The Garden Doctor is IN !

[Romig1]

I try not to let them see me chucking them outside their houses

or over their fence if they have annoyed you?

[qbman1]

Trouble is they come back if you don't throw them far enough. We have homing snails around here

[clairemarie55]

Can anyone help with my Hawthorn Bush please ,

We bought it 3 years so we could make Sloe Gin but have never had any berries on it yet, Its very lush and looks quite healthy but Im still having to buy Gordons,

[qbman1]

Claire - hello, and welcome

Sorry if I sound pedantic (it's what I do!), but are you sure it is a hawthorn? Sloes are produced on the blackthorn bush whereas the hawthorn is more commonly known as "may" or "quickthorn"

Whilst the blackthorn should flower in the first couple of years, it can take 4 years or more to set fruit so I think you will need to be patient.....and keep buying the Gordon's !

[Susan Watt]

Or go tea total

[Susan Watt]

Sorry misspelling "tee total".

[suespud]

Iv just discovered roses...
My mam used to grow them and had a garden full of pink Queen Elizabeth shrubs..but I was never a fan..
Until I went to Alnwick Gardens this year!!!
Bought 5 shrubs... went round and stuck my nose in all the blooms on the open roses till I found some I really liked.
Sooo Im a rose convert.
Bought The Rose Expert book to gain some knowledge.

[qbman1]

You'll be able to answer the Giant's earlier question about ground cover roses now then, Spuddy !

Sorry, they are still not my favourite

[suespud]

Sorry, but back to thread if I may

Who can recommend a rose that would make great ground cover plus supplier

Thanks in anticipation

Graham

Page 99 in The Rose Expert book....
ohhh then refers to pages 54-59...ground cover roses..
Different types...small creeping, large
creeping, small arching, large arching...
Book recommends Arching...Bonica,Fiona and Rosy cushion.
creeping..Nozomi and Max Graf....or Grouse and Avon.
If it is a large expanse use...Game Bird or County.
Or you can peg down a rambler such a Crimson Shower.

Hope this helps you Graham.
Sue
x

[oldbluefox]

Has anybody tried custard powder instead of rooting hormone powder?

My dad always used it and we always laughed at him. However I recently had a beautiful large hydrangea bush which had the most beautiful flowers but it had to go due to big changes on our patio and it was in the way. No way could we move it so I took cuttings. Some I put in rooting powder and some in custard powder. All my custard powder ones grew beautifully, into big, strong healthy plants.

And yes it was Bird's custard powder!!! And no, the flowers weren't all yellow!!!

Anybody else heard of that one before?

[suespud]

Has anybody tried custard powder instead of rooting hormone powder?

My dad always used it and we always laughed at him. However I recently had a beautiful large hydrangea bush which had the most beautiful flowers but it had to go due to big changes on our patio and it was in the way. No way could we move it so I took cuttings. Some I put in rooting powder and some in custard powder. All my custard powder ones grew beautifully, into big, strong healthy plants.

And yes it was Bird's custard powder!!! And no, the flowers weren't all yellow!!!

Anybody else heard of that one before?

Never heard of that
made me smile...glad it worked ..lol

[qbman1]

A new one on me too, OBF, but most cuttings will root perfectly well without any rooting powder anyway. I guess the custard powder works in the same way by sealing and cauterising the cut ends. In fact, some subjects, like succulents, will root better if cut and left for a few days to dry out before planting

[Stephen]

My dear old Grandad always swore by Moneymaker as well. You can't beat some of the old tried and tested varieties.

Personally I prefer the small bite-sized fruit and you can't do better that good old Gardener's Delight - always reliable. This year I am trying Sungold as well.

qb

Try the Piccolo Cherry Tomato. Small and very tasty, from Morrisons.

I'm going to grow them next year.

Seeds from:

[suespud]

Ok HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I watered all my pots last night, but in this heat and sunshine 28 degrees here and a south facing garden...some are wilting already... I know im not supposed to water in the glaring sunshine...but what do I do?
By the time the sun goes down the plants will be baked dry !!!!!!

[oldbluefox]

Could you put the pots in a bowl of water and water them from below, Sue? Alternatively an upside down drinks bottle pushed into the soil/compost next to the plant so the water goes straight to the roots and not on the leaves.
Listen to me, you'd think I was an expert!!!

[Andrea S]

Sue, Maybe the watering has scorched the leaves which might you lose some foliage ,in the past I have had the same experience. I was advised to water the soil only on very hot days , preferably from the roots. If your pots are free standing the root thing will be difficult. If they are more moveable ( you can buy bases on wheels) try and put some of the plastic saucers underneath and keep topping them up. Mist the foliage when it is cooler. Everywhere you look has been so colourful this year and one week of sunshine plays havoc.

[oldbluefox]

Bl**dy sunshine. We could do with some rain!!!

[Jean W]

Here's another expert - 'not'

I would try watering into the soil around the plants. Having said that. it's so hot that the soil will still dry quickly but your plants might get a little.

Weeks ago my Hubby spent ages working on our Lawn (time he could ill afford), but his work has paid off. The Lawn has recovered beautifully and now - well - it's so dry. The Sprinkler's going on tonight

[suespud]

Thank you for your replies.
I have about 40 pots and 15 wall/hangy baskets so moving then around to water from the bottom no really feasable.
I liked the idea of the upside down bottles. Going to save them instead of recycling.
In the end I did water as close to the soil as possible, they seem to be picking up .

When Id just fnished, my son came with his Olly and Noah.
Ages 5 and 9 months.

Olly asked if he could have the paddling pool out.
Got it out, blew it up and started to fill it with water....
Then my phone rang...I left the hose under the control of my son, while I took the call..a fairly long call..in the front room where is was quiet and cool.
Yes you know whats coming.........
I went back into the garden and the whole place is dripping with water...pots, baskets, garden....
My son had kindly watered the garden for me to save me having to do it tonight!!!!!

NO he isnt a gardener......
Oh well.

[clairemarie55]

Claire - hello, and welcome

Sorry if I sound pedantic (it's what I do!), but are you sure it is a hawthorn? Sloes are produced on the blackthorn bush whereas the hawthorn is more commonly known as "may" or "quickthorn"

Whilst the blackthorn should flower in the first couple of years, it can take 4 years or more to set fruit so I think you will need to be patient.....and keep buying the Gordon's !

Hi ,Yes sorry I meant a Blackthorn bush..Yes it did flower but no berries,,,Many thanks for your help and I shall keep buying the Gordons..!

[clairemarie55]

Iv got a large Peony in a big pot,,,It produces flower buds but they don't open,,,,

[qbman1]

Sue, Maybe the watering has scorched the leaves which might you lose some foliage ,in the past I have had the same experience. I was advised to water the soil only on very hot days , preferably from the roots. If your pots are free standing the root thing will be difficult. If they are more moveable ( you can buy bases on wheels) try and put some of the plastic saucers underneath and keep topping them up. Mist the foliage when it is cooler. Everywhere you look has been so colourful this year and one week of sunshine plays havoc.

Sound advice, Andrea.

The recommendation not to water in bright sunshine really only refers to keeping water off the foliage as any water droplets can act as tiny magnifying glasses and burn the leaves. The maxim is is anything is dry and likely to suffer, water it at any time regardless. Just take care not to splash the water around too much.

[qbman1]

Iv got a large Peony in a big pot,,,It produces flower buds but they don't open,,,,

There are a number of reasons why paeony buds fail to open, the most common being that the plants do not get enough sunlight or they are planted too deeply. Is yours in a shady spot Claire Marie ?

[oldbluefox]

Anybody know anything about rhubarb? I have had a plant in now for 3 years and although we get plenty of growth the sticks of rhubarb are like pencils. Somebody told me to give them plenty of manure so they have been doused well with rotted horse manure but there's no appreciable difference in the thickness of the rhubarb. I wondered if it was because it was a new plant but when we had rhubarb as a child it sprouted like mad with no care or attention at all.

Any ideas?

[clairemarie55]

Iv got a large Peony in a big pot,,,It produces flower buds but they don't open,,,,

There are a number of reasons why paeony buds fail to open, the most common being that the plants do not get enough sunlight or they are planted too deeply. Is yours in a shady spot Claire Marie ?

Now I think about it,,yes it is,,,it does get sun but only for part of the day,,It had loads of buds on too,,but they'v all withered up,,I will move it when autumn comes. Thanks so much for the help.! x