Bill Mansfield

sanity in need of restoring

I'll put the kettle on

greenhouse?

Hi All,

I have this space...

 It used to have a tomato greenhouse and a mini greenhouse. Both the metal pole type with the plastic covering over them. The photo is taken looking South and it gets a lot of direct sun. I thought it would be the ideal spot, but I live on a corner house and its quite open.

So it was windy a couple of days and both decided to blow away. They didn't get far before my wife caught them. I cant attach them to the wall as its my neighbours house. I can't think of a way to hold them down as the both had things in the when they blew away, so were weighed down.

So I am looking for a small greenhouse to put there, either a bought one or a made one. Problem is its quite  a small place 90x120 (3" x 4") would be great, but I can't find on that small that opens on the smalled side Or they are so incredibley expensive to be prohibitive.

Does anyone know of something that would fit the bill?

Many thanks,

Bill

whats wrong with my tree?

Hi all,

I have a peach tree and a nectarine tree. Both are dwarf and in pots. They came as bare root trees a month or so ago. I potted them both up at the same time. The peach had many lovely pink flowers with I hand pollinated and is not leaved and looking good.

The nectarine on the other hand looks to have plenty buds on it, but it still looks like it did on the day of its arrival. I peeled a little bark back at the bottom as someone suggested and it looks yellow/green inside so alive right?

Is this normal for the nectarine to be so much later to flower/leave or is it just not right? My apple, pear and plum have all had flowers and/or leaves already too.

 peach left, nectarine right. The other two are apricot dawnglow.

Thanks,

Bill

to bark or not

Hi all,

I have very hard clay in the garden and have dug it over several times, but not in every bed added compost.I have now planted some shrubs and trees and even some flowers.

My problem is that I have lots of bark chippings I bought, but am scared to put it down.

I can't really explain why. I had every intention of putting it down as soon as I cleared the planting beds, but then got cold feet. All the weeds grew back and I had to clear it all again, but still I am a little apprehensive.

Thoughts like how will I dig over the ground with bark on it?

How will my flowers grown next year through it?

How will I add plants to it?

Will the hard clay just be harder/worse?

Should I get it planted up before I add the bark? I have lots of seedlings coming along to plant. Should I even use it at all?

Many thanks,

Bill

sanity in need of restoring

When we moved in

 now

sanity in need of restoring

 Front garden when we moved in

 In October when I first started to clear and change it

 how the garden looks now

sanity in need of restoring

thanks everyone. I am in good company. I have to admit the weather and my little one have been keeping me very busy. That and tinkering in the world of seeds and propagation! Of the lessons I've learnt!

Anyway have been back in the garden recently and will post some photos of before and after. I can see that mine is a minor complaint compared to some of yours.

You'll see too that I am full of questions...

Bill

roses

Dear all,

I have a garage at bottom of my garden. I'd like to have 2 roses climbing on it.

I have looked at the David Austin site and had some suggestions from them. I wanted one red and one yellow. Here are the 4 I have in mind, but I only need 2.

Rambling rosie http://www.davidaustinroses.com/english/showrose.asp?showr=4925

or Super Elfin http://www.davidaustinroses.com/english/showrose.asp?showr=3550

Laura for http://www.davidaustinroses.com/english/showrose.asp?showr=3309

or Rosa arvensis http://www.davidaustinroses.com/english/showrose.asp?showr=2826

I know the last isn't strictly yellow, but its lovely with lots of yellow in the middle.

What you you think?

Many thanks,

Bill

chilli peppers

Dear all,

anyone have an idea which plant these are?

I want to grow and pickle them. You got them with feta cheese in Germany or on flammkuchen and also with kebabs.

http://www.21food.com/products/hot-green-pepper-491909.html

thanks,

Bill

pyracantha, honeysuckle or other

Hi all,

I have a fence between my garden and the neighbour. Its just plain featherboard and looks a little dull. I am looking for something to cover it (although NOT ivy).

There is now a Sorbus chinese lace in the sunnier end, but the fence runs north to south and is shaded by the fence itself in morning and the house pretty much most of the time except about 30-60mins midday.

I would prefer evergreen with flowers. Hoepfully something the birds will enoy or even nest in.My first thought was pyrancantha, but the bed in front of it is 120cm wide and might get swallowed up...

I want to try to grow some raspberries and beans in the bed in front, if light allows.

Many thanks,

Bill

greenhouse?

whats wrong with my tree?

to bark or not

roses

chilli peppers

pyracantha, honeysuckle or other

raised beds

weather and plants in pots

shrub suggestions

sanity in need of restoring

Hedge or border

can I plant now?