General Gardening Discussion

Thanks Pete, will ask next Spring

Forsythia flowers on the wood it grew this Summer, so one tends to prune it after flowering to make room for the new growths. However, if the bush is overgrown flowering would be reduced anyway, so pruning now would not be a problem. Aim to remove about a third of the oldest branches. That way...

Tragedy! Finally got around to using this tater only to find it has a big cavity in the middle! It was clean and dry and a little bit powdery looking so I didn't use it. Any suggestions what it was and could I have eaten it anyway?I'm so disappointed!

Thanks Fran - enjoying Phil Harris BTW? (nudge, nudge, wink, wink!) [ 31. October 2005, 11:54 PM: Message edited by: michaelmasdaisy ]

Welcome to GC, Norman - nice to have you on board!

Many thanks for your suggestions. Will look into them, esp the Rowan and whitebeam and the crab apple ... and the corkscrew hazel also. Sounds interesting. The laburnaum not, both because it is poisonous and because it is golden (over the years I have discovered that the best thing for stress...

Thank you for speedy reply I will have to wait until march gabrial

Well done woodsy...!!!! :D If all our answers gave you the confidence to go out there, take advice on height etc & buy what you liked & plant it, then good one mate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All any of us want to do, is help, & encourage each other. It is great to hear that it worked for you.....

beautiful tulips - gonna look smashing in the spring. Suggestion, with the excess, why not plant and overplant with others- primulars, ericas and winter flowering pansies to give you winter colour.Sadly the only excess I have at this time of year, is lavender (hidcot) and some gathered seed.

Hi Elainefiz, I had the same problem. I moved two large rhododendrons out of half barrels and they are giving me as good a show each year as the two I still have in barrels. I dug a big hole and filled it with ericacous compost, dropped the whole rootball in level with surface and filled it up...

Thank's Pete, will do in the spring.

I'm a bit late finding this thread but if you haven't already tried then I found fibrous rooted begonias, buisy lizzy, cyclamen and blackeyed Susan did fantastic on the windowsill and Saintpaulia - "African Violet" and varigated ivy did fine in the less well lit areas of the office. Spider...

I found one in Wyevale for 50p. It was past it's best so I broke up the rootball and retrieved loads of round tubers which I repotted in a very gritty mix. Unfortunately when I was away my wife gave it a very thorough watering, and as I had covered the surface with clay balls I didn't notice...

Hi Charley, Try your yellow pages for tree sugeons or arboricultural services. They are usually friendly helpfull & usually give free etimates. [ 27. October 2005, 09:11 PM: Message edited by: Marley Farley ]

Tis indeed, much better than an exercise machine - and all that fresh air too :D [ 27. October 2005, 08:08 PM: Message edited by: Fran ]

They really are beautiful! I especially like the last one.

I just looked at my prepared hyacinth bulbs which are in bowls in a dark cupboard and was pleased to see they are starting to shoot. A sure sign that Christmas is just around the corner. I must get to the shops...

Sallyann, thanks for the reassuring message. The fourth-floor terrace certainly can't compete with a welsh mountain-top! I've just put some vermivulite over the top of the soil to help keep it warm and will leave it alone for now - it's still flowering away!

may be lack of acidity

You're welcome Smiler - sorry for the late reply - I've only just checked in