CurlyCarly

Tackling erosion

Hi Joe,

I thought I'd replied to your response above but mustn't have pressed the right button.

Yes you are perfectly correct in your analysis and we do own the woodland area at the back so there is no problem with access to the top except we'll have to abseil down the slope if we want to do any work on most of it.

I received a sample of some membrane that can be put down but it isn't very flexible and works out at around £200 for the minimum amount, so we plan to try to tackle it more simply. I have a list of some good ground cover plants that might help and thought I might slide a roofing slate into the bank to support them. Do you think that might work?

Alternatively we read something about 'socks' which are tubes of hessian that you fill with compost, stake them above and below along the contours to hold them in place and either seed into them or plant above the tube. This would come free as I have a roll of hessian and a sewing machine!

We have time for a bit more fireside planning to do though before the weather improves 

Thanks for your interest,

Carly ( just to confuse everyone I've changed my login name as most people seem to have a name other than their own!))

Talkback: Help wildlife survive winter

Hi Bunnysgarden,

Yes, I've learnt my lesson, put some poison in the hole and filled it in and put the bird food on a plate out of reach of all but the birds and the squirrels. No sign of any more tunnels now so hopefully the problem is solved. I feel guilty about using poison and wouldn't use it on anything but the rats. We live by the canal so have to keep them in check.

Growing Sweet Peas

Hi Debra, From what I've read you should just water once before you sow the seeds, that way the seeds won't get washed to the side or too deep down. I have covered mine with some horticultural grit, (I couldn't get hold of any vermiculite) then popped a small, clear plastic freezer bag over the top to keep the moisture in.  I gather it shouldn't be necessary to water again until the seedlings emerge, at which point you remove the polythene bags. I have one lot in the propagator and have had to turn the poly bags inside out and given them a shake a couple of times as they were getting too full of moisture. They need a temperature of 10-20deg centigrade to germinate, Will your garage be warm enough? I've put mine in the window of the spare bedroom. Cheers, Carly (Oh roll on spring )

Growing Sweet Peas

Hi Debra, Good luck with your sweet peas. Here is a link to the RHS website that people might find useful.

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Children/For-families/Plants-to-grow-with-kids/Sweet-peas

It seems about my level but pretty straight forward. Happy sowing. Carly

Growing Sweet Peas

Hi Debra, I have just realised that you are on the other side of this beautiful world so that might make a difference Having said tha,t they have fantastic displays of Morning Glory at the local garden centre so I'll check out the spaces in my garden that might suit best.

I'm pretty new to forums - can we change the subject like this or is it against the rules???

Growing Sweet Peas

Wish my Morning Glories grew like weeds Debra. What's your secret?

Talkback: Help wildlife survive winter

Hi, We have no shortage of birds round here, or squirrells or RATS! Behind my hubbies back ('you'll attract the rats!') I have been putting out food for the ground feeders, a lovely pair of blackbirds, dunnocks and, the gardener's best friend, a snail eating song thrush. Much to my horror a tunnel has erupted next to the food and I am desperately trying to hide it from my other half - not easy in bright, white snow. Has anyone out there overcome this problem?

Carly

Growing Sweet Peas

Hi Debra, I've been reading up on this and the current advice seems to be to just plant them without soaking or scarifying, that's what I've done this time. I made tubes of newspaper (approx 3" diam) to sow them in as this breaks down more easily than loo rolls once they're planted out. I used a small squash bottle to wrap the newspaper round and cheat a bit by popping a staple in to hold it together.

As David K says, once germinated they should be treated mean. Last year mine were a hopeless failure because I kept them mollicoddled for far too long before putting them out in the cold frame.

Onward and upward....... Carly

Growing Sweet Peas

I planted my first lot of sweet pea seeds yesterday. I have one lot in the propagator and the others in the spare bedroom keeping the temperature above 10degC. Has anyone else out there gone for an early sowing?

Garlic

Hi, I have just bought some garlic bulbs and read somwhere that garlic can help with pests on tomatoes. I've just got my first greenhouse and am looking forward to growing tomatoes this year. Can I plant the garlic directly into the bed in the greenhouse and keep them there? It is unheated.

cheers,

Carly

Tackling erosion