Gold1locks

Rose cuttings

I take mine in early autumn (mid September). 10" long, pencil thick, in a narrow trench dug around 8" deep with some sharp sand in the bottom, and just let them get on with it. I don't disturb them for almost 18 months, lifting them in March to go into their final position. I get 50% success, so I take extra. I currently have eight that I have just dug up and put in some old David Austion pots ready to give away to friends! 

Vine Weevil

Apparently Australia has been treating crops with neonictinoids for the last ten years and their bees are as healthy as ever.

Th British Beekeepers Association says it doesn't think the restriction should have been introduced as it fears that farmers will use chemicals that are known to be harmful to bees, but hope that the 2 year restriction will resolve the question one way or another. 

Bee news from The Beeb, Eu Ban pesticide

".....And there will be a ban on the sale of neonicotinoids to amateur growers."

As far as I am aware the ruling applies to only three neonicotinoids. It does not affect Provado Ultimate Bug Killer or Vine Weevil Killer. 

Vine Weevil

Many thanks, Dovefromabove. I do think it's great that we can discuss these big issues on the board, and because we can hold such passionate views it can get a bit heated at times. 

In isolation your posting wouldn't have bothered me in the slightest ( I read your links!) , but  I was already rankled by an earlier posting implying that I was "into killing bees" and thought, "here we go, is this the beginning of a nasty squabble." with boarders I really don't want to fall out with, and wondered whether the "less organic / less passionate / more pragmatic" boarders would keep their heads down so that the discussion would be very one sided, distorting the picture for the many visitors to the site who read but do not post messages. I was quite relieved to see some later contributions that provided some balance. 

nematodes

I don't have any experience of using nematodes, but I do use this.

#

It is approved by the Soil Association, is organic, and is based on ferric phosphate, is water resistant, and breaks down into fertiliser. And it can be used 365 days a year, whereas nematodes only work April to October, and has no special storage requirements: 

http://www.which.co.uk/news/2011/03/slug-pellets-247120/

What I don't understand is why it is not better promoted as a cheap convenient alternative to metaldehyde slug pellets. Is there something I am missing? Is there a problem with it that I am unaware of? Or has it just got a bad name by association - blue pellets etc.?

help with ornamental tree choice

I have a standard weeping Cotoneaster x suecicus 'Coral Beauty'

 , which is less than 2 metres high, evergreen, pretty white flowers in spring, and red berries that last into winter. Birds love it. 

Vine Weevil

More specifically, they have suspended the use of them on certain crops. they can be used on crops that do not attract bees, such as cereal crops. They cannot be used on rape , poppies, etc.. 

What's the weather like in your area?

All fleeced up for tonight.  Too cold and windy to do anything non-essential. Thursday looking better. 

celendines

 They produce lots of bulblets in the leaf nodes and can spread rapidly. Spot treat with glyphosate repeatedly - every 10 days, ideally with a touch weeder to avoid damaging other plants.  If it's in your lawn, use Verdone. You will have to repeat it next year, and possibly the year after,Search and destroy - exterminate, exterminate!!

Dead fruit Trees?

Besides the scratch test, you might be able to lift one out of the pot to check the health of the roots. Vine weevil grubs attack many ornamental fruit trees in pots, and you don't know they have been there until it's too late - your description indicates some distress last summer. ) . If it was vine weevil, there may not be any grubs left by now, but the root system will have been attacked and it should be noticeable. 

Trimming box.

Delphiniums from seed

Sting in the Tale

Sting in the Tale

ground frost warning

Iris Katharine Hodgkin

Scarifier / aerators / rake

Website problems?

Who else loves the humble sempervivum

BBC Gardening Arrivals - Meeting Point