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Total number of topics in this forum: 41


Suggestions for terrazzo containers (contemporary style)

Question from Mrs Holst

Hi there

We are very close to finishing our garden, I have attached a photo to show its work in progress style.

This coming week we will be putting a stone step positioned below and inbetween the two bay trees, next to this step both left and right we will build sleeper troughs, I believe we will plant garden herbs (possibly) into these.

Where the back fence is, we are putting 3 black terrazzo troughs (they match the bay tree containers) (70cm long, 40 cm high, 27 depth).

Our garden is southeast facing - the back gets quite a bit of sun in the afternoon, at summer's peak it has sun until 7pm, autumn until around 5pm, winter not so sure.

I am trying to get some inspiration on what to put into these pots - does anyone have any suggestions? Our style is contemporary - also we have children so they have to be fairly child friendly. And anything I can plant between now and early October would be useful.

Also I am a beginner so something that is fairly hardy.

Thank you for your help.

Kind regards

  • Views: 11
  • Replies: 0
  • Posted: Mon. 6th September 2010 21:54

Help removing invasive tropical grass plant

Question from Francis Callaghan

Can anyone help me with some information on how I can remove a large tropical grass like plant that is invading my entire garden?

A few years back I didn't have much growing in my garden (I am VERY new to gardening) and I noticed some shoots growing on one of my borders. I let them grow and it turned out to be a tropical grass type plant. It flourished to the point where it got to approx a meter and a half high and covered about three metres of my border!
I have cut it back vigerously to just three large root balls - but I haven't a clue how to get rid of these. Is there anything I can apply that will kill them off? I have tried to disect the root ball with a spade prior to digging up - but the spade just bounces off as the root ball is so dense!
Also, worrying, tiny clumps of offshoots have started appearing in other parts of my garden....any suggestions anyone?

Thanks in advance for any help.

  • Views: 57
  • Replies: 4
  • Posted: Wed. 4th August 2010 15:07
  • Last reply: Sat. 7th August 2010 10:57

Forsythia Propagation

Question from Lesley Deakin

Hi

I'm not exactly new to gardening just completely rubbish at it.

I took some forsythia cuttings from my mom's garden and followed the bbc gardening guide on how to do it to the letter! However, 2 hours later they are wilting and showing signs of rapid death already lol. Did I take them too early? Does anyolne know where I went wrong?

this years growth
6" long
cut just below leaf joint
removed lower leaves
posted in small pot using rooting powder/compost/watered/covered/in green house

looking dead already :(

Thank you
Lesley

  • Views: 30
  • Replies: 1
  • Posted: Thu. 29th July 2010 17:51
  • Last reply: Fri. 30th July 2010 15:33

Crispy Acer

Comment from Susan Byng

Hello everyone.
I have a Japenese Acer and it has completely gone to crisp.I know the hot weather has been a bit unkind of late but my Acer has no green at all.I have moved it around the garden for heat,cool and wind free but it looks very poorly.It was ok in the Spring.It is lovely compost and in a patio pot.All help please.

  • Views: 37
  • Replies: 1
  • Posted: Sun. 25th July 2010 22:43
  • Last reply: Tue. 27th July 2010 20:04

Best evergreens for fence above the pond

Question from Joanne

Hello guys
I am new here and am eager to seek your help and advice.
I would like to plant an evergreen plant(s) on my south-facing fence over my new pond/ waterfall. The site is in the corner (the other side is east-facing). In the very corner I intend to plant a red-berried pyracantha, which will in time close the entry spot into my garden to all marauding cats (sorry cat lovers - but I really do not like cats using my garden for toilet purposes). For the remaining 2 south-facing panels I was considering the following;
1. - Clematis armmandii (?)
2. - Evergreen carpenteria californica
3. - Ceanothus
My questions are:
- is carpenteria californica an easy plant to train(?) along the fence and how "fragrant" are the flowers (never seen it, just the photos!)
- which form of ceanothus would be the best for training on the fence
- any other plant worth considering
There are few requirements which I consider quite important: the plants really need to be evergreen as do not wish to look on bare fence plus no leave drop into pond, with fragrant flowers (summer), interesting leaves (i.e. variegated, different shades of green, so the fence does not look monotone) and if possible with more than one season of interest.
I would be most grateful for any suggestions/ ideas.
BTW - the garden is in SW London
Thank you
Joanne

  • Views: 72
  • Replies: 3
  • Posted: Thu. 8th July 2010 00:22
  • Last reply: Thu. 15th July 2010 13:34

Why do my dianthus buds fall off?

Question from Katie Harwood

I have a dianthus whatfield can-can, which I planted in early May. It had a few small buds on it when I bought it, but a few weeks later all except one fell off, just when they looked about to open. I had one lovely flower open up. Then it budded again, and a week ago most of those also fell off. What's going on?

  • Views: 75
  • Replies: 3
  • Posted: Fri. 2nd July 2010 20:14
  • Last reply: Wed. 7th July 2010 12:38

Specimen conifers

Question from charles ward

Hi
Could anyone help with a few suggestions? I have been given two conifers, one a Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd'the other a Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Pottenii' and told they reach a maximum height of 3m.

I would like to add four different specimens to this group, all conical in shape, all different colours and all around the 3m height mark, I realise this is a lot to hope for but is there anything that may fit the bill?

Many thanks Charles

  • Views: 38
  • Replies: 1
  • Posted: Fri. 25th June 2010 17:24
  • Last reply: Wed. 30th June 2010 19:58

which rose type?

Question from Alison Draper

I would like to grow a rose plant(s) along the length of a dry stone wall c. 9 metres long to give a hedge effect. The wall stands about half a metre high and is west facing/sunny with a bigger drop on the other side of the wall. I would like the plant to stand above it and drop over it in a loose informal manner but there's not much width available for a large bush. What sort of rose should I look for shrub,climber etc ? I've never grown a rose before and the different types are bewildering!

  • Views: 51
  • Replies: 1
  • Posted: Thu. 17th June 2010 13:05
  • Last reply: Thu. 17th June 2010 15:40

Which small hedge would you choose for this space

Question from Mrs Holst

Hi

Just returned from Wyevale who suggested 4 options for a hedge- Choisya White Dazzler, Hebe Sapphire, Escallonia Red, and Viburnum davidii.

Choisya and Hebe appeal the most. Our small front yard gets sun from 1pm. Which out of Choisya White Dazzler and Hebe Sapphire would you choose and why?

Images of small front yard attached to give you an idea of the space (or lack of).

Thanks for your help.

  • Views: 139
  • Replies: 2
  • Posted: Fri. 28th May 2010 13:23
  • Last reply: Fri. 28th May 2010 17:01

Starting garden from scratch

Question from Kathydoll

Hi

We've a new border running alongside fencing with neighbours on the back and side fences.

Could anyone recommend plants (ideally evergreen) which will form some light screening without growing too deep i.e. taking up too much of the border. The garden gets reasonably sunshine throughout the day, and the soil is loamy/claylike.

Thank you in advance!

  • Views: 303
  • Replies: 6
  • Posted: Mon. 27th July 2009 22:03
  • Last reply: Mon. 3rd August 2009 23:23

 

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