5 tips for begginers

Discussion in 'NEW Gardeners !' started by FlourishAnn, May 16, 2018.

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  1. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    Good idea. :dbgrtmb:

    Mrs Shiney usually has an even cheaper way. When she sees a nice plant in a garden she doesn't just admire it and walk by. She knocks on their door and asks for cuttings (or seeds in the Autumn/winter) - with almost 100% success. :) She always has plastic bags in her pocket. :blue thumb:
     
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    • longk

      longk Total Gardener

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      Sadly I don't see too many Dietes bicolor as I wander around (five years from seed and the first flower stems are finally emerging :yay:)

      Another top tip - keep your eyes open for village plant sales. It's surprising what can be found for a few pennies................
      [​IMG]Saxifraga stolonifera by longk48, on Flickr
       
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      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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        Blimey, someone want Melianthus major, thought I was the only one still growing it.
        I can dig up some roots and bring them along to Shiney's if you want John.
        Its pretty much a weed once established, only flowers in mild years, with me, but once killed to the ground regenerates to get to 4 or 5 ft easily.
         
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        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          Thanks but no thanks pete, I am happy now with M. minor
           
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          • silu

            silu gardening easy...hmmm

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            Patience is a definite requirement which I am somewhat lacking in. Hands up who hasn't had a rootle about to see if a cutting has rooted or seeds are about to sprout only to wreck what was about to emerge:rolleyespink:?. Use labels. I constantly think I'll remember what I have sown/planted and therefore think no need to use a label....wrong, this could be of course be caused by the onset of the age related (usually) condition beginning with A!
             
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            • JWK

              JWK Gardener Staff Member

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              Will have a look at yours this weekend, must have seen it when we went to Maderia but cannot recall.
               
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              • shiney

                shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                Please sir! Me sir! :blue thumb: I leave all that to the boss. :heehee:

                Boss - again! :snorky: Although she uses lots of them (buys them by the thousand), but the ones in the garden are moved around by the birds. :doh:
                 
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                • shiney

                  shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                  I don't remember ever seeing them on Madeira. I've seen them on big estates and NT properties where they just let them grow. We didn't cut ours back for a few years, once it had established well, but cut it right back in the Autumn.

                  This is it, between the bamboo and the Cistus.
                  P1330279.JPG

                  The Cistus died last year :cry3: and we replaced it with another Cistus from the bottom of the garden. That has also been dying off and we've cut it right back but I'm not sure it will survive. Mrs Shiney has cuttings on the go.

                  This was the Cistus
                  P1330645.JPG

                  We lost a lot of plants last year :dunno:
                   
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                  • Snorky85

                    Snorky85 Total Gardener

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                    My Viz Top tip....i mean gardening top tip....buy old school tools, theyre so much better than the new ones and have been built to last. :)
                     
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                    • shiney

                      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                      Just like old gardeners :old: :snorky:
                       
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                      • Gail_68

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                        longk your sister is the same as myself but I only cut certain plants back...I was mainly on about leaves in the autumn as they start early here :phew:
                         
                      • Gardener Doug

                        Gardener Doug Apprentice Gardener

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                        Thanks, all very informative!
                         
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                        • Gail_68

                          Gail_68 Guest

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                          If you need any help with anything just add a discussion and members find pictures very useful in helping you :)
                           
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                          • Mike Allen

                            Mike Allen Total Gardener

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                            What a great thread this is, chatty, friendly, informative etc etc. Perhaps I've said this befor but. Gardening is like another world. Without realising it, you enter the university of the natural world. You learn about soil structure, botany and practically life itself.

                            What type of soil do you have? Really, does it matter that much? Perhaps a century or more ago but not so much now. I think, 'climate' might be a problem to most. Soil, what to plant! So you like acid lovers. Ooops my soil is very chalky. So out you go and buy a load of ericacious compost...plant away.

                            Do I sow or do I plant? OK I have my hard hat on. You sow seeds. You plant, plants, bulbs, trees & shrubs.

                            Do we read the instructions? Tic toc, tic toc...time for thought. NO. Scenario. In the greehouse, seed trays filled with whatever, now the packets of seeds. Here we go, sprinkling the seed and gently covering. Have we noted the type of seed. Is it an annual, a perennial or a biennial or perhaps a half-hardy annual. Are we aware that some seed will germinate more-or-less over night, mustard & cress for instance. Other seeds may take a year or two to germinate. Hey! this might be the reason that suddenly two or three years after chucking the tray out, we find strange plants growing in the garden. Sorry folks but I could go on for ever. Please continue to enjoy your gardening. I have to ask this. Why have you got a bigger garden than me............Mike is off to sulk....it's not fair. Take care and stay safe.
                             
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                            • Gardener Doug

                              Gardener Doug Apprentice Gardener

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                              Thanks, have already!

                              I used to be quite into Butterflies and Moths, but never really learned what the foodplants were or anything. Even now, I wouldn’t know what, say, a Birdsfoot Trefoil was if I was hit in the face with it! :oopss:

                              Ah, so that is what Ericacious means!! :new:


                              I doubt I do!:lunapic 130165696578242 5:
                               
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                                Last edited: Jun 2, 2018
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