blairs

black bamboo

Black Bamboo need full sun (to go black), moist soil and to be kept out of strong wind. I have mine without a barrier and have no signs of running yet. Heavier the soil the less likely they are to run.

old greenhouse uses??

It will cost about £50 to reglaze it with strong polycarbonate.

Plant advice needed : damp shade

Are you sure the area is damp and shade all year? I have damp shade half the year then the other it gets a good dose of sun and can get very dry.

It makes a difference to plants.

Windy roof garden destroying everything

A hedge in large pots of hardy trees like Scots Pine (keep them pruned to keep them a hedge) would give you a wind break.

Gladioli die over winter and come back every late spring/early summer.

Heating the greenhouse

Re drainage, you would need to site it somewhere where it does not flood and water naturally flows away. Bottom of a slope is no good!

I found this link:

http://www.tulipsinthewoods.com/plant-care/cheap-and-easy-greenhouse/

Heating the greenhouse

LorraineP wrote (see)

blairs wrote (see)

Using the sun is the best way but no use during winter. Having the greenhouse in full sun and dug about 1 metre into the ground surrounded by stone chippings, having the floor tiled all retain heat and use the earths heat. A thermostatic fan heater will then keep the heat around the greenhouse.

Blairs, could you give a little more info 'dug about 1m into the ground surrounded by stone chippings'.  At the moment I'm visulising a sunken greenhouse!  Can't think thats what you mean.  Only ask as I am getting a greenhouse this year and am trying to gather as much info as pos so I get the right base laid.  Thanks.

Until recently all greenhouses were built into the ground - at least 1 metre with a trench around them. You only really had a top few feet of glass. Frost only penetrates  the top 3 inches and the earth naturally keeps plants above freezing point. If you put stone chippings around the greenhouse (they were built with brick foundations) then that is a heat sink as the stones retain heat. You could make the greenhouse warmer by using hot beds - grass clippings as blackest has said. It takes a bit of work though!

The bog standard glass greenhouses loose heat as it escapes out very easily. Have a brick foundation and it looses less heat and the brick retains heat. I would also always have a stone/paved floor in a greenhouse. Earth is no use.

drainage for tropical style garden

Bamboo and fern do not really need drainage but certainly the palms and Cordies will if you want to see them over winter. Lots of grit - you buy them in large packets for a few quid in GCs. Mix the grist with the soil and mix. Simple as adnd does work. I also add in bark and rough compost.

Heating the greenhouse

Using the sun is the best way but no use during winter. Having the greenhouse in full sun and dug about 1 metre into the ground surrounded by stone chippings, having the floor tiled all retain heat and use the earths heat. A thermostatic fan heater will then keep the heat around the greenhouse.

Acers

@Jean Genie - the soil looks pretty damp, they need soil on the dryish side until the leaves emerge. Your Acer looks like it has been pruned as there are no natural branch tips, just pruned end points. It does not look good though it may come back in summer but I think it will not going by previous experience.

Acers

Acer bloodgood actually prefer full sun. They do not need acidic soil, a mulch of leaf mould is all that is needed - and keeping the soil moist if in a pot. Like all Japanese maples thet hate strong wind and need to be kept out of it.

Agave Seed Germination

Not GWM getting advertised discount @ Crocus

tetrapanax papyrifer seed germination