Welshonion

Bay tree close to house...

Fidgetbones, have you ever seen a full grown bay tree?  The clue is in the name.  If left unchecked they do grow large.

Certainly if it is anywhere near drains it should be removed.  Sadly.

another mystery plant

Bitter cress?

Identification help needed

Just a wild plant of the mustard family, not necessarily oil seed rape.  It grows everywhere.  Pull up.

Fig Tree Care

Before Mid-Summers Day is the correct time to pinch out the shoots at the ends of fig tree branches.  If they have made little growth pinch out after three leaves.  If they have made good growth pinch out after five leaves.

Bay tree close to house...

When we were in Australia recently we noticed every house had at least one tree, for shade.  The trees were planted really close to the houses.

Why don't the Australians worry so much about it?

In British-speak the bay is too close.  Remove now or if you want to re-plant it, in the autumn.  Pruning will not restrict it sufficiently.

Rat problem

Remember that if you trap rats you have to have a method of killing them.  Bait is better, but do make sure it cannot be reached by anything else.  Putting it under rhubarb leaves is not enough.  

Place rat poison in lengths of down pipe laid on the ground where rats run.  Down the side of a building by a wall is suitable.

Wild Bee swarm in my Garden

'A swarm in June is worth a silver spoon.'  Old country saying.

weed killer!

Would a flame thrower be suitable?  Or boiling water?  If you use salt make sure there is not run-off to other planted areas.

What's been eating the rhubarb?

Is it a slug/snail?

What is this little tree..?

I concur.  Not a very attractive tree as it happens. Acers are usually lovely, this one looks too closely related to sycamore.

Sorry, my prejudice against sycamore is showing.

Fig Tree Care

Swifts