blairs

Any garden questions to really test us

I have the wood from 3 pallets and unused 8ft fence panels. I have an area of ground at the bottom of my garden 2 metres by 3metres that needs something. I will stain/paint to make it look appropraite. Any ideas on what I can make. Am thinking something with shelter as it is over looked for now perhaps a winter shelter for some plant pots. It is almost full sun but right next to my neighbours fence and 5 metres from their convervatory.

Waitrose garden

Tesco, Waitrose and Next are all Crocus plants!

Help Please!

Do you have the Dahlia in an unheated greenhouse? My tubers are still in the garage resting, though it pushes up the odd shoot - I would like to put them outside in the greenhouse asap.

My Dahlia imperialis is in the bathroom (south facing window) and is romping away as it is inside. I want it to grow tall this year.

RHS Online Plant Shop

Not had any problems with Crocus and they normally have a good rep. Duchy nursery is good buy is now £12 delivery!

Who pays for Things

I never thought about who pays (apart from one episode of Beechgrove last year when a BBC Scotland reporter, Eleanor Bradford, had her new garden done by the team!!!, nothing like a bit of nepotism).

I suppose Monty is famous enough to get plants/greenhouses for free/substantial discount. When a plant is mentioned on TV its sales shoot up.

Help! What colour should I paint my fence?

Sponge affect over that amount of fence is going to take a lot of work! It took me several days to stain my fencing using a brush.

Another shrivelled bamboo query...

I would keep it well watered and out of the wind. Wind can cause it to look worse than it is.

Help - should my acer palmatum be in acid soil?

It is wrong advice based on that in nature they are found in dappled sun in woodlands. They like any loose compost, so any from the garden centre, with a mulch and feed and they will be fine.

Help! What colour should I paint my fence?

I would paint all the fence and trellis in one colour. I also think dark stain makes the green of plants stand out.

I would paint with the pergola orange like this:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/lorees-dangerously-beautiful-garden-garden-tour-173945

Or paint the shed in yellow with the window trim in white to make it stand out like this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/christellefv/6091058318/

If painting one stain the other like the fence for best effect.

Growing Eryngium

Sounds like you have a good spot. I have some in my garden. They easily get over 1-1.5 metres. Add grit to the planting hole and place at the back of the border. Apart from good sun and drainage and cutting them down nowish then they are easy.

Agave Seed Germination

Not GWM getting advertised discount @ Crocus

tetrapanax papyrifer seed germination