Joe_the_Gardener

can I plant now?

Bill,

If you plant spiky things too close to the corner you have to think about innocent passers-by, rather than vandals. A customer has a berberis hedge in this situation and I have to trim it about five times every year to prevent injuries to small children from the thorns, people snagging their clothes, and so on.

Hardy Fushias

I always have to look up buddleia (or buddleja, as some people prefer)!

Aut of control Laurel bush

nutcutlet,

If you plant a tree, put £5 in a jar every year and you will have a good fund by the time it comes to paying a tree surgeon.

Hardy Fushias

Fuchsia, after Leonhart Fuchs (German botanist).

Thank you so much

Welcome aboard, Lisa and Nigel, and do feel confident to ask what you may think are silly questions that everyone except you knows the answer to. One valuable technique in meetings is to 'ask the dumb question', thus prompting the resident expert to recap the important points of a subject - much to the relief of everyone else at the meeting who have forgotten the details or who didn't understand it first time round.

Enjoy the board!

Joe  

Laburnum Tree

Well, I think you've got the answer there, Rose, which is that it's all about good parenting and education. I spent all my childhood grubbing about among berries, fungi and so on, as did many of my friends, without any ill-effects. The answer is to get closer to the plants rather than further away from them. I'm more concerned about what many people deliberately give their children to eat!

Joe

Laburnum Tree

If we took out all the toxic plants, we'd have some very big gaps in gardens! The usual problem is trying to get kids to eat peas or any other greens. I think fear of poisoning is greatly overstated. 

Robinia Tree problems...

Miss Jones,

There was a question on GQT yesterday about Robinias dying, and it is quite a widespread problem. I've had three in my gardens last year.

I'm amazed at your problem with this so-called tree surgeon. I can only assume that he or she is an uninsured chancer masquerading as a professional.

Joe

Hedging shears

Has anyone bought new ones this year and what do you think of them? The models change so quickly that I'm not interested in reviews of any that are not currently available. Thanks.

Joe

Holes in soil

There are solitary bees that nest in colonies.

Hedging shears

Malvern