Anyone know CPR? :(

I am so ashamed.
Since i got ill i've been incredibly lazy, and totally neglected my plants. Thankfully the rain has been regular enough to keep things drinking, but i feel so bad.

2 months ago my garden was gorgeous. And now its gone horrible. :(

Can you help me decide what to do next? I so badly want to look after it now and make the most of it during the winter. I'm now able to move small amounts, but i'll mostly be setting up camp next to the french windows looking onto my little garden while i'm ill, and i want to treasure it.

Heres some photos of the disaster area. Can anyone identify plants i dont know and was randomly given by my mother in law? One of them was full of beautiful busy lizzies, and the other sprung me lovely lilac flowers.

How can i keep my pansies happy, what do i do with my dahlia and what can be dome with everything else? What can i be doing to prepare for the next few months! Give me instructions! Anything i should be planting nowish for the next few months?
Please excuse random litter in the garden. Our high wall is right against a path and some people throw litter over, its disgusting and very disheartening.

 

Hello Whiley. So sorry you have been so ill and wish you a speedy and full recovery.
The pot on the right hand side in the first 2 pics looks like a pelargonium, also the plant in pic 3 looks like an ivy leaf pelargonium. Neither of these plants are hardy and will need to be placed in a frost-free place during the winter, keeping them fairly dry.
Not sure what to do with the Pansies in pic 4 as I don't grow them, but as a guess they probably need a haircut.
Looks like a Chrysanthemum in pic 5, it may also need taking in for the winter.
Pic 6 is difficult to make out, but I can see what looks like an euonymus that looks OK.
Hope this helps, maybe others can come up with more info for you.
Aren't some people nasty, throwing rubbish into the garden they need a good

 

im not into flowers,but i just wish i could help.perhaps there are members within your area that could help you,i just hope so

 

Okie dokie, i'll bring those inside tomorrow and make them a little [animal access denied] area.
Thank you so much for your help, hopefully people can help me aid their recovery.

Am i right in thinking something shouuld be done to the dahlia over winter?

 

Hi Whiley

 

Whiley - the pansies from the look of them are prolly summer ones. Nip all the dead heads off, and they should go on for a bit longer. A trim back would help on some - but better idea perhaps get someone to get you some winter flowering pansies and primulars for winter colour.

Its a bit late to plant bulbs in containers for spring except for tulips - but if you plant a container with winter flowering pansies, you can underplant with tulips, so as one finishes, the other is coming through.

 

Hello Wiseowl, Roders and Fran.

Thank you for your input! I do really appriciate it! Will see if i can blag a lift some where to pick some bits up. I thought i might be late but i'd hate to go through spring with nothing!

Just thought, the pansies are imposters, they are violas. Though i dont think that would make much difference!

Any further input regarding poor dahlia would be wonderful! Thank you all!

And thank you for your kind comments regarding my health. Unfortunately its nothing that can be solved in any short period, but i'm sure i'll get there eventually!

 

Hi Whiley!

Regarding the dahlia(s).

Assuming it's the tuberous type, lift it out of the container, cut back the top to about 3" from the tubers, gently remove as much soil as you can then give a light dusting with flowers of sulphur (not essentail but it does help prevent rotting during storage). Store the tubers upside down in dry straw or wood shavings in a cardboard box then place in a cool airy frost free place until spring. Replant when the eyes start to swell. If there are a lot of good tubers with eyes on you can also divide them up before replanting.

If there is absolutely no danger of the pots getting frosted you can leave them but it's always risky. If the tubers get frozen they will just turn into a rotten soggy pulp.

Annual fiberous root dahlias are normally grown from seed each year and I don't know if it's possible to over winter them.

Edit: Check the tubers from time to time to make sure there is no fungus, if so remove any rotten bits and dust with sulphur. Also keep an eye out for mice. Straw/wood shavings make for a nice wee nest and larder :D

[ 17. November 2006, 11:06 AM: Message edited by: frogesque ]