Other Plants

I have a good few Calatheas and they have you pulling your hair out. Some of mine are thriving, some just won't to give me a break no matter what I do.It's simple for me now with Calatheas. If they don't play ball they go in the compost bin, and I'll try another variety.They're all jungle...

Not something I've ever done, or wanted to do, for placing a pot there - only for a path, but I would always remove the turf before putting a slab down. Apart from the appearance, it's easier to get it level. You can push a few bits of stone/wood etc to get it right if you don't want to mortar ...

OK thanks Pete.

@Obelix-Vendée Thanks so much. I will definitely take a close look at the structure when it's lost its leaves and see if that's feasible. I'm just a bit worried that there's no way to unwrap the thick hardened trunk from around the pergola - in which case it would be a lot of butchery to get it...

I'm not surprised @On the Levels - they're so pricey! I'm just debating what mix to put in the raised bed. It's 80cm tall (ish) and so I plan to put a lot of old stones in the bottom to improve drainage. However there are different views on the compost. Some say peat, leafmould and loam with...

I found that to be a problem with jiffy pots if I didn't remove the mesh before planting out. I have often grown on newly purchased plants, where ever from, in a larger pot in a mix of garden soil and potting compost until I see them growing away and roots popping out the drainage holes.

I've tried and failed propagating this using cuttings and layering. I'd be very interested if it works using a really gritty mix. I have managed to split big clumps into smaller chunks and found that works provided you take chunks with plenty of roots.I like them but they are slug magnets...

Thank you both for the advice, an inspection and cut back is now on my to do list. Thank you

@Songbird me too!

If it's a Group 2 and gets cut back in spring, it'll behave like Group 3 though. Group 2s usually don't get pruned, other than a light trim after the initial flowering to encourage a later, 2nd flush, or a cut back when they outgrow a space too much.Location and conditions also dictate...

Apologies @Fof - I managed to miss that bit of your post somehow! I'll blame it on my fried brain - or what's left of it

On inspection looks like a bug - will treat it as if Mealybugs. Thanks

Crocosmias self seed happily with me if I don't deadhead them and they are very variable in flower colour, size, vigour and foliage.

I want to buy a Cotinus Royal Purple, does it need a full 6 hours of Sun or will it be ok in a partial shady corner - though if I buy a taller standard it will get more Sun anyway ? Looking for advice on this please as would hate to plant it in the wrong place.

They are in almost full shade under the red standard Hibiscus behind the Gardenia ... They get no direct sun.I have read some of these new breed dwarf doubles can bloom almost all year.

B&Q have got chocolate Cosmos for sale at the moment - not expensive at all! Mind you some of their plants are pretty long and straggly. I considered it but they didn't really call to me.

I have planted these this year for the first time and absolutely love them. Have read you can store the seed after it has gone brown to sow later and also it will flowers more if you deadhead. My problem is not knowing which ones have flowered and waiting to turn brown or which have still to...

I agree - A. sphaerocephalon spreads very readily here, as opposed to most other alliums which can struggle to survive/thrive year on year. It's only in the past couple of years that conditions have suited some of them well enough here to grow. Some will always do better than others, as it...

It so happens that the Sambucus nigra I planted 2 years ago was in replacement of a Portuguese laurel specimen which had grown to become un-manageable. I don't regret taking that action.

+1 for secateurs, cutting at right angles to the leaf. They're tough! When the leaves/stubs are really dead, they yank out easily. Best to get the residues out before cold, wet weather as they can cause rot if left.