Gardening Advice

Arsenetatters

Raith_C_Chattonell said:

I've just come across my lily order on Amazon (from March). 

Although the plain yellow, orange and white ones (above) are bright and breezy I evidentally haven't get what I paid for.  I thought Thompson and Morgan were a reputable company.

The giant yellow ones were a seperate order and they are OK.

I used to use them and their customer service wasn’t great when they cocked up an order for me. Parker’s used to be good for bulbs and plants but were very unhelpful when I received an order that had lots of broken plants in. They use Evri. 

I decided to go for more expensive but, in my view, better quality plants and bulbs and good customer service. I’ve been using Crocus and Sarah Raven (although she uses Evri now 😬) 

Raith_C_Chattonell

My strawberry tower failed miserably, the plants perished one by one.  Luckily I had some petunia seedlings to fill the hole.

Raith_C_Chattonell

However, yesterday I deadheaded using my shears and it don't look 'appy.

IdleHans

It looks like Animal from the muppets

T_C_E

They done well since the dry of the summer……

Hex

Raith_C_Chattonell said:

I've just come across my lily order on Amazon (from March). 

Although the plain yellow, orange and white ones (above) are bright and breezy I evidentally haven't get what I paid for.  I thought Thompson and Morgan were a reputable company.

The giant yellow ones were a seperate order and they are OK.

We were about to purchase a Wisteria for our new pergola so watched an RHS video to get relevant info.  The presenter related their experience ordering from their supplier for their Wisteria Walk at Wisley (which we saw at close hand the other day).  From memory about 25% of the plants delivered were incorrectly labelled/named.  The presenter wondered how that could be given they knew the order was for the RHS.

Elthamaddick

Raith_C_Chattonell said:

However, yesterday I deadheaded using my shears and it don't look 'appy.

JohnBoyUK

Whats the best way to fix bare patches of grass?

I've watched so many you tube tutorials, is it just a case of scarify the lawn, overseed then apply compost?

We've taken a lot of trees and shrubs out of our garden this summer and we've got some large patches to fix.  Give the size of our garden returfing is out of the question.

Open to the advice of you expert gardeners!

usetobunkin

JohnBoyUK said:

Whats the best way to fix bare patches of grass?

I've watched so many you tube tutorials, is it just a case of scarify the lawn, overseed then apply compost?

We've taken a lot of trees and shrubs out of our garden this summer and we've got some large patches to fix.  Give the size of our garden returfing is out of the question.

Open to the advice of you expert gardeners!

I am going to Re-wild the very lower part of my garden ,which has always been very patchy in places with regards to grass. Have tried all sorts of different seeds and planting regimes.
So am trying to have a copse type area where you can sit in any hot weather and be shaded by the trees. 
Also quite like having the different insects when Mummy Nature is left alone.

ME14addick

JohnBoyUK said:

Whats the best way to fix bare patches of grass?

I've watched so many you tube tutorials, is it just a case of scarify the lawn, overseed then apply compost?

We've taken a lot of trees and shrubs out of our garden this summer and we've got some large patches to fix.  Give the size of our garden returfing is out of the question.

Open to the advice of you expert gardeners!

We had some bare patches and put down grass seed and they are growing well, but did need watering. They aren't very big patches and were where a picnic bench had been and where birds had damaged the grass underneath a bird feeder. We still have quite big brown patches from the drought and with so little rain in the forecast for the next two weeks, it looks like they'll be there for a while yet. 

addix

JohnBoyUK said:

Whats the best way to fix bare patches of grass?

I've watched so many you tube tutorials, is it just a case of scarify the lawn, overseed then apply compost?

We've taken a lot of trees and shrubs out of our garden this summer and we've got some large patches to fix.  Give the size of our garden returfing is out of the question.

Open to the advice of you expert gardeners!

I had to regularly repair patches in our lawn thanks to two dogs, so have switched to reseeding with white clover instead.  Slow growing, drought tolerant, great for pollinators, and you can spend Saturday afternoons looking for any with four leaves.

jimmymelrose

@JohnBoyUK

Just seen your post about your large pond.

If it’s not your ’cup of tea’, have you considered converting it to a natural pool for you and your family to bathe in?

Previously(as recently as when we did ours in 2013) you would have had to have dug out a separate plant section but now it’s possible to go without this: https://www.cajev.fr/nos-metiers/piscine-ecologique-et-francaise.html

Edit: by the way, if I were to advise a youngster in the UK on a business to start up in Southern England,  it would be this. Summers are only going to get hotter and I doubt there are many, if any, which yet provide this service. 

Er_Be_Ab_Pl_Wo_Wo_Ch

Despite the wind it has been a glorious, sunny, day at the allotment today. 200 red onions planted out, which will come good next June.

Getting everything ready for winter - my favourite time of the growing year.

Anyone else planting out now for a spring/summer harvest?

Arsenetatters

I'm going to get some broad beans started soon, and pop some garlic in 

addix

I planted some garlic today, and pulled up the runner beans.  The beans didn't get going at all until mid September due to the summer we had.  Have also sown some sweet peas. 

Had 30 sacks of manure delivered this week to spread over the beds when the other plants have finished.

Raith_C_Chattonell

I noticed they'd layed a fleece covering on the new grass seed at Finsbury Circus. (This was last Sunday).

The bits showing through looked very robust, probably a bit late now, but could keep in mind for next spring/autumn.

lolwray

Raith_C_Chattonell said:

I noticed they'd layed a fleece covering on the new grass seed at Finsbury Circus. (This was last Sunday).

The bits showing through looked very robust, probably a bit late now, but could keep in mind for next spring/autumn.

Wonder if they are going to restore the bowling green 

Boom

Our tree isn’t doing too well

valleynick66

Ouch. Looks like you were fortunate if didn’t wreck the fence. 

Raith_C_Chattonell

lolwray said:

Raith_C_Chattonell said:

I noticed they'd layed a fleece covering on the new grass seed at Finsbury Circus. (This was last Sunday).

The bits showing through looked very robust, probably a bit late now, but could keep in mind for next spring/autumn.

Wonder if they are going to restore the bowling green 

I don't think so.  The central lawn area is much smaller now and there are wide paths with island flower beds surrounding it.  Lots of seating available, still an oasis for City workers, nice but a bit different.

Raith_C_Chattonell

I think the drought has weakened our trees.  My brother drove through Oldfield Rd Bromley yesterday, but was blocked on his return 20 minutes later.  Mind you, unlike @Boom's tree this one looks like it died awhile ago.

Carter

@JohnBoyUK

Do the following 

Cut the grass, then scarify it, then, very important this bit and its what people don't like doing or get bored with. Spike it. Get a garden fork aerate the ground. About the length of your foot apart. 

Now you have a few choices. Either pour grass seen into a bucket which you have made some holes in the bottom of. Pour water in and sitr it up, this will pre-germinate the grass seed in a day or two. Don't leave it any longer else it will grow and become a clump. Then spread those pre-germinated seeds down, birds aren't interested in germinated seeds. Cover with a thin layer of top soil or fertiliser. 

Alternatively mix a healthy amount of grass seed with top soil in a bucket and mix it up so you get a grainy effect to the mix, plenty of seeds. Then spread that mixture over the affected area. Water well but don't saturate and your bare patch will be lovely and green in no time

The pre-gerninating method is how grounds keepers get cricket wickets playable and football pitches looking healthy 

JohnBoyUK

Carter said:

@JohnBoyUK

Do the following 

Cut the grass, then scarify it, then, very important this bit and its what people don't like doing or get bored with. Spike it. Get a garden fork aerate the ground. About the length of your foot apart. 

Now you have a few choices. Either pour grass seen into a bucket which you have made some holes in the bottom of. Pour water in and sitr it up, this will pre-germinate the grass seed in a day or two. Don't leave it any longer else it will grow and become a clump. Then spread those pre-germinated seeds down, birds aren't interested in germinated seeds. Cover with a thin layer of top soil or fertiliser. 

Alternatively mix a healthy amount of grass seed with top soil in a bucket and mix it up so you get a grainy effect to the mix, plenty of seeds. Then spread that mixture over the affected area. Water well but don't saturate and your bare patch will be lovely and green in no time

The pre-gerninating method is how grounds keepers get cricket wickets playable and football pitches looking healthy 

Ah thanks @Carter, that sounds great.  I've got to get it done soon before the weather completely turns for the worse so this is good timing.

jonseventyfive

Bit of tree fell off and broke a couple of my greenhouse windows,  no big drama except I'd moved a lot of stuff under cover for the winter,  next job clearing up loads of shattered glass. 

Carter

JohnBoyUK said:

Carter said:

@JohnBoyUK

Do the following 

Cut the grass, then scarify it, then, very important this bit and its what people don't like doing or get bored with. Spike it. Get a garden fork aerate the ground. About the length of your foot apart. 

Now you have a few choices. Either pour grass seen into a bucket which you have made some holes in the bottom of. Pour water in and sitr it up, this will pre-germinate the grass seed in a day or two. Don't leave it any longer else it will grow and become a clump. Then spread those pre-germinated seeds down, birds aren't interested in germinated seeds. Cover with a thin layer of top soil or fertiliser. 

Alternatively mix a healthy amount of grass seed with top soil in a bucket and mix it up so you get a grainy effect to the mix, plenty of seeds. Then spread that mixture over the affected area. Water well but don't saturate and your bare patch will be lovely and green in no time

The pre-gerninating method is how grounds keepers get cricket wickets playable and football pitches looking healthy 

Ah thanks @Carter, that sounds great.  I've got to get it done soon before the weather completely turns for the worse so this is good timing.

You've got a few weeks i reckon but now is a much more head friendly time to do it as opposed to spring, when you will want to scarily again anyway 

Arsenetatters

jonseventyfive said:

Bit of tree fell off and broke a couple of my greenhouse windows,  no big drama except I'd moved a lot of stuff under cover for the winter,  next job clearing up loads of shattered glass. 

I've had a couple of greenhouse windows  break. I've gone for polycarbonate replacements for them.

jonseventyfive

Arsenetatters said:

jonseventyfive said:

Bit of tree fell off and broke a couple of my greenhouse windows,  no big drama except I'd moved a lot of stuff under cover for the winter,  next job clearing up loads of shattered glass. 

I've had a couple of greenhouse windows  break. I've gone for polycarbonate replacements for them.

Yes I thought about doing that but I have a poly one also,  and different plants seem to enjoy the different slightly different climates inside,  banana plants seem to like the poly for example and in my tiny mind it's my tropical house,  my palms (2m max height) like the glass,  both houses are next to each other and get exactly the same amount of winter sun. 

addix

Arsenetatters said:

jonseventyfive said:

Bit of tree fell off and broke a couple of my greenhouse windows,  no big drama except I'd moved a lot of stuff under cover for the winter,  next job clearing up loads of shattered glass. 

I've had a couple of greenhouse windows  break. I've gone for polycarbonate replacements for them.

Living next to Beckenham Town FC a number of panes in my greenhouse have been broken over the years from wayward balls, and now I replace them with polycarb too.  Seems fine for a couple of peppers, melons and toms.

Arsenetatters

addix said:

Arsenetatters said:

jonseventyfive said:

Bit of tree fell off and broke a couple of my greenhouse windows,  no big drama except I'd moved a lot of stuff under cover for the winter,  next job clearing up loads of shattered glass. 

I've had a couple of greenhouse windows  break. I've gone for polycarbonate replacements for them.

Living next to Beckenham Town FC a number of panes in my greenhouse have been broken over the years from wayward balls, and now I replace them with polycarb too.  Seems fine for a couple of peppers, melons and toms.

I hope they pay for them!

T_C_E

Our little bit of paradise, excuse George taking a pi?? 😂


https://youtu.be/ZlF78N3WxqA?si=QYPeht2a7hwETIc2