pansy2

pools

Hi Tim, thanks for the info and the swimming ponds look great but my idea is to cut down on work not to create more.   What I was hoping to do was chuck in a load of bricks, stones etc and then some water lilies to create shade, add a few oxygenators and hope for the best.  I thought I might add a filter but not like the one we use for swimming.   I don't know what to do but I would like to get rid of the swimming pool.

pools

Hi all, not sure which topic heading to use for this question but here goes. Do you think it is feasible to turn a swimming pool into a wild life pool?   Has anyone done this?  With what success please? 

Feathers in Compost?

I make a sort of (rather smelly) tea from nettles , i spray it on everything as a preventative for insects and fungi and pour it on the roots as a  fertiliser.  I get good crops of fruit and veg.  but I still get black spot on roses and some years whitefly is a dreadful problem.

decorative pots

Hi Blairs, does the goldcrest cypress have a Latin name Please?   I don't think i will find it under that name in France. What a clever lot you are, so many good ideas so here is another question:- I have a very large clump of day lily (hemoarcallis- maybe?) it has orange flowers, how can I divide it and when please?

Feathers in Compost?

P.S.  sorry I forgot to add that I soak the feathers in rain water for an hour or 2 before I add them to the heap.  It stops them from blowing about and starts the rotting process more quickly.

Feathers in Compost?

I have always found that feathers compost very quickly and I have persuaded my husband to visit the compost bin once a week to "water" it and i do think it makes a difference.

decorative pots

We are a bit far from a B&Q but next time I'm in a garden centre I will look for trailing plants but I quite like the Thuja idea too as it will look good all year round.  I already have a pot of bamboo on the patio.  It's the one with black stems and it does look good against the yellow wall.  Thanks for the ideas folks.

decorative pots

Hi all , I have been given a large pot for my patio.  What can you reccomend to plant in it.   It is 18" tall and on the bottom is stamped 75 litres which I assume is what it holds .  It is black and made from something that resembles terracotta but won't be damaged by frost. My patio faces South East so it is full sun until 4pm.   I used to have a lot of pots but started to cut them down because of the watering but I have been given this pot by a friend who is a frequent visitor so I can't just stick it somewhere and forget it.  What shall i put in it, Help please.

gardens

Thanks for the information Jeffd.

gardens

Hi, I know that sometime each year people open their gardens to the public, private gardens not normally available, can anyone tell me when  this happens and perhaps reccomend some gardens to visit.  I have a french friend who is a mad keen gardener, who thinks English gardens  are wonderful and wants to visit some while on holiday this year.  Failing that which gardens which are open all year would you reccomend as being typically English?  He really is very knowlegdable and a great admirer of English style gardens.

pools

decorative pots

gardens

charcoal

Clematis through a shrub?

Problems with Quince