Lizzie27

Asparagus

Hi Lesley

My asparagus would have been four years old now and I was really, really looking forward to picking lots!

I'm going to wait just a little longer before getting new crowns.

Asparagus

My asparagus is showing absolutely no signs of growth - has anybody else got the same problem?

Buddleja Identification

Thanks for all those suggestions. I might take a sprig up to Hilliers tomorrow to see if they can assist.

Buddleja Identification

Can anybody help identify what variety of buddleja I'm looking for please. My neighbour has a very pretty one but doesn't know the name.

It's got very dainty silvery leaves, slightly pointed, some of which survived all winter, and the blossom is purple, about 8ft tall - not much to go on I'm afraid.  I'm thinking maybe "Lochinch" or "Black Knight" but not sure.

How to widen borders which are clay

What's in front of the border at the moment? If it's lawn you can dig this up, pile it up somewhere upside down and cover it so it rots down (6 months or more) and you can then use it as top soil.

Your borders need to be as deep as possible - 3ft is good and 6ft! is even better. You will probably find your perennials flopping over the front in just 1ft borders.

As nutcutlet says it's not easy improving clay soil - I know as I've also got it and lots of compost, leaf mould, well-rotted manure and horticultural grit (which has been washed) helps a lot.

Watterlogged soil, everything rotting

Thanks nutcutlet, I was going to do just that today  but guess what - it's been raining hard!   As the forecast is for dryer weather, I might just wait and see.

To Busy-Lizzie, from another, you're right we could get confused, I'll see if I can change my sign in name.

Watterlogged soil, everything rotting

I garden on clay as well - couldn't believe it when I dug a hole on a slope to plant a bare root rose and it promptly filled with water!  I planted three bare root David Austin roses about ten days ago and it's rained pretty nonstop ever since (Bath, Somerset). I'm wondering whether to dig them up again and just pot them up until it dries out a bit - they were too expensive to lose! 

Slugs and snails

I use a sprinkle of salt on slugs & snails - kills them immediately although they kind of dissolve in a horrible sticky mess which I just wash and brush off. Not sure what the salt might do on on the lawn however.

The remaining slugs appear to be cannibals, either that or they've gathered for a wake!

Asparagus

Buddleja Identification