LeadFarmer

What did you do in your garden today?

BL, That looks a lovely border. Whats the large plant towards the front?

Monty, sounds good, any photos please?

Should I cut this Clematis back?

Thats very useful, thanks.

Busy-Lizzie I searched for Dr Ruppel for some time, eventually finding it for sale in my local Morrisons supermarket of all places. I have Nelly Mosser also, along with Bees Jubilee which are both similarto Dr Ruppel but much paler in colour. If I ever find it for sale again I will buy another plant to put the other side of my archway. Perhaps I ought to visit Taylors as I live not far from them.

What did you do in your garden today?

Im doing lots of landscaping to the bottom of my garden. Today I dug out for a new path wich will consist of a circular cobbled paved area in the centre. 

Heres before..

 And now..

 It takes some nerve changing something that already looked acceptable, but I really like the idea of having a circular cobbled area like this random google image shows..

 But im making life harder for myself as Im going to plant the large box ball shown in the top photo into the centre of it, and then take a path off the circle and upto the greenhouse.

Should I cut this Clematis back?

I have a Clematis Dr Ruppel which flowered wonderfully last year..

 I purposely didnt prune it last year as I thought I would increase the flowing height. This year it is very late getting going, at a distance it looks dead but there are some new shoots appearing, albeit very sparce..

 Do you think I should chop it back down or leave it alone?

Box Balls growing in solid clay?

Your probably right nutcutlet. If they can grow in clay then they must be tougher plants than I thought and may not need the care and attention I assumed? But I will keep an eye on them, thanks.

Box Balls growing in solid clay?

I bought quite a few Box Ball plants from Tescos last week. They are healthy looing plants but I decided to pot a few of them on into bigger pots. Which is when I noticed they are growing in what appears to be solid clay!!

Heres the healthy looking plant...

And when removed from pot...

And with outer layer of compost removed...

  None of the roots had grown into the outer compost, perhaps they were only recently planted into pots? But I was suprised to find they were growing well in what looks and feels like heavy clay. Any thoughts?

What did you do in your garden today?

I'll add gigantea to my shopping list, thanks.

Dahlias

On a recent GW Monty cut off a side shoot at soil level and replanred it in a small pot to get another plant.

What did you do in your garden today?

Verdun wrote (see)

My stipa gigantea is full of floweriing stems.  Gigantea has a physical weakness at the first knuckle on the floweriing stems so each year I support with thin canes then they will flower upright til the autumn.  The golden oat grass is lovely plant. If you don't grow this then do.

Planted some perennials and hardening off my tender plants

Just googled golden oat grass and it does look nice. I wonder if it would be suitable behind a pond Im planning to dig?

 I deceided to move some of the box ball plants I bought from Tescos to the front of the house. I have a small quadrant planting area by my block paved drive which was looking bare...

Too late to plant Tulip/Daff bulbs?

Thought I'd post an update on how my late planted bulbs are doing. Heres a photo of some of the bulbs planted last autumn, together with some planted in January 2013. Some of the later planted bulbs are just in flower whilst some are further behind. Definately pleased I planted them now (click on photos to enlarge)...

Should I cut this Clematis back?

Box Balls growing in solid clay?

What did you do in your garden today?

Dahlia - white substance on shoots?

Re potting Box Balls?

Patio paving design tool needed

Which Delphinium seeds?

Tomato Growpots, any good?

Online seed suppliers?

Sunflower recommendation?

Too late to plant Tulip/Daff bulbs?

Which sand for soil improvement?

Help Pruning My Apple Tree

Where to buy multi-stemmed Amelanchier Lamarckii trees?

Spring Bulb Supplier?