Gold1locks

ideas for ground cover plants

You beat me to it, Auntie Betty. And best of all, it is evergreen, with the leaves developing a red tinge through the winter, and it divides easily. I have a dozen or more now. 

Also think about heucheras. Evergreen, and although they don't flower all summer there. Are some superb foliage colours. 

Rhododendron dead ...or not?

Provado Vine Weevil Killer and Provado Ultimate Bug Killer are not affected by the recent restrictions, which will apply for two years. . 

It's a bit complicated,but three neonicotinoid insecticides have been banned, including one (imidacloprid) that used to be used in these two products, but the formula was changed a couple of years ago, to an ingredient called thiacloprid.  The main impact will be on the agricultural industry, where imidacloprid is widely used. 

The only 'domestic' product affected is Provado Lawn Grub Killer. 

Rhododendron dead ...or not?

If you have Provado Vine Weevil Killer you could add some just to be sure. If not, it's expensive stuff, so you might be able to lift the plant out of the pot and have a look to see if you can see any vine weevil grubs and see if you can see any healthy root ends, which should be whitish.If so then it's probably not vine weevil. When I have had one of my potted camellias attacked by vine weevil, by the time it looked sickly on top the damage under the surface was terminal, so if your rhodie is showing signs of growth it's probably nutrients / chlorosis.

Horsetail weeds

Do not remove dying stems. And bruise each stem after applying the gel. Use rubber gloves, and work backwards so you don't stand on any treated weed and spread the glyphosate.

Rhododendron dead ...or not?

If it is due to hard water then a quick soak with sequestrene + is your surest fast response. It will also deal with other nutrient problems. You can then leave it for a few months to recover before thinking about a bigger pot and new compost.

Please help me identify this really invasive plant!! And how the spread

You really need to bruise the stems or the glyphosate won't be absorbed.

Please help me identify this really invasive plant!! And how the spread

I got it in a house I bought last year, coming up in my lawn and drive. I used a total weedkiller on the drive - forget the name but it does what sodium chlorate did before it was banned - stop anything growing for 6 months. On the lawn I wore a rubber glove and wetted my fingers with glyphosate, shaking off any excess, and then bruising the horsetail. I had to dfo this every week for months as new shoots appeared. It seems to have gone.

Rhododendron dead ...or not?

Could it have suffered from lack of water? Might it have outgrown its pot and need new compost? Or did the leaves go yellowish last year, a sign of chlorosis? Give it a tonic such as sequestrene plus. 

Acer flamingo

I had a flamingo that kept getting scorched by wind and sun, I think the variegated leaves were a bit delicate for the position it was in.

Geraniums

Mum in law has hers on a window sill facing north and they can get a bit leggy so nipping out can help. Mine are now in my cold greenhouse, very compact. 

Although your eyes can deceive you, just moving a plant a few inches from the window can dramatically reduce light level - by a factor of two or more. 

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