figrat

rat in compost heap

Yup agree with above. The first time I got the council round he said 'if you feed birds you feed rats' I ignored his advice. The second time he came I had to admit he was right. So I stopped feeding the birds (but haven't noticed a decline.) Rats like stability, so if you turn the heap regularly, and don't put tempting bits in the bin, they'll move on. I have dalek bins and always kick them as I go by ( also encourage visitors to do same). If you contact your council, they should be able to advise on, or organise FOC eradication. Creepy, but it can be dealt with.

rat in compost heap

Should be OK to use compost, ratty eviction is possible, please give details of compost bins ( plastic daleks, open heap etc)

Get Rid of your Lawns

It is a problem. Theoretically I could use the entrance to my house for parking, but it would have to be a dinky car with a sunroof so I could get in and out as there wouldn't be room to open the doors. Bloke keeps his motorbikes there though, so maybe that's the way to go?

Woodland plants

Ooh yes, especially the White variety, alba.

Fork Handles

Hi TDC. Or should it be 'high' after passive smoking in Amsterdam? Sorted through all my pots today, now have ~ 25 to plant up with spring flowering bulbs. Tempted to get one of those sacks of random mixed narcissi, this year's been so grim I think a little indulgence would be permitted.
@ Kate - as I'm still wondering what to do with the bomb crater left after the spirea got hoicked out, think I might start a bean trench in there at the back. Have you started yours?
@ Inkadog...sooner the cull starts the better. How heartbreaking for you.

Bloke still doing his Nelson impersonation, roll on hospital appointment next Tuesday! Chauffeur duty getting a bit tiresome, but I guess he'd do the same for me.

Bubblewrapping the greenhouse

After not bothering to bubble wrap my greenhouses for the last few years, because of the ensuing condensation, I'm thinking about sectioning off an area as Palaisglide suggests. I read somewhere that covering vulnerable stuff with fleece when low temperatures are forecast is as effective, and avoids the condensation problem, and it's worked for me in preventing losses. But after such a grim year in the garden, I'm thinking that having a warm zone might get early sown veg etc off to a better start.

Woodland plants

Epimediums and Erythroniums are worth considering as well. And cyclamen.

Weeds in my compost

Or put them in water in a bucket (with a lid) and let them rot down until the plant is mushily unidentifiable. Wouldn't do this with brambles, though.

Some pics of my before and after garden

A bit late on this inspiring post, but just would like to say I also got rid of my lawn a few years back and haven't regretted it for a moment. Gardens are always evolving aren't they? At the moment I'm taking stuff out, beefing up the soil and making plans for what to put on the gaps. Which at the moment seems to be leaning much more towards edibles rather than ornamentals, though have a couple of bags of spring flowering bulbs waiting for a home...

New Variety of Plant

I think the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) would be a good place to start.

Bay tree root eradication

Best way to do it! 

Plan bee

One of the more uplifting news stories... 

Overwintered runner bans

Left the roots in after clearing last year's crop, they've survived the winter and putting up new growth. 

Red rhubarb leaves

I've got a bad feeling about this... 

What can I use as green manure?

Landcress just about to go to seed