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Wood for planters / raised beds
Hi, Im just getting back into fruit and veg at a new rental property. Not allowed to dig more beds but need more planting space. Looking at making raised beds / planters but what wood can i use? Ie treated, untreated, pallet wood ( free) loathe to line with plastic as trying to reduce plastic consumption, although could…
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support for climbers on fence
I might be overthinking this, but I'm about to plant a honeysuckle (dropmore scarlet) against my fence and a clematis to go with it (Jackmanni) Whats the best support to use? trellis, horizontal wires or some kind of wire mesh? Thanks!
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Are flamingo trees seasonal
Last year we bought 3 flamingo trees from Homebase/Bunnings and they were beautiful, exactly what we want for the garden, they've just started shooting again this year. We was hoping to buy some more for the garden, but cant find them anywhere (large stores, Homebase, B&Q, Bunnings etc) Is there a particular time of year…
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Sowing seeds after mulching with bark?
I felt very pleased with myself for putting bark chips down in a new flower bed but now want to sow some seeds that I generally sow where they’ll grow (e.g. gypsophila). What’s the best way of doing this? Clear a bit of bark where I’m going to sow? Sow in pots and plant out instead? I’ve though about making some rings from…
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Holly stings?
I got properly prickled by holly in the garden 2 days ago and now my hands and arms look like I'm covered in mosquito bites. I can't find anything about this online but I'm sure that it was the holly that was the culprit. I was wearing gardening gloves, long sleeves and a thin coat. Is this normal? I'm putting aloe vera on…
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Compost in large quantities
Just wondering if anyone knows where you can by compost in large quantities? I've watched and read quite a lot by Charles Dowding and I want to give no dig a try and I have a large area to create. Also the compost used appears to be a mulch compost as opposed to the potting compost mixes that you can buy. Long trerm I will…
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Chainsaw recommendations?
Morning All, I need to cut back a big hedge from around 9 feet high down to about 4-5 feet. Unfortunately my hedge trimmers aren't up to the task, so I need to buy a chainsaw. The hedge isn't super thick but a lot of the branches are about 1-2 inches thick once you start cutting into middle of the hedge. So, my question is…
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Goodland's Breeding Pots
These breeding pots used to be stocked by the 99p shops which no longer exist. I have searched online and can only find a similar item obtainable from a company in China, ie…
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Magnolia trees for useless gardener
I have a long thin back garden & a medium front garden. All I grow is grass and hedges, which I have a man in to cut. I am so UNgreen fingered :-( I don’t even really like flowers and fussy gardens, but I do quite like flowering trees, ornamental trees, flowering shrubs and coloured shrubs. I really like magnolia trees -…
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Laying a new patio
Hi, I’m mid garden reno at the moment. We’ve dug up a huge amount of concrete using a breaker but is it possible to use the old hardcore from underneath it, by just topping it up in the gaps left from the broken concrete and compacting it then using the paving sand and slabs as normal? First garden renovation we’ve ever…
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Issue with daffodils
Not sure if it’s me or where I’m buying the bulbs from (Wilko) Planted a few containers with different daffodils in November, only a couple of them have bloomed, loads have blooms about to open but all of them have small blooms and most have 2//3 blooms per stalk, I’m sure I bought bigger varieties. Just wondering why they…
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is a 3" deep planter too shallow
ive made my first ever planter, to fit in a small space so it can only really be 3" deep soil in it. Is this too shallow for anytihng at all? Or are there any bedding plants that will grow in it for the summer? Am new to gardening so apologies if its a silly question :o
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Sedum Seeds
I've some Sedum (Autumn Joy) around the garden, and I know it's best propagated by division, but when I cut the heads back over xmas, I kept a small tub of seeds after sprinkling some around the nether regions of the garden. Some of the spring buds I've rescued in the past have taken a couple of years to fill a small pot,…
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Tiered strawberry planter, watering?
Anyone use tiered strawberry planters? Thinking of installing some myself this year. How do you control watering though, if we get another heatwave like last year how do you stop the top one from drying out too quickly? What about automatic watering? Anyone tried it? What have you tried, what worked what failed? Thanks.
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How often to change compost?
I have 3 big pots in the front garden and I’m not sure when to replace the compost. Does this need to be done every year? If I feed the plants, could I do it less? Two of the pots have John Innes No3 (after someone recommended it) and the camellia has ericacious compost. The plants are all getting big and the pots are so…
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conifers
How wind resistant are conifers? Next door has this very tall fat conifer which is being blown to bits with the wind. No we can't do anything about it but wondered if they stand up to it better than other trees. The other side lost a tall tree the other day
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Oak Seedlings
I live on the edge of woodland here in Sheffield and constantly end up pulling oak seedlings dutifully delivered by jays & squirrels. In recent years I've been carefully digging them up to preserve the taproot and potting them up - usually just coiling the taproot into the bottom of the (small) pot. Now it's time to put…
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base dressing for potting compost?
I am making up potting compost for vegetables (seedlings) based on coir that I usually make with perlite, rockdust and commercial slow release fertilizer. I forgot to buy the fertilizer! Can I use fish blood and bone? If so how much? I do not want to add too much and scortch the plants. (No details seem available for use…
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Seedlings and cold snaps
Hi All I have been busy this afternoon pricking out a load of seeds that needed it and got to wondering about how cold they can survive. I remembered reading that seedlings need more light than heat so have moved what I can to the greenhouse. I have moved out melon, cucumber, courgette and tomatoes but have just brought…
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do i need to stain/varnish pressure treated wood
Am going ot make 2 or 3 planters from treated 3/2" timber, will it need treating with something as well? Will the ends needs treating where I've cut it to size? And if so, whats the best clear treatment for it please? My first small garden project so looking forward to it! :)
