General Gardening Discussion

Lonicera fragrans. Winter flowering honeysuckle. Non climbing shrub, not evergreen, flowers Dec/ March depending on location. Corylopsis spicata. Witchazel. Sarcocca.

Is this reliably perennial? Not something I have ever grown, but neighbour has a lovely specimen so I wondered if it was worth giving the plant a try.

I looked up S. nigra aurea because I didn't think it should have red berries, it should just be a gold version of our native elder, so a purple black berry? However looking online it's got me more confused as half the pictures again look like they show two species. The nigra aurea should have...

It always depends on the area where we live, but being here in the south, I would always cut the lavender after winter to protect the wood.

Our cat used to eat the lawn - possibly certain weeds in it. Recently the neighbour's small dog does the same on our lawn, but I don't know much about dogs. Mind you our cat liked to chew my hair and tinsel too.

I think, but photo is not very clear, that the plants at the front of the bed may be first/second year hebe. It may be difficult to prune these as 'ground cover'; rather more likely to become a hedge 500mm or more tall.

Thank you - the summer series looks very useful. I don't want the dwarf Inca type ones, as they need containers and a bit of protection. These appear to be hardier and mostly about .7 m. Though I do wonder what that red one I had was called - it was about 1m and robust.

It kind of looks like its going into autumn leaf fall early.Has it been fed and watered well all summer.

If those pictures are recent then you have nothing to do differently. Some might plant less plants in the space and feed them more, but thats a personal decision. If you have suitable space, then it might be worth taking cuttings to overwinter although not cost-effective if extra heat is...

I'll take a look. Thank you.

I find the quickest way to get them incorporated into the soil is to leave the worms to it. They drag the down where they will add some benefit. The rest get put aside for leaf mould but I don't use an open heap because they seem to attract weed seeds and it's far less of a problem if you sack...

I've always had to overwinter rosemary undercover as it can't cope here well enough, but the way things are changing, climate wise, that might become easier in future. The more upright varieties might be ok in the OP's site and location. I think the site will need some good prep, regardless of...

My messy, scrappy Henryi was a lovely one up my tall birdfeeder. Planted as an afterthought on the gravel in the drainage sump hole I dug, it quickly found it's roots into the heavy clay soil under the lawn and climbed the pole in the first summer.Much loved by the bees and birds, sparrows in...

The stranded wire all reads as being strong but I'm wondering what guage to go for. I think I might opt for 1/16 (1.6mm ish) and see if it feels strong enough. I might also cheap out a bit and go for simple crimps over the gripples!

@TomatoLover91 As you neglect to put your approximate location in your profile, its difficult to answer your query. You say 'no covers' ;that limits your scope considerably ; as even established transplants will need protection from pigeons , and butterflies which have appeared in the last few...

They don't need as much food as you've been giving it, even in a container. The important thing is the content and structure of the soil mix, and if you add more organic matter over winter into spring, that should help, but some of the composts are poor, and either don't retain moisture well or...

Ah yes, put your keys in the fruit bowl and draw lots......... I got a Mk2 cortina!

Any Photos would help.How high and wide is it now?Whose hedge is it?...... May seem a stupid question but accepting that a neighbour says that a boundary structure whatever it maybe belongs to them, and you can't touch it may be incorrect.As a very general rule, standing at the back door...

I think with conventional practice for angled cuts are on plants with thicker stems and larger buds. The idea being that you angle the cut so that any water drains away from the bud to prevent rotting. If you are cutting a thin branch such as the ones I showed in the second picture, I don't...