Gardening jobs to do in April for newbies and us oldies

Merlot

I have another question. Do you feed your newly planted shrubs, climbers etc (I haven't planted any annuals yet, I did at this time of year last year and they were awful, didn't take off, but I have read that I should wait until mid May to plant annuals, is that right in your opinion?), if you need to feed shrubs and climbers, whats the best thing to feed them on, If at all possible I would prefer a liquid feed rather than anything smelly, my neighbour has put manure on his roses and it stinks, so much so my other neighbour has complained to him, I must admit though, its terrible and I couldn't sit out for my morning coffee, otherwise you get a funny taste in your mouth.

Jack's_mummy

Merlot wrote: »

Thanks for the link to the photos of the gardens, I sooo envious of your gardens, they all look so tidy and look as though you know your stuff, I think I will wait to post a picture, my garden looks pathetic in comparison, I hope it comes on later in the year, maybe a little more hardwork is needed, I have this morning been reading a couple of gardening books, why do all there borders seem so crammed in with flowers, you can't see any of the soil, it is the thing to do - fill your borders full of flowers, or am I expecting as a newbie gardener too much and am I constantly going to feel disappointed that mine looks like a family garden and not something more like I see in the books?

Oh I so dont know what I am doing:rotfl: It's all made up as I go along and learning from websites and books. I do have a 3 year old but I have to put his toys away at the end of everyday or they would go walkabout as our garden isn't secure at all.

As for filling your borders - it helps to keep the weeds down but it costs alot to buy plants that size. 4 years on and mine is slowly filling up with plants that were tiny cheap ones (mainly from other people).

Feeding - well mine get a sprinkle with som ediluted liquid tomato feed when I think of it in the summer:o

Merlot

Jack's_mummy wrote: »

Oh I so dont know what I am doing:rotfl: It's all made up as I go along and learning from websites and books. I do have a 3 year old but I have to put his toys away at the end of everyday or they would go walkabout as our garden isn't secure at all.

As for filling your borders - it helps to keep the weeds down but it costs alot to buy plants that size. 4 years on and mine is slowly filling up with plants that were tiny cheap ones (mainly from other people).

Feeding - well mine get a sprinkle with som ediluted liquid tomato feed when I think of it in the summer:o

Jack's mummy, thanks for your reply. You are going to get sick of me asking questions, when you say you make up as you go along, when you buy plants or get plants given to you, do you ensure it is the right plant for the soil conditions or do you stick it in and hope for the best. I think I am beginning to think too deeply about the different plants for different soils and my head is spinning. (it doesn't take much for that too happen though) You use tomato feed, do you use this for all your plants and shrubs, I mean are there any I shouldn't feed? I have bought some ivy to start to screen the garden a wee bit and offer a backdrop to the shrubs in front, but my OH says I have bought houseplant Ivy, is there such a thing, I though Ivy was Ivy and its hardy and it'll grow, I'm flipping useless, its pale green in colour with white edging, is that not garden Ivy then?

I apologise in advanced for asking daft questions, but I would love to see a nice garden and I am trying to get good results, and for my sister who lives miles away and a keen gardener to come and say "you've done well, Merlot" instead of saying "well........its okay but isn't that Ivy an Ivy houseplant ":rotfl:

Jack's_mummy

No question is a daft question.

I am of the chuck it in and see what happens camp - things have 2 chances, they grow or they don't!

Yes I use tomato feed on anything and everything - so far so good.

No much idea on ivy but it's pretty tough and grows anywhere. You've got it now so plant it out and see what happens.

Does any of that help? A more competent person should be along to correct me shortly:rotfl:

Merlot

Yes, you've helped me, I too think I gonna belong to the see what happens camp, I have bought some Lavatera and some Lupins and i'm gonna just shove them in and see what happens.

Merlot.x.

Plum_Pie

Merlot wrote: »

Yes, you've helped me, I too think I gonna belong to the see what happens camp, I have bought some Lavatera and some Lupins and i'm gonna just shove them in and see what happens.

Merlot.x.

I shoved some in last year - they grew well and their seedlings are coming up now!

Plum_Pie

Merlot wrote: »

my OH says I have bought houseplant Ivy, is there such a thing, I though Ivy was Ivy and its hardy and it'll grow, I'm flipping useless, its pale green in colour with white edging, is that not garden Ivy then?

Try a google image search on 'ivy houseplant'. Did it not have a label when you got it? I think I've seen 'indoor' ivies - IIRC they're much smaller than outdoor, hardy varieties.

I think you deserve a :beer: . My family and friends were totally supportive when I started gardening 'OOoo, you bought another plant. That's greeeeaaat' etc, although I owe someone an apology for talking to them about my lawn when I was pished last weekend...

~Chameleon~

I've just planted out my sprouts and sweetcorn and dug over another bed ready for more crops, just in time for the heavens to open and save me watering the garden!

Had great fun watching both the robin and blackbird fighting over the maybug larvae I was throwing for them as I dug them out of the ground - they've had a great feast this morning!