Topic: The RAWK Gardening Thread. (All Questions Answered)

[Charlie Adams fried egg]

Nice you've got damselflies! We've not got much but the beasties that live on and under the surface thus far.

We've lots of the too! Are they some kind of fly larvae?

[Demo]

First time poster in the thread!! 

I have just located 2 small Japanese Maple (Acer) bushes outside the front of my house in pots and after a couple of weeks the leaves look like they are scorched?

They are in good sized pots with a top layer of chipped bark to keep the moisture in and have been watered regularly etc

Could it just be wind burn and they need moving to a more sheltered area?

[reddebs]

First time poster in the thread!! 

I have just located 2 small Japanese Maple (Acer) bushes outside the front of my house in pots and after a couple of weeks the leaves look like they are scorched?

They are in good sized pots with a top layer of chipped bark to keep the moisture in and have been watered regularly etc

Could it just be wind burn and they need moving to a more sheltered area?

Welcome to the thread mate, it's hard to say really mate without a bit more info.

Have they been in the same place for a while and survived perfectly fine or have they been moved there recently?

It could be you've overwatered them possibly but I'm not well up on Acer's, especially pot grown ones.

[Sarge]

First time poster in the thread!! 

I have just located 2 small Japanese Maple (Acer) bushes outside the front of my house in pots and after a couple of weeks the leaves look like they are scorched?

They are in good sized pots with a top layer of chipped bark to keep the moisture in and have been watered regularly etc

Could it just be wind burn and they need moving to a more sheltered area?

Yup wind and sun will damage them, they are best out of direct wind and strong sun.

[royhendo]

We've lots of the too! Are they some kind of fly larvae?

Yeah, some really minging looking critters down there, but it's a good sign as a rule - things feed on them, then things feed on the things that feed on them, and eventually the whole kit and kaboodle come to the party.

[Crosby Nick]

We’ve got some lavender out the front which is finally just about to flower which is good news because the bees absolutely love it. We had tons of them last summer, loads of bumble bees too which is always good to see.

[royhendo]

We’ve got some lavender out the front which is finally just about to flower which is good news because the bees absolutely love it. We had tons of them last summer, loads of bumble bees too which is always good to see.

Piece of piss to propagate them too Nick if you want it all over. My missus wants a kind of lavender hedge effect down the path so I'm doing this gradually:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CQsWH8Dl6U9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The cuttings thing is addictive by the way folks, isn't it?

[reddebs]

The cuttings thing is addictive by the way folks, isn't it?

It is but I always fail miserably. 

I follow all the tips yet never had a success at anything I've tried propagating from cuttings yet my mum and sister could literally just stick a broken twig or a fallen leaf in some soil and it would grow.

My sister now works at a nurseries doing nothing but propagating and even showed me how to take cuttings when she was here a few weeks ago. 

All the ones she did have taken, all mine have died 😔

[AlphaDelta]

I could do with a bit of advice please.

I jet washed my patio in the back garden the other month and whilst it came up spotless, I also blasted out a lot of the stuff between the cracks of the flags.

Over the last couple of weeks these giant weeds have sprouted up all over the patio now. Normally I'd put it down to my jet washing skills, but its in the front garden as well, to be honest its like Day of the Triffords. 

Whats the best way to A, get rid of them and B, stop them coming back.

Thanks

[reddebs]

Best way is to dig them out and burn them mate as using weedkiller only lasts for so long and they'll keep coming back.

I have to say though things se to have grown bigger than usual this year. 

Cow parsley, angelica, mother die and even the fox gloves have been huge!

[Red-Soldier]

Best way is to dig them out and burn them mate as using weedkiller only lasts for so long and they'll keep coming back.

I have to say though things se to have grown bigger than usual this year. 

Cow parsley, angelica, mother die and even the fox gloves have been huge!

Yep.  It's the combination of sun and rain.

[reddebs]

Yep.  It's the combination of sun and rain.

True, I'm just hoping it'll help get the tomatoes growing now we've got a bit of warmth for at least a week.

[Sarge]

No is the time to cut and propagate, get yourself some compost, grit one if possible, cells trays, growth powder, some plastic and fire away. Remove all flowers and new growth and plant away.

[reddebs]

No is the time to cut and propagate, get yourself some compost, grit one if possible, cells trays, growth powder, some plastic and fire away. Remove all flowers and new growth and plant away.

I think it's the plastic bit I get wrong mate cos I don't cover them and I probs should but my sister never does.

I'll give it a go again though.

[Sarge]

I think it's the plastic bit I get wrong mate cos I don't cover them and I probs should but my sister never does.

I'll give it a go again though.

Dark plastic but not in direct sun.

[reddebs]

Dark plastic but not in direct sun.

Don't think I've got any dark plastic unless I cut up a bin liner.

[royhendo]

It is but I always fail miserably. 

I follow all the tips yet never had a success at anything I've tried propagating from cuttings yet my mum and sister could literally just stick a broken twig or a fallen leaf in some soil and it would grow.

My sister now works at a nurseries doing nothing but propagating and even showed me how to take cuttings when she was here a few weeks ago. 

All the ones she did have taken, all mine have died 😔

A load of mine die too but some of them take and they’re like babies!

[AlphaDelta]

Best way is to dig them out and burn them mate as using weedkiller only lasts for so long and they'll keep coming back.

I have to say though things se to have grown bigger than usual this year. 

Cow parsley, angelica, mother die and even the fox gloves have been huge!

Superb, thank you very much. I've got to be honest, never seen them grow this big before.

[reddebs]

Superb, thank you very much. I've got to be honest, never seen them grow this big before.

It's been perfect growing conditions for most things this year but if you keep digging them out eventually you'll get the better of them.

[royhendo]

What do they look like AlphaDelta?

[Slippers]

Best way is to dig them out and burn them mate as using weedkiller only lasts for so long and they'll keep coming back.

I have to say though things se to have grown bigger than usual this year. 

Cow parsley, angelica, mother die and even the fox gloves have been huge!

So have the brambles and thistles.

[Col]

Does anyone have a failsafe way of getting rid of grapevines, wild roses, wisteria and poison ivy / poison oak?

I get the feeling I'm going to have to dig the whole lot up about 10' deep to get rid of the roots...

[royhendo]

Don’t get rid of wisteria!

[Sarge]

Don’t get rid of wisteria!

[Col]

Don’t get rid of wisteria!

Why not?

[reddebs]

Why not?

It's beautiful 😍

[royhendo]

Yeah it’s immense. All I want is the gable end of the house engulfed in it. Inject the global warming into my veins! (Only jokin.)

Mixed day here - moved two nasturtiums - they’re in a terrible sulk now. But also went and had a look at a go at air layering in a little soy sauce pot on a lavender shrub and it’s worked. The baby clone is now happily transplanted into a pot to see how it’ll get on but thus far, touch wood, it’s going well.

[reddebs]

Having never grown veggies before am I supposed to lift all my spuds now they've had a full 15 weeks growing time?

They're 2nd earlies and I've been digging one plant at a time as I've needed them so do I carry on doing the same or lift and store them?

[Crimson]

Looking to plant some cat friendly plants on my veranda. Preferably one that stay green throughout the winter months  Any suggestions? Google only returns toxic plants, but no proper alternatives..

[reddebs]

Looking to plant some cat friendly plants on my veranda. Preferably one that stay green throughout the winter months  Any suggestions? Google only returns toxic plants, but no proper alternatives..

What sort of size are we talking mate? 

I don't mean how big's the veranda, I mean the plants. 

Do you want tall, short, skinny, bushy, with flowers or without, with berries or winter colour from stems or leaves?

How much sun does it get each day and what time of day?

[royhendo]

Am I right in thinking there's no point sowing more annual seed this year to expect it to bloom in autumn? The only thing worth starting off for use this year now are things like beetroot and veg for Christmas - is that right?

We're getting a lot of things just not coming through this year (marigolds and cosmos in particular).

[John C]

We're getting a lot of things just not coming through this year (marigolds and cosmos in particular).

You're right about the Cosmos Roy, my cousin introduced me to them last year, I had loads and it was only when one popped out this week when I realised I had them.

Marigolds here are on steroids though mate, bloody thriving.

[reddebs]

Am I right in thinking there's no point sowing more annual seed this year to expect it to bloom in autumn? The only thing worth starting off for use this year now are things like beetroot and veg for Christmas - is that right?

We're getting a lot of things just not coming through this year (marigolds and cosmos in particular).

I'm still waiting for the vast majority of stuff to flower here.

Delphiniums have only just flowered, begonias not a sign yet, nor my usually prolific lillies, the sweet peas are barely half way up their wigwam with not a bud in sight.

The potentilla had its first flowers appear yesterday, the buddleia has a few buds but only one flower visible.

My dwarf beans are just coming into flower which we should be eating by now.

It's just been a shit year for some things I think mate.

[reddebs]

I could really do with some advice on part of the garden that's difficult to know what to do with.

It's the border on the south side of the garden, where the BBQ and patio furniture is, where we sit out and where all the windows look out on so in theory should be our most colourful and eye catching.

It's clearly been well loved previously as there's some lovely established bushes and shrubs etc but it's been so neglected for a few years it was more like woodland when we arrived.

It's got euonymus japonicus, a couple of fly honeysuckles, a couple of variagated laurels, a rhodedendron, a camellia, a couple of buddleia, a forsythia, a spirea japonica, an absolutely beautiful climbing rose with nothing to climb,
2 different pieris, potentilla, a skimmia japonica, weigela, a hebe and I've added a kerria.

Behind it though is a very overgrown hedge of mainly wild plum, ash, privet, hawthorn and wild rose which is all intertwined with ivy 😡 we've cut a lot down but had to stop whilst the birds were nesting so the rest will come down soon once the chain saw arrives.

We've cut a lot of the shrubs right back and those we've left to flower will be cut right back in autumn as they've got quite straggly and I've spent a good few days digging out ivy, nettle and bramble roots so now I'm ready for planting some colour.

My issue is there's basically no soil at all, it's nearly all pebbles on about a 95%-5% ratio so what the hell do I plant?

I know I can put compost and/manure in when I plant anything but is that all it needs or would you not even bother and just get lots of really nice pots that can go anywhere with pretty much anything in?

[royhendo]

Thanks for your help above guys - it’s prep for next year and veg then!

On the dry border Debs, hows the light - is the hedge blocking it?

[reddebs]

Thanks for your help above guys - it’s prep for next year and veg then!

On the dry border Debs, hows the light - is the hedge blocking it?

Yeah it's blocking the light and the view so it'll be coming down to just above the height of the fence soon, so about 4ft.

The south west corner where the camellia and rhodedendron is we'll keep a bit higher as I know they don't like it too hot and that's where the privet is which is really pretty when it flowers.

To be honest I'll probably fill it with pots rather than plant stuff as I genuinely don't see how anything can grow there even though it has.  Come to think of it the kerria we put in is doing really well.

I've bought a metal archway for the rose to climb over and I've no idea how I'll get the spikes into the ground now to secure it 🤦

[Medellin]

Strawberry plants..

Got a good little crop of a decent plant purchased a few months back..didn't know you had to clip the runners to aid growth..novice at greenfingery stuff as you can tell.
Anyways..had a go at rooting some of the runners, a few have survived, will they survive a winter or do you have to bring them indoors or house them?

[royhendo]

Well there are a lot of plants that like those conditions Debs - Euphorbia is the one that springs to mind. Astrantia, astilbe, foxglove, Japanese anenome, loosestrife, echinops… oh and ferns.

[royhendo]

Medellin ours sat outside the whole time - one plant is now about a dozen two years on, they’re great!

[Red-Soldier]

Strawberry plants..

Got a good little crop of a decent plant purchased a few months back..didn't know you had to clip the runners to aid growth..novice at greenfingery stuff as you can tell.
Anyways..had a go at rooting some of the runners, a few have survived, will they survive a winter or do you have to bring them indoors or house them?

Strawberries are tough as old boots mate.  A couple of plants rapidly turns into a few, and so on, and so on.  The runners just root themselves if they are touching soil.