Recent Posts

So much depends on your situation and what you are prepared to accept in a garden. Ivy is certainly an excellent addition for the reasons mentioned above but it can prove a total PITA for some. If you use a weedkiller on the leaves, it sometimes helps to scratch/scrape the leaves before...

Until a couple of years ago I used to be able to buy Palestinian olive oil from (I think) Waitrose. Then the supply literally dried up and it was “no longer in stock”.On this year's olive harvest: when precious olives fall unpicked - Zaytoun

It didn't strike me that way at all. Just someone asking for advice, concerned about doing the wrong thing for their plants. In my book that is being sensitive to a plant's needs.

I always used a pressure cooker for meals when the kids lived at home. It became redundant when there was just OH and me but I used to love it. Also, having been used to cooking with/on an electric cooker and now we have a gas hob, I would not know how to gage a pressure cooker as I don’t like...

@Silver surfer may be able to help ?

Phormiums can suffer in cold, wet winters, especially if you have clay soil. I thought of Yucca as an alternative too. They have an upright, less arching habit so might suit you better.

Don't worry @potted - I won't tell you how many mistakes I've made - but the pile of labels from plants I no longer have would give you the idea! You just have to pot up what you've bought in good sized pots (or the hanging baskets for the begonia and petunia) and look after them. The wisteria...

A bit earlier this year I'm thinking lots of things are, its been chilly but frosts have been rare or very light since mid January.

Yes it is. When we 're working in our veg plot we have to rescue worms before the chooks get them. Not always succesful.If you add Ile de France to your profile, people will be better able to tailor advice - climate and soil make a huge difference to what grows well.

Do you have any other materials around the garden, can see a few stones in the background. Dry stone wall should be straight forward to do and will last.

Hi @BOSullivan, Thevictorian is right, a fork job should be doable. Replace the soil with good compost perhaps mixed with some fertilising stuff such as Blood, Fish and bone, rotted manure or granular feed, water well and the Nandina should be just fine. If the Pyracantha is healthy, you...

Thanks regarding the dog violets as well, I have loads of them in the back garden. They seem to really love it there in the shady places and also edges of the lawn