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Gardening Advice
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Your issue is that they will grow too close to to each other if they take off and you’ll have to thin them out pretty drastically. Holly hocks, lupins and foxgloves take up a lot of space when they mature and you’ll only need a couple of each to fill a fair sized bed. Not a major problem though so long as you’re prepared to be brutal if they all germinate.MrLargo said:Some very impressive flora on display on here!
Need a bit of advice. I've recently moved into a new house. Back garden hardly gets any sun, but I'm not ready to tackle that yet. At the front, I've got a raised bed that gets lots of sun. My neighbour has got all sorts of colourful flowers growing, she said she grows tomatoes there as well, so seems to be a very good spot for growing things. I've cleared my bed, which has been untended for years, and mixed into the soil some organic matter that Nunhead garden centre recommended to me a few weeks ago.
I'm on holiday now, but before I went away, I sowed a few sunflower seeds, plus hollyhocks, lupins and foxgloves. I've grown sunflowers before, pretty easy. For the others, the instructions on the seed packets said I should grow them in a seed box and then transplant the seedlings. I've ignored that and planted them straight into the soil in my raised bed.
It's ten years since I last had a garden, but I'm sure I did this before and got away with it. Is there a specific reason they recommend planting in a seed box first? Presumably they grow naturally in the countryside and so on, without going through this process. What's the consequence of planting them straight into the ground? When I return on 7 May, am I likely to see any growth, or have I planted a load of seeds that are never going to do anything.
Grateful for any advice from the multiple experts on here.2 -
Doing open gardens for the village in 6 weeks time, going to have to work very hard to get it presentable !! Will post some pics if everything works out.
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Makes sense. Thanks for explaining. 👍Sillybilly said:
Your issue is that they will grow too close to to each other if they take off and you’ll have to thin them out pretty drastically. Holly hocks, lupins and foxgloves take up a lot of space when they mature and you’ll only need a couple of each to fill a fair sized bed. Not a major problem though so long as you’re prepared to be brutal if they all germinate.MrLargo said:Some very impressive flora on display on here!
Need a bit of advice. I've recently moved into a new house. Back garden hardly gets any sun, but I'm not ready to tackle that yet. At the front, I've got a raised bed that gets lots of sun. My neighbour has got all sorts of colourful flowers growing, she said she grows tomatoes there as well, so seems to be a very good spot for growing things. I've cleared my bed, which has been untended for years, and mixed into the soil some organic matter that Nunhead garden centre recommended to me a few weeks ago.
I'm on holiday now, but before I went away, I sowed a few sunflower seeds, plus hollyhocks, lupins and foxgloves. I've grown sunflowers before, pretty easy. For the others, the instructions on the seed packets said I should grow them in a seed box and then transplant the seedlings. I've ignored that and planted them straight into the soil in my raised bed.
It's ten years since I last had a garden, but I'm sure I did this before and got away with it. Is there a specific reason they recommend planting in a seed box first? Presumably they grow naturally in the countryside and so on, without going through this process. What's the consequence of planting them straight into the ground? When I return on 7 May, am I likely to see any growth, or have I planted a load of seeds that are never going to do anything.
Grateful for any advice from the multiple experts on here.2 -
Just seen the apple plant has its first ever blossomDaveMehmet said:
I’ve always enjoyed gardening but like you, I’m no expert. Not done it a lot but love growing things from seed. Managed to keep his apple plant my daughter grew from seed as a school project about 6 years ago. Also the purple plants below (Coronaria) self seed like mad and we always have them every year. The originals came from my grandad’s garden, my dad then took some and gave some to me about 15 years ago. We’ve had dozens of them since.T_C_E said:I did all the work myself @DaveMehmet (I’m no gardener/chippy and it shows) but £33/44 for a trellis panel and plants £12/25 for root or grown on rose plants.I’ve had four jumbo bags of compost and one of top soil delivered at over a £100 a throw.It stands me for about 2.5k and that’s without replacing the decking still to be done.Still I love being out there, even in the greenhouse when it pi55ing down.I’ve not a cue what I’m doing with plants but it’s fun learning and surprisingly I’ve not killed anything yet, varying success with seeds but apparently that’s the norm, not every seed will grow.I’ve never gardened before and didn’t realise how good it could be mentally and even though most of it has been a struggle after recent surgery I just chill out for five minutes before going again.I’m always online looking for cheaper sources for plants/seeds so if anyone has links to good ones please post them I could do with all the help I can get. 😂
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I've been dogged over the years with a thick layer of moss growing in the yard of my north facing garden.
I've never found killing the moss an aid to actually removing it - that is just hard work. However, the year before last I got a stiff broom and put in the effort to get rid of it. I say get rid of, but I think the root system survives underground. Anyway, I then made up a very strong solution of soda crystals and warm water (to help the soda dissolve) and using a pump action spray applied to the said area. I actually repeated 6 weeks later for good measure.
I am happy to report that there has been no moss since - not even a smidgeon! I'm going to repeat the spraying procedure this summer - it's very easy to do, cheap and quick and saves (so far) the back breaking task of removing moss.1 -
And now you have lovely patch of clean brown earth?Raith_C_Chattonell said:I've been dogged over the years with a thick layer of moss growing in the yard of my north facing garden.
I've never found killing the moss an aid to actually removing it - that is just hard work. However, the year before last I got a stiff broom and put in the effort to get rid of it. I say get rid of, but I think the root system survives underground. Anyway, I then made up a very strong solution of soda crystals and warm water (to help the soda dissolve) and using a pump action spray applied to the said area. I actually repeated 6 weeks later for good measure.
I am happy to report that there has been no moss since - not even a smidgeon! I'm going to repeat the spraying procedure this summer - it's very easy to do, cheap and quick and saves (so far) the back breaking task of removing moss.2 -
It may be a generational thing and certainly I know Americans refer to their back gardens as backyards.Alwaysneil said:
And now you have lovely patch of clean brown earth?Raith_C_Chattonell said:I've been dogged over the years with a thick layer of moss growing in the yard of my north facing garden.
I've never found killing the moss an aid to actually removing it - that is just hard work. However, the year before last I got a stiff broom and put in the effort to get rid of it. I say get rid of, but I think the root system survives underground. Anyway, I then made up a very strong solution of soda crystals and warm water (to help the soda dissolve) and using a pump action spray applied to the said area. I actually repeated 6 weeks later for good measure.
I am happy to report that there has been no moss since - not even a smidgeon! I'm going to repeat the spraying procedure this summer - it's very easy to do, cheap and quick and saves (so far) the back breaking task of removing moss.
From my perspective (old git from council house) the backyard is the hard area before the grass starts. See below - my mum and dad are standing in the backyard where the tin bath hangs. The garden doesn't start till you step onto the grass.
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I was being partly facetious as i assumed you meant an area of paving, but i have always treated moss successfully with a heavy duty weed killer in such an area and was surprised your moss had stood up to this.The only time moss has ever beaten me is when it has heavily infested a lawned area and the only way to remove it was to remove the top layer including the grass and start again, and when this got taken over by moss again a gew years later i gave ip and used to rake the moss out but let it have some purchase.1
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Currently enjoying a coffee on a beautiful morning having moved the tropicals from under cover over the weekend.6
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I’m pleased with the tulips this year. However I find they don’t come back as well in the second year so have been replacing them annually. Apparently species tulips come back year after year pretty reliably so I’ll give those a go next year too.
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I got this potting shed last winter and I absolutely love pottering around in there listening to a podcast. Even when there’s nothing that needs doing I just go and sit in there. Bliss.15 -
Are you leaving enough time after they've flowered before cutting back? You should leave at least 6-7 weeks after they've finished to encourage growth for next year.Arsenetatters said:I’m pleased with the tulips this year. However I find they don’t come back as well in the second year so have been replacing them annually. Apparently species tulips come back year after year pretty reliably so I’ll give those a go next year too. 1 -
I dead head them and leave the rest until they are dried up and crispy.DaveMehmet said:
Are you leaving enough time after they've flowered before cutting back? You should leave at least 6-7 weeks after they've finished to encourage growth for next year.Arsenetatters said:I’m pleased with the tulips this year. However I find they don’t come back as well in the second year so have been replacing them annually. Apparently species tulips come back year after year pretty reliably so I’ll give those a go next year too. 1 -
Just mowed the formal lawn..anyone else here get a bit anal about there stripes0
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Looks lovely. Also has the cleanest glass i've ever seen, had to zoom in several times to check to see it even had windows. Pretty sure it does.Uboat said:I got this potting shed last winter and I absolutely love pottering around in there listening to a podcast. Even when there’s nothing that needs doing I just go and sit in there. Bliss.1 -
Leave as long as possible before cutting back,and give a liquid feed as wellArsenetatters said:I’m pleased with the tulips this year. However I find they don’t come back as well in the second year so have been replacing them annually. Apparently species tulips come back year after year pretty reliably so I’ll give those a go next year too. 1 -
Lovely views but needs a few hens.Wheresmeticket said:1 -
Ah, I’ve never fed them. Is tomato feed ok? When/how often should I feed them?cashncarry said:
Leave as long as possible before cutting back,and give a liquid feed as wellArsenetatters said:I’m pleased with the tulips this year. However I find they don’t come back as well in the second year so have been replacing them annually. Apparently species tulips come back year after year pretty reliably so I’ll give those a go next year too. 0 - Sponsored links:
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Quite a good example of why Monty Don says to train climbing rose shoots horizontally to encourage flower buds. There are 20 odd on this lateral - (not all in the photo). My brother has a climbing rose that he does nothing with whatsoever and it still gets smothered in blooms - glad he's not here to shoot me down
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Yes that's fine ,or anything like miracle grow .Arsenetatters said:
Ah, I’ve never fed them. Is tomato feed ok? When/how often should I feed them?cashncarry said:
Leave as long as possible before cutting back,and give a liquid feed as wellArsenetatters said:I’m pleased with the tulips this year. However I find they don’t come back as well in the second year so have been replacing them annually. Apparently species tulips come back year after year pretty reliably so I’ll give those a go next year too.
I have planted thousands of tulips over the years when I was a gardener we used to have a tulip festival.
You can also lift them when they have died away and store them in a dark dry place, although it's the same odds for flowering next year whatever you do.You will always loose some.
Species varieties are the best for flowering every year.
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Always think tulips look good with wallflowers2
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Trying to get this nightmare of trees and garden into shape for the village open gardens in about 4 weeks time. Outdoor housework!!! 14 -
Beautiful gardens2
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What’s the pink flowered climbing plant on the right? Looks good.Wheresmeticket said:0 -
I'll get back to you...Arsenetatters said:
What’s the pink flowered climbing plant on the right? Looks good.Wheresmeticket said:0 -
Planted these last summer but can't remember what they are! Any ideas?
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A man/woman after my own heart. I am terrible at keeping track of what I’ve put where. I tell my wife I’m going for a wild garden aesthetic, but the truth is it’s chaos.moutuakilla said:Planted these last summer but can't remember what they are! Any ideas?1
