quercus_rubur

A Cautionary Tale .....

Bronze Fennel. If you grow it for goodness sakes don't let it seed. It's a B******r to get rid of as it has a real thug of a root.

The other one is Carex Comans Bronze. Bought one about 8 yrs ago, still pulling out the offspring.

Looking for best/fastest creeper/vine for a time lapse music video idea

Russian Vine if you're not worried about it spreading. They don't call it Mile a Minute for nothing. I know from experience. Mumbly years ago as a naive but enthusiastic gardener I asked the bloke at the garden centre to recommend a climber to cover a fence. Took a lot longer to get out than it did to cover the fence 

Cloud pruning anyone?

Can't move the water butt Wintersong. I don't have anywhere left to move it 

Dove, I'll do that and see what it looks like next year

Hello I'm a Lily Beetle, come and get me!

Ok you've all convinced me  Lucky3 I'll go buy meself a carnivorous plant. I can live with the natural recycling route.

Rhododendrons and horse muck !

Hi Pash, I think you've found it, at least it's the nearest I've seen to it. Looking at the description on the RHS and Millais' web sites I think it's Ginny Gee.

Thank you. A Twix to Pash 

Rhododendrons and horse muck !

Sounds good to me Chicky!

Suggestions please..

Carole Klein on this week's GW suggested Prunus kojo nomai which she grows in a pot. Flowering cherries definitely have the wow factor

Brown leaves on rhododendrons

Are all the leaves turning brown or just a few? A few is normal, even evergreens lose a few leaves, and I would think a hard pruning could be a bit of a shock to it, especially if it's followed by a bad winter which will cause browning.

As Verdun says it could also be a fungal infection. If you don't think it is then I'd feed it, and keep your fingers crossed

Cloud pruning anyone?

I've decided to cloud prune my Snake Bark Maple. Partly because I was given it as a "small Japanese Acer" which is now about 10ft tall and just as wide, and partly because I'm having to play Rambo to get to one of the water butts and my spare pots.

Yesterday I pruned out some of the under branches so that the bark can be seen. I think for this year that's enough, but does anyone know how I should tackle the top growth so I can create a more even top?

Before and after pics attached. I know realise I'll have to tidy up back there!

If you could have any plant / tree in your garden

Can't wait KEF, they sound wonderful!

Thistledown yes it's a magnificient specimen at Kew, and yes would be a great choice but I also garden on a pocket handkerchief 

Cloud pruning anyone?

Hello I'm a Lily Beetle, come and get me!

My Corkscrew Hazel - Thanks

Gardening as part of the National Curriculum

Dilemma - Corkscrew Hazel

Speed gardening

Hampton Court Palace Show

Calling Mrs P - or anyone who can grow Verbena bonariensis from seed

I have my first courgette!

Push mowers