Gardening tips and ideas

[Preston1990]

I have also been reading about adding a layer of moss around newly planted plants can I just use the moss from the lawn?

I've owned a large garden (2/3rds of an acre) for over 15 years now, but I'd be the first to admit that I'm not really a very good gardener. I am therefore probably not the best person to offer advice, but anyhow here's what I think....

Yes, you could add a layer of moss around newly planted plants and shrubs to help stop them from drying out. I would make sure that it wasn't actually touching the foliage or bark though as this may cause the plants to rot off. I personally think lawn moss would be ok to us for this. But it's worth getting an opinion from other more knowledgeable people.

I have just planted my willow tree and it looks like I need some more soil on the top as now after removing all the roots from various trees and plants it is quite shallow. Do I need top soil or compost?

Either would do, though actual compost may be an expensive luxury in that particular case. Do make sure though that if you are adding a layer of soil around your newly planted tree, it does not end up burried too deep. You want to avoid having the ground level coming higher up the trunk than where it was when it was planted previously. Planting too deeply in the soil is a common cause of tree death. Aim to plant at the same depth that the tree was growing in the nursery.

Poor establishment and brown leaves are also sometimes encountered after planting. You need to ensure that the roots do not dry out but it's essential that you don't let them sit in a swamp of water either or that will kill cause them to rot and the tree to die. It's the perennial ''goldilocks" problem - the conditions need to be "just right".

Also staking of new trees is useful to make sure that they get a good start, as is ensuring that the area around the base is kept weed and turf free. The RHS website offers some good pointers as to how and why - look up "planting trees".

[Diane65]

Top soil now added to the required level and hoed in but being careful not to damage the plant and I will find something to stake it.

Next weekend will be getting the soil in good condition in my small front plot (plus give me chance to save a bit of money) then will have to decide on 5 shrubs for there, I like the idea of white roses for at least one and need ideas for others to go with it.

What a huge garden Preston1990 whereas mine is just a regular corner garden.

[chelle1973]

Looking forward to starting on my garden! So much to do and so little money at the moment, only just got myself a cooker last week!!

[akh43]

Glad I mowed the lawn and did a bit of gardening yesterday, its never stopped raining today. Collected a bit of moss ready for hanging baskets, thanks for the tip preston

I managed to pick up a couple of plants in the pound shops yesterday, one redcurrant plant, already sprouting leaves and a lilac colour shrub also just starting to sprout leaves, I hate b*ying sticks much prefer to see a bit of growth. Currently soaking ready to plant up when the rain stops.

[Sunny Saver]

I b*ght some bulbs from 99p store, some are ok, think the gladioli, but the freesias haven't grown at all. Although in the words of my little cousin, 'if plants want to grow, they'll grow'.

[Diane65]

Glad I mowed the lawn and did a bit of gardening yesterday, its never stopped raining today. Collected a bit of moss ready for hanging baskets, thanks for the tip preston

I managed to pick up a couple of plants in the pound shops yesterday, one redcurrant plant, already sprouting leaves and a lilac colour shrub also just starting to sprout leaves, I hate b*ying sticks much prefer to see a bit of growth. Currently soaking ready to plant up when the rain stops.

You'll have to give me some tips akh43 and I'm interested to hear where you got the lilac shrub from as would fit in with my colour scheme. Spotting a few clematis at Aldi yesterday but couldn't physically carry anything else.

I b*ght some bulbs from 99p store, some are ok, think the gladioli, but the freesias haven't grown at all. Although in the words of my little cousin, 'if plants want to grow, they'll grow'.

We should listen to your little cousin

[Sunny Saver]

We should indeed, Diane, as I planted a load beginning of March. Nothing happened. I planted some later, they're about 15cmhigh. The earlier ones are NOW starting to grow, about 1cm.

[baty]

I remember when my mum planted daffs, way down in the garden, weeks later my poor dad dug them up and replanted them the right way up. Poor things.

OK, got these pics to show. OH did the easy work while I supervised

Front before things get changed and barrier stuff went down. This isan important 'run', as it leads to the toilet There were time it felt like you were battling triffids!


After the work. Plants were also tidied up.


The front




I just pulled up a few weeds and replanted bulbs, violets and bits of rosemary round the place. Luckily OH likes 'projects'.

[Diane65]

That looks so pretty Baty and luscious. Is that a rambling rose I can see? You have obviously got green fingers so I'll be hoping for lots of tips and shared knowledge.

[baty]

Thanks Diane65, the rose was here when we b*ght it. It gets very little attention tbh. Gets cut back in the autumn or if stems are in the way, maybe some banana skins at the base if it is lucky and water when we are there. That's it. Then it goes and does this...

I try to save money and do swaps with people. I take heel cuttings from my 'woody' herbs like rosemary, thyme, lavender, sage etc. and put them in a pot to root up. It seems to make no difference if I use hormone rooting powder or not. That's not to say they all take mind you.
and

Another way is to layer a stem on the ground and cover with soil, takes a while but it should start to put down roots, can check after about 4 months. When you see a good amount of root you can cut it free from the main plant.
Will be digging this one up in the summer.

Spike has been to France a few times now, supplies us will great little chillies. I let one chillie rot down by the plant and when another plant began to grow I waited till proper leaves grew then transplanted it. We call this one Spike lea.

Try growing on seeds from your b*ght chillies, peppers, melons, butternut squash.... They have 2 choices.
wash the seeds and dry on kitchen paper. The window sill was covered with plants I was growing on this winter, mint, chillies and coriander.