General Gardening Discussion

Update:Almost there, looks like I got lucky this time!

It's a good doer @Howard Stone. Mine is just starting to flower, which is very early, but we're experiencing the driest, hottest spring on record here, so many plants are further ahead than usual. It may well normally flower around now further south though. I had 3 in matching pots for a while,...

I make elderberry champagne, cordial and wine. I have noticed the flowers smell quite sweet, it is the foliage that "stinks". Really unpleasant. Whenever I gather the flowers I always see lots of tiny zzzy things on them as well as bees etc.

Will do @Howard Stone .

That sounds interesting!

I got a Baptisia ausralis no expert on them though , I'd be tempted to plant straight out they are immune to slugs when mature which make them a excellent alternative to lupins , no harm potting it on if the conditions aren't right yet .I have successfully moved it even though you're not...

I have noticed Cosmos rooting from stems that had fallen over before but thought that as annuals they would not grow from cuttings. However this year the snails ate through the stem of one of my young plants so I popped it in some gritty compost and popped a polybag over it and guess what - it...

Hi @Craigh the Victorians grew named varieties of heliotrope but we seem to have lost them - unless you're lucky and the country house kept theirs going. They are tender perennials, so unless you live somewhere very mild, it will have to be protected over winter (or just take cuttings). If you...

I'd use cider @BB3 Easy to make Herbal Vinegars - Studio Botanica

I’ve just removed mine from their ‘nice’ pots and put them in a big plastic pot behind my Phlox so I can still see the heads and not the tatty foliage. The ‘nice’ pots will receive some strawflowers or sunflowers next month, then the allium bulbs can go back in the Autumn.

See, I always knew I liked you....

Thanks @pete , Blxxdy fxxes

It depends on whether you want to plant them next year for flower display or put them out in a wild part. I was eyeing my tulip remains and have decided to empty the containers and put the bulbs on the compost heap as they never perform well after the first year for me. I am going to replenish...

Just a footnote, always try a small bag etc of the Topsoil you are looking to buy as some can be quiet poor, being little more than sand with some darker coloured muck .A possilbe alternative way to get a larger volume of top soil, would be to have a 1 tonne bag dropped onto your front drive...

I would 'pinch' them;remove the central growing tip. this will stimulate growth of side shoots to provide more bushy plants which will stand up better. Also, if you have space, move half the pots leaving a pot sized gap between them. This will give the plants more light to develop. also a liquid...

I like to follow up on these threads when I've been helped out , and obviously there is a lot of waiting involves with gardening, it means opening old threads.Look at the difference following advice made. A great mulch last year, a prune a few months back and a fish blood and bone feed. And...

Thank you @Selleri I think maybe taking cuttings would be best then

This looks a possible match -I'm not overly concerned what the exact variety is, but I've seen it flowering in Spring for several years and always wondered what it was. Nothing like the usual hawthorn leaves, but identical flowers

The tiny amount of washing up liquid needed - literally just 3-4 drops in 10L will dilute any harsh chemicals. I use shower gel on the very rare occasions I've needed a wetting agent - it contains fewer harsh chemicals - but you still only need a miniscule amount. Don't use a shower gel that...

I've been growing them for years. The size and colour can be very variable. Year 1 I've had them get to between about 1ft and 2ft By year 4 they're about 4-5ftMost colours are vibrant and tropical but some will just be a creamy white. Most are single flowered but some doubles appear too.