jo4eyes

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I'm here. Cream crackered after 2 further days of gardening. Swallowing painkillers for pulled muscles & need some help & advice. I've posted 2 new threads on the boards- help!!

Going to do meal now, back later & will try & catch up, unless someone does a brief precis? J.

Care & maintenance of elderly Bramley apple trees.

My daughter has inherited 2 very elderly, neglected but still productive, Bramley apple trees. I have got John Cushnie's 'How to Prune', but feel rather daunted by the task.

There is also a smaller, younger pear tree, of unknown variety which looks as if it's been pruned recently.

All tips/advice on their care gratefully received. J.

Suggestions for planting in a sunny, boggy site.

Daughter's new, to her, garden is South facing but very soggy, even in a dry year according to neighbours.There is a clay sub soil apparently & it's slightly acidic.

We assume land drains exist, but the building of more property behind the gardens some yrs ago has made the wet conditions worse.

Since I garden on dry, East facing, part-shade conditions I'm at a loss to know where to start. There are large areas of 'moor grass'/mollina. She doesnt want a pristine lawn, thank goodness.

Once we've (me, probably ) removed unwanted/dying plants & shrubs & attempted to add as much compost etc to any borders, any ideas/suggestions/tips for planting more suited to the site will be gratefully received.

So far I've short-listed Astillbes, Candelabra primulas, Cornus. J.

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As a Brummie, living in Salford area, it's still Manchester to me, until the council tax bill arrives.

Right off to grab the remote so I/we can watch MD's gardens.

Tomorrow could be an interesting day- I must bite my tongue, I must not critise, just grin & mutter under my breath. Wellies & gardening gloves at the ready! Byee, J.

Gardens And Beyond...........

The problem with any 'chat' type thread on any board, is that ultimately only a few people post regularly, just as with TPS on the beeb boards & FH now. So in that situation it can seem 'cliquey' to any new poster.

Rain you know that you can didp in/out of FH as & when, & always be welcomed.  J.

Echinecias

Hollie, you may find that if you look closely at the base of the stems, there may already be signs of fresh growth. If so, I'd cut them back to just above that growth & all being well they'll flower better this yr- assuming we get some sun!

If, however there isnt any sign of new growth & the remaining top growth is well & truely dead, which it probably will be, then a gentle tug of the plant should indicate whether it's still ok. If all dead, the tug allows the whole to completely come out. J.

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Rosa carriola wrote (see)

Does it have stem roots that can damage brickwork?

Assuming you're referring to HPeteolaris, no, but the stems can sort of 'mark' paintwork of window frames/UPVC, when it's removed. It's self-clinging when established & much easier to pull away from where you dont want it than ivy IME. The stems are quite brittle & a good 'yank' nearly always works. J.

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Rosa carriola wrote (see)

Yes Jo i was asking - could I put it on a fence?

Head is beginning to feel less muddy, still coughing  Not falling asleep as soon as I sit any more. Thanks all for asking.

Bjay, noooo, unless the fence very tall & sturdy. It'll be fine for a few yrs but once it gets going it'll be way to big for a standard panel. Actually thinking about it, why not? I've got one, relatively new plant cf other one, that is going very slowly up a NWest facing 6' panel. So a 3-4ft panel ultimately wont do, but a 6' could work, providing it's a sturdy one.

I inherited one on the side of a garage wall. Every yr now I have to get the tallest steps to remove it from the soffits/ under the roofing felt. I wanted it to travel over the actual roof, where it could go mad without any problems, but it just wont do it!

The flowers smell wonderful btw & the dark coloured bare bark also attractive in the winter months.

All stuffed, still drinking wine, but have cleared up in kitchen & have got the shopping list for tomorrow, including OH's wants! J.

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I'm back.

Figrat, poor you, hope you start to feel better soon.

Bjay, hope that you begin to feel better soon too. Was it you asking about Hydrangea Petiolaris? Yes fine for shadey wall/fence, but it's rather slow, ie several yrs, to get going & then it really takes off. It wont really like being in a pot, I'd try getting it into the ground when you can & initially tie it in to some support. Once it's happy, no support needed, but annual/biannual prune of excess/out of soffits etc needed.

Compared to this time last year the new growth out there is ahead. I checked my temperature notes & this Feb warmer than last, so not surprised to see buds breaking already.

Have done all I set out to do outside. I sensibly stopped before problems developed. The roses & budleas can wait a couple of weeks.

Daughter just phoned from her house. She's itching to get decorating, but a bit of time checking out all those keys she's found & deciding what has to be done before all the furniture arrives will save time in the long run. At least the vendor has left lightbulbs. When we got to our first house, late on an October day, no lightbulbs anywhere!!

My wellies are already to take up there to explore the garden tomorrow, whilst OH sorts out whatever for her. I hope not to be involved in any decorating! J.

What's the weather like in your area?

It was well above freezing first thing this morning, a bit dull to start with, but dry. The odd glimpse of the sun & it's reached 8-9C. Looking at last yrs temperatures, there's been a lot less frost here this month so far. Last yr was cold!

Have spent a very good 4hrs doing all sorts outside, wheely bin full ready for tomorrows' collection. Now back in, showered which has helped with the muscle aches from the unaccustomed activity. J.

Care & maintenance of elderly Bramley apple trees.

Suggestions for planting in a sunny, boggy site.