Gardening Advice

orpingtonRED

I had a similar problem last year, gap between a garage and fence was overun with ivy. I used a strong weedkiller that was recommended to me and it worked well. Sprayed the garage wall and the gap at ground level, repeated after a couple of days and after about 2 weeks the ivy was dead and easily removed.

Carter

I hate Ivy, it irritates the shit out of my arms and like @Gribbo has found, it is a bastard to pull off once its stuck there and established. 

I deployed a crack team (wife, friend and mum) with paint scrapers to get the established sucked on bits and it took time but between the 3 of them following me we got it off with minimal damage. This wasn't rendered but it was pulling slabs of brick away with the bigger older bits. I can't imagine how annoying getting that stuff off render would be 

guinnessaddick

Make sure if you’re are cutting ivy to wear a mask, it’s a bastard if you breath in the spores.

orpingtonRED

This is the product I used, but hard to get hold of it seems. Double dosed and sprayed the roots a 3rd time. Ivy hasn't grown back since Sept 2020(I did treat again this summer to make sure)

Gribbo

I can't use anything too strong as far as weeds killers are concerned as the house is only about 3 meter away from the lake

orpingtonRED

Gribbo said:

I can't use anything too strong as far as weeds killers are concerned as the house is only about 3 meter away from the lake

Ah OK,

ME14addick

Ivy makes a wonderful home for wildlife and helps with biodiversity, without harming the thing it grows on.

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/ivy

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/plants/wild-flowers/ivy/

Kips

Carter said:

I hate Ivy, it irritates the shit out of my arms and like @Gribbo has found, it is a bastard to pull off once its stuck there and established. 

I deployed a crack team (wife, friend and mum) with paint scrapers to get the established sucked on bits and it took time but between the 3 of them following me we got it off with minimal damage. This wasn't rendered but it was pulling slabs of brick away with the bigger older bits. I can't imagine how annoying getting that stuff off render would be 

Leave it out Carter, you sound just like Mrs Kips.

SantaClaus

ME14addick said:

Ivy makes a wonderful home for wildlife and helps with biodiversity, without harming the thing it grows on.

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/ivy

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/plants/wild-flowers/ivy/

Except fences.
 

charltonkeston

Agent Orange does a good job at killing most things. Japanese knot weed probably being a survivor. 

Raith_C_Chattonell

Using the old Bexley bins to grow potatoes.

Bournemouth Addick

Anyone been brave enough to put their tender plants out yet?

@jonseventyfive you're a fellow fan of bananas, how did you get on over the winter? I stupidly lost an Abysinnian banana over the winter as I wrapped it too tight, didn't get enough air to it and the bugger rotted.

Sillybilly

We reluctantly but on good advice from those who know cut back our roses and wisteria quite brutally in February. We have been rewarded as they are thriving. It is also bluebell central with even more coming up than last year.  Mrs SB also planted loads of bulbs which are giving us lots of colour. Our three hydrangea were badly affected by a late frost a few weeks ago and all the early growth was lost. Thankfully now showing signs of recovery  but they have a long way to go. Bedding plants will go out later this week if the sun comes back out. 

jonseventyfive

Bournemouth Addick said:

Anyone been brave enough to put their tender plants out yet?

@jonseventyfive you're a fellow fan of bananas, how did you get on over the winter? I stupidly lost an Abysinnian banana over the winter as I wrapped it too tight, didn't get enough air to it and the bugger rotted.

Morning BA, left two muso basjoo in the garden and both survived (just) and are shooting, starting putting a basjoo outside a month ago on good days and it has been permanently out side for a fortnight, ragged but fine, just starting to get bolder with most things, but watch out for any hard frost. 

Bournemouth Addick

I'm very pleased with the progress of my musa basjoo that was out over winter. It's not a year old yet so was just pleased to get it through and established. I'm still wrapping it around the base every evening though.



You can see the growth it's put on in the last 6 weeks from where I cut it down before overwintering it. I have a spare Abysinnian and more musas still in my mum's summer house but this one is looking healthy. If a little scruffy around the edges at the moment. 

Curbsgoldenera

Pictures look great Sillybilly.
Hopefully will get round to putting out some bedding plants this coming weekend now the football season has finished. The last 10 months have been somewhat busy with Charlton, really enjoy the break and the chance to get gardening on a Saturday.
Bedding plants will be fine to go out in the garden especially down South and if in protected places in the garden. Fleece can always be used if the weather forecast predicts a frost.

Sillybilly

cheers @Curbsgoldenera.  Safe to say that I’ve got the best chance in the UK in the south of the Isle of Wight to put bedding plants out safely. I’ve had them out earlier than this before when I lived in Kent but I think I just got lucky!   There is still a chill in the air this week despite it being May. 

ShootersHillGuru

Never safe from a late frost until May is done. The south obviously has less risk but it’s not a given it won’t. 

Fanny Fanackapan

Beautiful photos, SB ! 

Hope you're doing OK x

Sillybilly

Fanny Fanackapan said:

Beautiful photos, SB ! 

Hope you're doing OK x

Thanks Jean.  Been a bit of a struggle the last few months with various things but still counting my blessings. Hope you and Richard are well. We must have a catch up. 

cafcfan

ShootersHillGuru said:

Never safe from a late frost until May is done. The south obviously has less risk but it’s not a given it won’t. 

That used to be true.  And while there is an outside chance of a late frost, I think global warming has put things back a little.
This is quite handy https://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-united-kingdom-last-frost-date-map.php but it only gives average last frosts. So for my town they are suggesting 11-20 April for the average last frost. Whereas Greenwich is 21-31 March!
Whereas this website https://www.gardenfocused.co.uk/ adds a bit more caution, presumably taking a standard deviation into account and predicts the last week of April for me.

Curbsgoldenera

Two clematis grown up each obelisk with some solar lights wound up amongst them. This gives flowers in the day and lights in the evening when looking out on the garden 😊

Fanny Fanackapan

Absolutely beautiful ! 

guinnessaddick

jonseventyfive

Oi NO.

ROTW

Very creative with the mattress Guinness 

Raith_C_Chattonell

I find the bottle brush plant quite attractive in the garden.  Does well here despite being Australian.  The little dab of pollen on the end of each bristle is good for attracting humming birds apparently - although I haven't seen any of those.   

.
  

jonseventyfive

love a little cactus that tries hard, but it obviously didn't impress the fly much. 

jonseventyfive

What a difference a day makes, well two. 

Kips

jonseventyfive said:

What a difference a day makes, well two. 

Viagra can help mate