Gardening: Hints and Help!

Takethedogalong replied on 22/02/2015 10:58

Takethedogalong

Posted on 22/02/2015 10:58

Gardening is probably my favourite hobby, and at this time of year, I love to have a good look around my own garden and decide what needs doing, does everything thrive where it is planted, and do I have space for anything else to change the look of the garden a little bit!

With this is mind, I wondered if like minded enthusiasts are interested in sharing good ideas, suggesting help or remedies for problems and just generally "chatting gardens and gardening"?

As an opening suggestion, there may be a few out there that share my love of a tiny but utterly lovely little flower, Convallaria Majaris, beloved of Spring Brides and flower arrangers, better known as deliciously scented "Lily of the Valley". Usually gorgeous in white, but you can actually find it, with a bit of searching, in shades of pale to quite bright pink! It is called CM var "Rosea", and smells just as lovely.

Anyone else got ideas to share?

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471 replies

brue replied on 25/03/2020 21:07

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brue

Motorhomer

Posted on 25/03/2020 21:07

Thanks for the link TDA, I intended to join up for the survey last year but will definitely join this year. Seeing lots of butterflies already.

This is a bit of a mouthful but amongst other things today I sowed a narrow border along part of our veg patch with this Phacella Tanacetifolia. I got the idea from NT Barrington Court last year. They sow it in their walled veg garden, it's a actually a green manure but has lots of mauve flowers that attract insects and looks good as an edging flower. The seeds I used came from Johnsons (another place to look on line.) I presume it can be dug in at the end of the season. 🌺🌺

Takethedogalong replied on 25/03/2020 21:11

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Takethedogalong

Posted on 25/03/2020 21:11

Going to look that up, thanks brue. We want to visit Barrington Court again soon, beautiful gardens.

brue replied on 25/03/2020 21:13

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brue

Motorhomer

Posted on 25/03/2020 21:13

Strange to think no-one will be walking round them for the foreseeable future.

Takethedogalong replied on 25/03/2020 21:20

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Takethedogalong

Posted on 25/03/2020 21:20

Yes. Park staff were out cutting grass today in our local park, in fact I said hello to one I know quite well (at a distance). He was mowing bowling greens, they definitely aren’t in use. But it is a lovely park, some great ornamental beds and lovely specimen trees. Magnificent Magnolia in full bloom at the moment. I don’t think our Stellata is very well, ought to be flowering now, but it’s hardly showing buds😢

Freddy55 replied on 25/03/2020 21:20

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Freddy55

Caravanner from Bath&NthEstSomerset

Posted on 25/03/2020 20:43 by Takethedogalong

Another good day here, very warm, in sheltered spot hit 23c! Next door neighbour sat out sunbathing, in a bikini top!

Not for me.......project pond had to be slightly altered. We had planned to carefully lift the frogspawn, but.....it’s now tiny tadpoles🐸 So, we just put the solar fountain in instead. Works a treat, my birthday present.

More edging of a pathway, some more tubers potted, get an early start, couple of small pot bound trees repotted, a pitcher plant sorted out (just seen weather forecast, that will have to go back into greenhouse 🙄).

I had a great result from our local nursery. Pay over phone, they drop off, so got some compost, and they are doing veg, fruit, eggs and milk! Made sure neighbours aware.

Finally, I was given a Membership to Butterfly Society for my birthday, and they are running a Garden Survey. We are already getting butterflies visiting, so I signed up today. Anyone else interested, details are here: https://www.gardenbutterflysurvey.org/?utm_source=Dotmailer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=11411139_Update%20to%20members%20and%20supporters%20-%2018%2F03%2F20&utm_content=GBS&dm_i=DGT,6SKW3,1G5E07,R6QJG,1

Posted on 25/03/2020 21:20

“Finally, I was given a Membership to Butterfly Society for my birthday, and they are running a Garden Survey. We are already getting butterflies visiting, so I signed up today. Anyone else interested”

The only butterflies I’m interested in, are the cabbage white, and keepin’ them out!

Freddy55 replied on 25/03/2020 21:30

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Freddy55

Caravanner from Bath&NthEstSomerset

Posted on 24/03/2020 22:00 by Bakers2

Not pellets 😱😱😱

Posted on 25/03/2020 21:30

Used sensibly, there shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll use them in my raised beds, with netting over.

ABM replied on 26/03/2020 16:07

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ABM

Motorhomer

Posted on 26/03/2020 16:07

Sorry, Freddy but if the slugs eat the pellets and get poisoned, they can leave the netted area before they die and get eaten by whatever fancies a slug repast just the same. the only Good and Safe pellet is an unused one I fear

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brue replied on 26/03/2020 16:26

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brue

Motorhomer

Posted on 26/03/2020 16:26

This is helpful from the RSPB as there are "safe" pellets around. LINK

Or you could go out at night with a torch, listen for the sound of munching and go into battle!

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Freddy55 replied on 27/03/2020 19:16

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Freddy55

Caravanner from Bath&NthEstSomerset

Posted on 26/03/2020 16:07 by ABM

Sorry, Freddy but if the slugs eat the pellets and get poisoned, they can leave the netted area before they die and get eaten by whatever fancies a slug repast just the same. the only Good and Safe pellet is an unused one I fear

Posted on 27/03/2020 19:16

“slugs eat the pellets and get poisoned,”

Not quite sure the current pellets actually work that way? Anyway, I’ll look into it 👍

Sowed some beetroot and spring onions into modules today, in hopeful anticipation of the timber turning up, which I’m assured it will. Yesterday I sowed the broad beans (32), into root trainers. Sweet Peas are up

replied on 27/03/2020 20:19

Posted on 27/03/2020 20:19

Put a saucer of beer in the planted area. The slugs will drown, but in a happy state of drunkeness [ some even get out to empty their bladders, half way through before climbing back in again...].