catnip

pruning elders

Thank you! The said elder was full of finches today- popping out to feed from our feeder once the starlings had retreated so I'll definitely wait till late winter but am encouraged by all of your advice.

pruning elders

Thank you so much for your help! I'm going to cut it back, even though it's 13 years old and has chunky branches at the base. I never understand why people think it has an unappealing scent- I love it!

pruning elders

I have a mature elder -sambucus nigra and want to give it a boost. Has anyone ever cut a sambucus fairly severely? The thickest branches are about 4 to 5 inches in diameter. I live in West Yorkshire (thought that might help in terms of knowing when to prune)

which veg garden planning methods do you use?

rotation

row planting

and am REALLY happy when things survive the awful summers we have in the North of England! You?

Michealmas Daises

I stopped growing m daisies because of mildew! Copious watering as they grow is supposed to help but am planning to use one of the varieties known not to suffer from the dreaded mildew...

Is this an ash tree?

If it's robinia (or false acacia) it'll have small pea like white flowers in June too.

Novice veg grower needing help

Grubs in soil is never a good thing...If it was 1 and a half to 2 inches long, fat and grey or brown it might be cutworm (they live near the surface); large curved grey ones living in the soil might be chafer grubs or they might be wireworm- smaller, shiny and slow moving. I'm an organic gardener so wouldn't use pesticides- I'd change the soil!

Where do I start?!

WAIT! Watch the garden and note the plants' habits over a whole year and get used to noting light and shade areas. The plants that are there will already give you an idea of what's happy where and with books/internet you can find other suitable plants for those areas. Don't prune without checking when it's best to prune a specific plant (you might lose flowers/fruit or colourful leaves). What a lovely position to be in- happy gardening! If you can't wait to introduce your own plants use annuals or perennials in pots (the latter can be planted up in the garden at a later date)

rejuvenating shrubs

I have two photinia fraseri red robin, both very leggy. Has anyone chopped these severely to give them a kick start?

Also, have a pieris that has stopped growing (in between the photinia but has some space). Any suggestions?

Thanks, folks!

Grass solutions

How about getting advice from your neighbour who has "lovely grass" with the "same light issues"? Good luck!

creating a full bodied hedge

the weather

hedging

NNE facing and clay soil- help!

pruning elders

rejuvenating shrubs

composting