General Gardening Discussion

I'm not sure @HarryS I would have thought potash was unlikely mainly because I always associate that with flowering. I've got a couple of small ones in pots and I find they need more water and feed than you would expect to keep growing well. My small one in the ground gets dry in the summer...

Looking close at the lillies. Verdun, yes could be lily beetle but. The foliage appears to be exceptionally clean and damage free except for a very swall nibble close to the base of the defective plant. Lillies are susceptible to an assortment of viruses, not all being drastic, but...

If you're going to dig in chipped bark, Cardinal-Red, then it would be worth adding a source of nitrogen at the same time. The process of decomposition of woody materials depletes the soil of nitrogen. If it's any consolation, I'm a fan of geotextile (anti-weed membrane) and from personal...

Deadheading. How this brings back memories. Back to the garden on Monday. The lord and master and Mrs have been in the garden. Good morning Mike if the lady of the house was speaking. If it was the General etc, then it was Good morning Mr Allen. We had guest over the week end, and thought...

My grasses have only just started

my cosmos seeds are coming up like gang busters. have them in a nice big pot. only been about 5 days. also planted a pot of two types of zinnias seeds--one short and one taller, just mixed the seeds together, also coming up already 5 days. lots of color to be had.

Looking grand Mr Grinch

Smoke bush?

I was fairly fortunate. A large food superstore store I managed at the time was having an extension and therefore a lot of electrical work. Most of the refrigeration was being replaced and a roll of this multi-core cable was just dumped into a skip, so "I recycled it." As I was putting in the...

Posted with the kind permission of the admin team.In a couple of months' time I will be retiring from my job as full time gardener at a large private estate, I've worked there for over 10 years and have thoroughly enjoyed it.The owners are now in the process of looking for my replacement and...

I'll do that Pete, along with my Mares tail and Dandelion collection

I use fertilizer in all of my gardens. Most of mine are raised beds where I grow annuals/vegetables. Since I have low flow irrigation for all of the raised areas and hanging pots, I cheated and incorporated a fertilizer injector to the system and load it with nutrients about every two weeks....

Hi ricky 101, You can buy granules (Hydrangea Colourant) at Wyevale that you mix with water to keep the PH around 4. I feed mine with Ericaceous feed.

Hi,Probably as @pete says, but it might also be partly due to being too dry, we generally have had very little rain over winter.Give it a good watering and feed and perhaps some compost/mulch around its base and see how it goes, this time of year its normally growing fast and putting out...

I think I would want to read-pot so as I could check the root ball.. Vine weevil damage has crossed my mind looking at your pics again.. I think I would report not by much only going up a couple of sizes I think.. While you are repotting it check base of rootball for vine weevil grubs.. They...

I've grown it years ago, but only on the house wall, its one of the more tender Callistemons I think you will find. I dont think it stands much chance of surviving a winter in Peterborough in a pot especially. There are hardier species than splendens, which I have. @strongylodon is pretty...

Just to complete this topic, here are some photo's of the flowers.Thank you very much for all of your input, it is much appreciated.Steve...

Heavy rainfall overnight Verdun thank you!

Thanks @Perki .....yes it does!!! Wow!! Thanks for that , brilliant

Hello GN, it is most likely bacterial canker. Have a look at this link and see if the description fits.Bacterial canker As it's just affecting some branches, using secateurs or loppers dipped in disinfectant, cut them back to healthy growth. If there's the slightest staining of the interior...