Gran/Grandads Gardening Corner

I only bought my Vanilla Fraiche hydrangea online (.from a reputable company) last year. I can't honestly remember if it had flowers on it, but I think not Foxy. When. I say n buds, I mean so buds that look,viable. Perhaps there is still time for them to swell, but everything else in the garden is sprouting already.

Hmm. Maybe not bamboo then, we have two in tubs we use as a windbreak but really want to plant that area as it's so small. Thanks merlot, we also wondered about ferns, will look at the Rodgersia, a new one on me. tAny more suggestions? All thoughts welcome.

We have a long photinia (Red Robin) hedge - googling produces the advice to pinch out the new buds at this time of year to encourage the red leaves. This operation would involve days and days as it is a very long hedge. Could we just hedge trimmer it back when it starts to grow?

Yes, photinia can be cut successfully with a hedge trimmer. They are so beautiful in sunlight.

Yes,Lucky that will do fine.In fact in tests of all sorts of plants, including roses, careful pruning versus a chainsaw massacre shows that the plants all grow back with vigour, and you can be too precious about pruning methods.
DH uses long handled secateurs for the chop of photinias or long handled shears, but if you have a whole hedge of them, use the hedge trimmer.

X posts J52

Thanks both - when should I do that? - should I wait for it to grow a few inches and take that off to encourage the red leaves; or shall I wait till it is taller than we want?

Anya yes, it should look like old sticks at the moment! Don't worry.The vanille Frais is a paniculata form of hydrangea and mine doesn't have buds as yet either.Our normal hydrangeas do have buds , but are a different kettke of fish.
With the paniculata form, let it grow as it wants to for a year or so and then in late Winter /early Spring trim to make a nice framework, then just let it grow.As it gets bigger in the pot, trim back each year.When it does get buds, give it a feed.

Lucky ours are already putting new red growth out which looks lovely, are yours doing the same?If so, enjoy the colour and trim back later on.

Yes - definitely lots of red leaves now - I will wait until it needs a trim!

This thread is great for me as I am learning lots! It is very exciting to see this new (to us) garden emerging day by day.

And some of the roses in the scented garden that we planted are getting leaves!

Nfk Dumpling thank you for your advice on the walnut tree, too late now to cut back then?? OK will wait now until August and give it a good old haircut.

The quandary will be with the walnut tree that the nuts will be formed by late August and you may have to relinquish some of the crop! (The tree surgeon said late August for us here in Norfolk - so it may be a bit different wherever you are Grandelly)

Time to plant your broad beans, sweet peas and hollyhocks for transplanting later.

Can anyone tell me what to do about my poor little snowdrops. It's a flower that gives me great pleasure when they bloom but this year they seem to have disappeared I only have 1 flower and about 4 blind plants. Have no idea what has happened but would like to save the ones I have. How do I get the blind ones to flower next year?

Ah Jaxie - I am keen to grow sweet peas, as they are my favourite and I have never had a garden where I could grow them. What is it I need to be doing please?

Have you had a dig around to see if the bulbs are still there Gill? Perhaps something small and hungry such as a mouse has happened along and eaten them.

I've just pulled down my huge clematis ( winter beauty) which covers my shed. I don't like brown sheds so they ( mine & OHs) are both painted powder blue. Other halfs shed is covered as well but i will paint my one first.
Separated lilies. I now have so many I will be giving them away.
What I don't understand about leaving daffs and feeding them is: near us there are masses which the council have planted, as soon as they are straggly they are mown down and still look lovely the next year.

Another question. Is there a clematis that will withstand wind? Really strong, coastal wind at that. There is an empty spot that is just crying out for a clematis, but it's in a wind tunnel. Any hope? I love them, have two in more sheltered spots and don't want to plant something that is automatically destined for the compost heap.

Does anyone. Grow. cockburnianus? I ,,love it, but I wonder if it will try to take over,

Does anyone grow agapanthus in pots? I have two pots with them in and although they have made leaves, they never seem to flower and I wonder if the pots are too big, because I seem to remember reading somewhere that they like cramped conditions. Also spider lilies. Are they the same?

I have Agapanthus in my garden, not knowing when I planted it that they like cramped conditions. I planted this one bulb (Headbourne) nearly 20 years ago and it flowers like a trouper it is by the pond against some rocks so I think it likes the heat from the rocks. I did by an expensive one from Tatton which I grew in a pot flowers were almost navy, but I left it out and we had a bad winter so it is no more. Liverpool is quite mild usually.

Liuckygirl if you are growing sweat peas for the first time, I would buy seedlings that will be easily available in the garden centres soon. After the danger of frost has past you can plant them out. I grow mine in a large deep round planter and make a cane wigwam for them to grow up.
They like lots of hummus and to be regularly fed when in bloom. I use tomato food. When the flowers die off dead head them straight away to encourage new flowers.
You can grow them from seed now. I plant the seeds in cardboard tubes from toilet/kitchen rolls as they do best with long roots.

Just ordered some more Hydrangeas, Glam Rock this time. They are quite striking. They show more blue in acid soil, so I shall try one pot in alkaline and the other in acid conditions.

Hummus???

I still have leaves but will get them up and see if anything has been helping themselves to the bulbs. Think I will get some in the green soon for next year though a move the one survivors. Thanks NfkDumpling