gardeninggenes

POSITIVE and NEGATIVE

In March I ordered plants (all on special offer) from Van Meuven and entered my Gardeners' World subscriber code.  I noticed as the order completed online that the prices were the full purchase prices of these items and not the special offers - I assumed that this would be put right when I received my order receipt from them.  When the receipt came I was the same - giving me no credit for being a subscriber and quoting the offers at the full price.  I immediately notified them of this and received an email saying that due to high numbers of emails they were having to tell people they could not reply immediately, but would answer in due course. 

I left it a couple of weeks until the first item from my order arrived, in good condition, but no mentioned of my email.  This went on until the other day, each item being delivered separately until only one item is now outstanding.  I will repeat, I MADE THIS ORDER IN MARCH!!!!! despite emailing them on numerous occasions I still have received no discount, no explanation and the last item of my order, FOR WHICH I HAVE PAID THE FULL PRICE, is still outstanding.  I telephoned them, hoping that the service might be a bit better when speaking to a person rather than a machine.  The call was answered about five minutes later and I was given a message to say how busy they were and would  mind waiting?  Well having spent so much time and effort on them to waste I decided to resist the impulse to slam the phone down (I rather believe that this was what they wanted) and I held on for another 7 or so minutes before a polite young lady answered and I explained my problem.  She said she would have to speak to her supervisor and put some music on, after about 7 more minutes this changed to a ring tone and after a further couple of minutes the phone went dead.  I heard a voice announcing that the other caller had terminated.

Can anyone suggest how I can get my last plant, or a reasonable explanation for what has happened?  I sent another email telling that I would be telling my friends about their appalling service.

Of course there was no reply. I think Gardeners' World should strike them from their list of those who give discount to subscribers because they are getting free advertising and not giving back the service they promise.  I don't think there is any excuse for their deliberately rude behaviour.  I shall be going back to Crocus, who sell full sized plants in great condition for not very much more that the pathetic plugs of Van Meuven, and what's more I always get my discount even on plants that are on special offer!!!

Talkback: Snails

Gardeners World TV

I too would love to know when Carol Kline's cottage garden is being shown again. And I wish an enterprising channel would show them and Geoff Hamilton's Gardeners' World again.  A long time ago there was a channel called The Gardening Channel who did show some of Geoff's progs. but the Channel seems to no longer exist. Have whoever bought the channel got the tapes?  Could they manage to arrange to DVD and issue them?

Free plants

There are offers in Gardeners' World Magazine and Amateur Gardening, whewre you can get free plants just for the price of the postage.  Hope this helps.

Young perennials/seedtrays in or out of greenhouse?

I have had great success with Growing Success slug pellets, they are non poisonous to animals and birds.  I use them in the greenhouse in very small, but regular numbers and find they do the trick.  Must remember to keep them topped up though, they don't last as long as the poisonous sort.

Welcome to the plants forum

Zoomer44:  I think your mystery plant may be one which used to be called Fatshedera Lizei which is a cross between ivy (hedera) and Fatsia Japonica.

Dead Wisteria

Thanks very much Dove, that's very reassuring. I'm sure he will be really pleased.  I did tell him not to be too quick to chop the plant. Come to think of it, they ar halfway down a hill and apparently lose the sun completely in the winter.  Perhaps the plant has sensed the dwindling light and dropped its leave early?  I live a few miles away and the wisteria near me are just turning colour.  I didn't add in all the clues.  Thanks again for bothering to reply.  Much appreciated.

Dead Wisteria

If anyone's got knowledge of Wisteria can they please answer a question for me?  My son and his partner have just moved into a house in Bath.  It had a healthy looking Wisteria about fifteen feet high and with an extended brach about ten feet across the house.  I has a healthy looking bulging stem at the bottom, but is in a rather cramped space which consists of one removed paving stone.  It is in the SW so has had huge amounts of rain this year, but despite this a few months ago it was in full leaf and looked very healthy, however, it is now completely naked.  Any suggestions??

Talkback: Growing herbs

I buy basil just because I love the smell. I usually get one of the large pots from a supermarket. In the past these have died fairly quickly, but I have a pot now which I have just had to pot on.  It lives on the kitchen windowsill (but I take it into the room at night).  It is now a sturdy plant around 60cm tall. I sometimes take some leaves, but always from the top as though pinching back.  The stems are now getting woody and I am hoping to get it through the winter.  When I come into the kitchen I brush it with my hand and the room is filled with the great air freshener of Basil.

Hurrah! New Gardening Prog.

I have a Virgin channel written down for Beechgrove Garden, but haven't tried it yet. 862.  Don't know if we can watch it in the south.  I have been watching it every week on catch-up and it is at least a gardening programme, unlike the Flower Pot Gang. Although I have to say that the show is well named as it is about as informative about gardening as the original Flower Pot Men.  Does any one know which one is "little weed"?

Spanish Bluebells Still on Sale

Hurrah! New Gardening Prog.

Hardy Geranium - Propogation

Is glyphosate safe?