Annie5

Talkback: Hostas and slugs

I have some hostas which I hate the slugs getting too.  I start putting down some slug pellets just before the plant emerges. Last year I tried some nemaslug treatment as I had heard Monty Don talking about this.  It was great I didn't apply it until May it gives 6 weeks of cover this also helps the new growth of other plants emerging.  I am just about to apply some today as the ground temperature is ready and we had some very heavy rain yesterday which is the ideal time to apply it.

What I would really like is to have some frogs move in as they would certainly help a lot. 

My dahlia tubers are not doing anything

I over wintered mine in the loft and planted in compost same time as Monty.  I put them out in my unheated greenhouse beginning of April and still have them in there just now.  The greenhouse had been insulated with bubble wrap which helps a lot. Some are about 12ins high and some smaller but about three or four still not showing signs of growth.  Living in Scotland I am very pleased with percentage saved over winter.  I have about 33 in total but I won't be planting in border until nearing end of month when all chance of frost has gone. I would persevere as it is still early days yet and it all depends on temperature. Once the weather turns warmer you may find a difference. Good luck.

Rejuvinating old roses

Could anyone help me with a query.  I am trying to find out if now is too early to start pruning my old roses to rejuvinate them.  These are roses which we inherited when we moved house 2 years ago.  I already pruned them last year and they did flower better but there is a lot of old branches which I am wary of taking away but they do not provide many flowers.

Help with ericacious compost

I also love lillies but grow them in pots and place them through the borders when a space appears.  This year at Harrogate I also discovered that some lillies prefer ericaceous compost, the large oriental ones I think.  Though I have grown some in normal compost, I am trying out the ericaceous compost this year with the new lillies I bought at the show.  I would also agree to adding well rotted manure to your bed as I have taken out some trees and had the same problems with roots left behind.  There certainly is a lot of worms in it but it also takes a lot of hard digging breaking up the soil.  Good luck.

The best multi purpose compost this year

I find that Murphys compost is very good, but I tend to mix in some John Innis to it.  Unlike Insomnia73 I found B&Q compost not bad.  I also keep all my used compost and add to garden beds when pots have finished flowering, to improve the soil.

Meconopsis (Himalayan Blue Poppy)

I have had a  mecanopsis for 6 years now.  It had very large flowers at first but after moving it in 2010 it has flowered this year with smaller flowers and is not as tall.  There was around 7 buds on the plant and it is still a lovely blue colour.

Rejuvinating old roses