Paul N

gardens

https://www.facebook.com/LondonOGSW

9th/10th June, London Gardens Weekend, hundreds of gardens to choose from. We went there a couple of years ago and did those gardens close to Victoria Station. We may have visited eight in all, which was very tiring yet exceedingly enjoyable. Our favourite was the garden in Eccleston Square.

Railway sleepers

If they are original hardwood railway sleepers, they'll be so heavy (I know, I tried to lift one yesterday) they'll barely move but on sloping ground, they will eventually creep apart. My garden is on sloping ground and some of my sleepers have begun to seperate so I need to dig out a slit of soil then lever them back into place. To prevent this happening again, a trip to Wickes will get me some steel plates which I shall screw into the tops of the sleepers.

Modern 'repro' sleepers are light as a feather and I'd use lengths of 2"x2" timber screwed into the inside surfaces. I wouldn't force them into the ground as once packed full of soil, they won't budge. Screwing large angle brackets on the inside would be better too.

BBC Gardening Arrivals - Meeting Point

Well I've arrived too and even added an avatar (a 'Freddie Mercury' rose) without melting the terminal down or affecting the Pentagon's computer system. I didn't want to move as it takes me ages to adjust to 'new' but I am looking forward to seeing how this forum works.

MULCHING..!!!

Dizzi

I imagine it would be a bit like using the membrane I have on one or two of my borders. My problem is that after a few years creeping buttercup and ivy will find it's way through somehow and I now have a devil's own job of dragging the reluctant and infested membrane off the beds. I shalln't go back to using a membrane again, probably as I am now retired and have more time to spend keeping the borders up straight.

mycorrhizal fungi

No Cathy. As Monty said last night, the mycorrhizal must be dusted onto the damp roots so that it's in direct contact with them. Your plants will still be fine but something to remember for next time

Carol Klein's Glebe Cottage

Himalayan Balsam

Giverny in September

Chelsea Flower Show

Robinia pseudoacacia 'Frisia' problems

Globe Artichoke

Keukenhof

Britain's Oldest Rose Bush