NEW Gardeners !

ok. thank you

Saturday it is.. excited now

Aww love that

Thankyou I will certainly go look for that book now

You sound quite an expert already

Thanks Pete. I'll follow your advice.

Hi Jordan welcome, I'm new here too but loving the advice. Look forward to seeing plants grow

Hi.. thanks for the reply.Hes managed to nibble id say the front half.. but as in the pics there is a fair bit left.I guess its just a case of seeing what happens.. could scream as its such a lovely tree.Lets hope nature sorts it.

Great, thanks for the info

Some photos would be good. This doesn't sound like a one year fix to me, sort the fencing out by all means. Not quite understanding the part about culvert, drainage ditches?I'd remove all ivy by hand from around each tree to a circle of at least a couple if feet from the trunks. Don't...

I grow shallot Zebrune (same as pete above) - a packet of seed is a couple of quid which last me 2 or 3 years - growing around 50 plants/year. Sow in Jan/Feb in seed trays and aim to be hardening off and planting outside in March / April depending on weather conditions. Harvested in Sept and...

Yes I looked it up too I'll be over the moon if it looks as pretty as those images . Yeah the pot has drainage holes but I added some pebbles to the bottom before I potted it. I haven't watered it much either (mainly through forgetfulness) but it doesn't seem to mind, coming from the North...

I use broken up polystyrene in the bottom of planters and big pots to aid drainage and in order to aid water retention in summer I mix in water retention granules with the compost.

The B&Q 125l bag of multipurpose compost is extremely heavy.G.

Yeah - that looks effective but I lose the view of the wood which I'd prefer to keep: I'd make everything from wood if I could...love the textures and natural feel it brings, specially in a garden. (Hence the new green house which a mate, tongue in cheek, called L'Orangerie the other day... I...

I'm the proud owner of a deep fat fryer, so I buy those 5 litre containers of sunflower oil to fill it up.

Ok, thanks for that. With a bit of luck they will be nothing to do with the tree.

Thanks very much, I will take that advice.

One Prunus lusitanica about two meters tall to start. Evergreen. Keep trimmed especially on neighbour's side so it does not invade. I had one in Buckinghamshire. Never seen one here in Portugal. Perhaps something climbing would be better to keep contained?

I wouldn't plant conifers within 40ft of any building or mains services Michael. Their roots are shallow and will spread over that distance, possibly damaging foundations and pipework in search of water. They will also sap the soil of water and nutrients making it difficult to grow other plants....