrove BBC2 1930 Friday 19 May, trials of box subsitutes about 15 minutes in. Nothing appeared to be as good as box 😢

Thanks Bakers👍

Everything in the greenhouse has survived thankfully. Pleased as I thought I would be home for a night mid way through last weeks holiday, but I did leave most things in reservoirs, enough to keep them going. OH cut the grass yesterday so that transformed garden instantly. Lots of weeds coming up, but I shall tackle each bed as I can. Lots more colour out now, Broom shrubs are in full flower and doing well, and some roses are out. Just at Mum’s, have taken some Nasturtiums up to put in containers.

I planted some seeds before going away, can’t remember if they are Pumpkins or Gourds🤔 Only this year’s bit of fun, but we shall see what comes up. The cheap Dahlias I got are doing very well, they will be good space fillers. Doing Lilies in a pot as well as in ground, they are doing smashing as well👍