Tim Burr

Spring Bulbs

Roll on Spring 2013!! My mum always said to never wish your life away, but as gardeners we're always looking forward, never back.

Spotted Christmas cards on sale in Card Factory on Wednesday!! Think I may buy a box and write them out on a quiet couple of hours when I take my summer holiday!!

Discouraging Starlings

I have a flock of starlings that arrive at nearly the same times during the day. I think they do the rounds several times a day because within a couple of hours, they are back. It seems that they send out a scouting party because when they arrive, at least 2 or 3 arrive upto 5 mins before them, and if the feeding station is low or bare, they fly off and the flock don't arrive en masse- a few turn up but not the volume there is if the feeding station is well stocked.

I gave up at trying to feed mealworms. Sparrows and tits only take a few at a time, but the starlings swoop down and scoff the lot in a matter of minutes. My other half decided one day to throw a whole scoop on thinking I had forgotton, only to find starlings stacking up 2 or 3 high on top of each other on the feeder. She reckoned there must have been over 40 birds in our little back garden all going bonkers for the mealworm.

I've also had to reduce the lard cakes - the starlings go thru them at a rate of one a day. I have found coconut shells filled with lard/seed last better because not so easy to hang from or off for starlings but ideal for smaller birds.

I use no mess seed - although more expensive, it means I dont have grass and sunflowers popping up everywhere in the garden. Starlings tend to avoid it too unless they are really desperate.

Bramble invasion

Ive been helping somebody clear their garden. They have some massive brambles with stems so thick even the hedge trimmer cant get thru it. I was thinking of getting hold of hyperdermic needle and get weedkiller into the bramble by syringing into the stems - a bit like how to treat bindweed but unfortunately, bramble isnt hollow. If i get around to it (where do you get hyperdermic needles?), I will report back success or otherwise!

Talkback: Wet weather and wildlife

I was in the garden last weekend and noticed a right racket coming from the bird feeder. Turned around and saw a pair of sparrows with at least four newly fledged chicks. And this week have noticed the starlings appear to have had a second brood as several starlings look like theyve just left the nest. I know birds can have second broods but first year I've actually ever noticed fledgings in August. My hedgehog comes around for his (or her) nightly feed, but fills up on mealworm and "Spike" hog food that he takes no interest in the slugs! Bees have seemed a bit more active with the warmer weather. Have seen a few butterflies flitting around the garden - quite a few whites, and a handful of red ones (admirals?)

Using vinegar to kill weeds

My sister-in-law needs to regain control over her garden and she has a lot of annual and perennial weeds growing in the beds. She doesnt want to use chemical weedkillers because of the wildlife in her garden (badgers and foxes). Ive researched and found that an organic alternative is vinegar which when sprayed on the plant will kill it. I believe it needs to be mixed with washing up liquid. Anybody used vinegar on weeds and can confirm its success or otherwise. She has lots of bindweed, nettles, thistles, and established bramble as well as the annual weeds. I think the annuals can simply be hoed into the soil, and as long as they are not flowering or setting seeds, will just dissapear quietly as long as the ground is hoed regularly to stop them re-establishing.

rooms in my garden

Start with a simple trellis at a third and two thirds down the garden, and if possible, have them on opposite sides of the garden so your eye cant see all the way to the bottom of the garden. Behind the trellis you can put a bench, or a single seat. Put climbers up that have good scent (honeysuckle).

To lift or not

Great plants, but not particularly gardener friendly! Just like pyracantha which jumps out from the border with those deadly needles! I moved into a house once where the previous owner worked for the local authority. I'm sure he acquired a few of the council's parks and garden surplus' because it was full of berberis and pyracantha which councils like because they are less likely to be abused by the kids and ne'er-do-wells ripping them up or running thru' them. In the end I was so sick to death of being pricked, I hacked them all down to an inch of their life. Needless to say they were back to full strength within 2 years!!

Overgrown Garden

Your best bet (in my view) is to clear out everything you dont want, and start afresh. The lawn will probably be completly shot, and no amount of weeding and feeding will make it into a decent lawn. And any clearing of current weeds will simply be replaced by new ones as you expose the soil as those seeds currently lying dormant will spring into life. If you take off the current turf, you will also be taking away the soil which has been scattered with years of weed seeds. Some seeds can survive up to 50 years in dormancy!!

That new roundup gel

Ive used it on nettles growing in the borders - takes around 10 days. I also used it on a bramble, and did several leaves despite the label saying only needed to do one. However, bramble would survive a nuclear blast, I'm sure, so covering my bets. Two weeks later and bramble still alive, but looking a bit lacklustre compared to two weeks ago. I think patience is the key, however, if you want a garden to look pristine all the time, its probably not for you. You would get fed up waiting and just hand pull the weed (but it will be back!).

How to grow Agapanthus with zero effort-do nothing !

I heard on GQT the other week that those in the know plant agapanthus in the ground still in its pot which the plant loves as it likes its roots to be very restricted. I have my agapanthus growing in a large pot, and every year it seems to improve as more of the pot is taken up.

Flaming Weeds!

Stamped on lilies

Big foot strike again 

Umbrella Plant

To chop or not to chop! 

Crown Imperials

Lazarus bulbs! 

Too cold to relocate perennials?

Cold days and freezing nights 

Bird box v bird feeding

What to so in small garden 

National DIY chains remove bug killer containing neonicotinoids from sale

.....but still on sale in your local Garden Centre 

Hellebores

Do they spread? 

Is it too late/early to move perennials?

New year growth starting early

Very underweight hedgehog found on doorstep

Practical advice please 

Tidying up herbaceous plants for winter

Leave for winter protection or clear away? 

Siberian Iris

When to split/move 

Autumn planting of Alliums (not!!)

Eek! Hedgehog in the pond....

....but alive and kicking