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Gardening

Help!!

(146 Posts)
Shinamae Fri 16-Sept-22 09:49:04

Nearly 70 I have only recently started taking an interest in my garden, it’s not huge but quite substantial and enough for me. I’ve bought some flowering plants earlier and a couple have survived ( I have no idea what they are by the way) anyway I really don’t know what’s happened to the ones look dead, is this part of the natural cycle has the vast amount of rain we had recently drowned them? what I would also like to ask is what plant I can get now which will be quite hardy and quite pretty for over the winter and beyond, I obviously don’t have green fingers so need something that doesn’t need a lot of attention.Oh by the way one thing I did do to those poor plants was accidentally put lawn feed in instead of plant food, would that have had this result? I hand this problem over to my very knowledgeable friends on this thread. Thanking you in anticipation…?? can anybody identify plants at the back that is going up the trellis? I bought it from Tesco reduced from £7 to £1.69, I won’t tell you what I paid for the others a couple of which I bought off the Internet, never again! ?‍♀️

Shinamae Wed 21-Sept-22 10:03:41

This is one of the plants I bought from the Internet I think it cost me £10!! I can’t understand why one of the plants have died but the other two aren’t looking too healthy either… Will never buy from the Internet again. I don’t drive but I have a garden centre within walking distance.. trying to upload the photo but it’s saying it’s too large which I don’t understand because I have uploaded photos much larger than this one ? I’ll try again… it just won’t so I’m gonna put on another photo of it which was bigger but was accepted! It’s the plant at the front with two sick looking ones and one absolutely dead, it is some sort of Daisy..

Germanshepherdsmum Wed 21-Sept-22 09:45:38

I find gardening is a perfect distraction from housework - while I’m outside I can’t see what needs doing inside.

Shinamae Wed 21-Sept-22 09:44:04

Thank you all for such good advice, can’t wait for that book to come and I will buy a big planter and see how that goes ?
As I loathe and detest housework….?

Germanshepherdsmum Wed 21-Sept-22 09:41:36

Shinamae, some of your pots, the ones causing problems, are quite small and look like they’re plastic, not a good combination for permanent planting. They would be fine for spring bulbs, which you really don’t need green fingers for, a bag of compost and put them in pointy side up a good couple of inches deep. For the permanent planting, one or two larger pots would be a good investment. They don’t have to be expensive. It won’t matter if they’re plastic if they’re big enough, won’t dry out so quickly and they will hold more compost for the plants to grow good healthy roots.

Germanshepherdsmum Wed 21-Sept-22 09:33:55

So sorry Chapeau, I thought it was spam!

Nell8 Wed 21-Sept-22 08:56:42

Bulbs look lovely in containers. Just a word of warning if you have squirrels in the area. They love digging up a nice, juicy tulip or crocus. You can try laying a piece of chicken wire over the top as protection before the bulbs come through.
Apparently squirrels don't like daffodils. "Tete a Tete" are very good performers. They are sold widely and aren't too expensive. Because they're small they don't bend over towards the sun as obviously as taller varieties.

Good luck! ?

J52 Wed 21-Sept-22 06:05:59

I agree that the large plant on the fence is a Jasmine, possibly a trachelospermum, which was a bargain if it cost £1.69.
My initial thought was that some of the pots were rather small, thus making the plants vulnerable to extremes of hot, cold and damp.
It’s hard to see what they were, but probably annuals. I never buy from the internet, as I like to see the quality of plants.
Part of my garden is a courtyard that is full of planters. My suggestions are: Go to a charity shop and pick up a few basic gardening books, go to a reputable garden centre and buy a largish planter and use the advice in the books to plant up a winter spring display.
You can mix plants and spring bulbs. Gardening is a journey of discovery and experience. No one ever gets it completely right.

MaizieD Wed 21-Sept-22 00:10:45

I don't think you can do anything dreadful to bulbs, they seem indestructible. So even if you planted pansies or violas and they didn't thrive the bulbs would still make good show in the spring. Crocus will come first, then daffodils with staggered flowering times. There are lots of lovely small ones that look good in pots. And narcissi. Species tulips would be nice in smallish pots, then large ones for bigger pots. The crocus and daffs will come back year after year and you can put summer bedding plants over them in the pots in the late spring.

Shinamae Tue 20-Sept-22 23:15:26

Daisymae

You could put a few bulbs in now for spring interest. Plant the pansies or violas over the top. You will need to replant early summer with bedding but you will have a good show

You make it sound so easy but I don’t think I’ve got green fingers…?.. look at the photos of what happened to my last lot of plants ?‍♀️

Daisymae Tue 20-Sept-22 23:12:38

You could put a few bulbs in now for spring interest. Plant the pansies or violas over the top. You will need to replant early summer with bedding but you will have a good show

Mapleleaf Tue 20-Sept-22 20:51:33

Those expert books are rather good - various ones for different topics, eg roses, shrubs etc. Worth a look, anyway.
Post didn’t need reporting, really, though I understand why as we’ve had quite a lot of “iffy” links lately.

Shinamae Tue 20-Sept-22 20:42:34

Thank you so much..? just ordered it..

Callistemon21 Tue 20-Sept-22 20:38:31

We have had a spate of dodgy links lately, Chapeau so I think GSM was just on the ball ?

Chapeau Tue 20-Sept-22 20:36:39

Thank you Callistemon21 and apologies to GSM.
The book I recommended is available through many other retailers including those selling 2nd hand copies.

Aldom Tue 20-Sept-22 20:34:36

Chapeau I don't think you have broken any rules. Lots of posters recommend companies etc. Your intention was to be helpful. Please don't worry. smile

Callistemon21 Tue 20-Sept-22 20:32:27

I've got that book ?
I also have some others by D G Hessayon

I think it's ok Germansheperdsmum

Just say "Other retailers available" Chapeau

Chapeau Tue 20-Sept-22 20:14:31

Oh dear! I think I've broken the rules. Is it the advertising for a book company? I forgot - I'm so sorry. Just wanted to recommend the book.

Germanshepherdsmum Tue 20-Sept-22 20:11:36

Reported

Chapeau Tue 20-Sept-22 20:10:39

Why not treat yourself to a book on container gardening. I recommend this:
www.goodreads.com/book/show/1044037.The_Container_Expert

lixy Tue 20-Sept-22 19:16:15

pauline1245

hello,
I'm looking for groundcover for a shady area , please

Vinca minor, also known as periwinkle? It comes in blue, pink or white and there is also a golden leaved version.

Callistemon21 Sat 17-Sept-22 12:52:21

ExDancer

Look up vine weevil bugs on Google. I've bought them in with plants from a Supermarket. They are the devil to shift.
Are the plants staying in the pots all winter? They will need sheltering from frost.

They ate the roots of my heucharas in pots.

Shinamae Sat 17-Sept-22 10:02:52

Jaxjacky

Pansies or violas for over winter into spring Shinamae.

Thank you will definitely get some pansies..?

Shinamae Sat 17-Sept-22 09:16:11

ExDancer

Look up vine weevil bugs on Google. I've bought them in with plants from a Supermarket. They are the devil to shift.
Are the plants staying in the pots all winter? They will need sheltering from frost.

Yes, they are staying in their pots, there’s no way I can put them in the ground anyway. I have bought some fleece covers but might just end up putting them in my small shed for the winter

ExDancer Fri 16-Sept-22 22:01:27

Look up vine weevil bugs on Google. I've bought them in with plants from a Supermarket. They are the devil to shift.
Are the plants staying in the pots all winter? They will need sheltering from frost.

ExDancer Fri 16-Sept-22 21:54:45

A few years ago all my plotted plants seemed to be dying, then a friend spotted that I'd got vine weevils in the soil. That may be what's ailing your little rose Bush. I'd top it out and re pot it in fresh compost.
Weevils look like fat little white wormy things curled into a 'C' shape, about a quarter of an inch long. If they're in your soil it'll be no use so bin it, scour the pot and wash the plant roots.