Gardening

[Hugo]

Thanks very much for that info DVT,  my Daffodils in the lawn seem to be ok but it's just those in pots.     I've tried giving them Tomato feed  and although it works well with Clematis it hasn't helped the Daffodils.

[DVT]

It may be that they're too crowded in the pot, depends how long they've been in.  Perhaps split them up a bit if that is the case.

That wouldn't be true of where I work but there have been comments about the "blind" daffodils although still a good show
  I have noticed that the white variety are really flourishing.  Weather conditions do seem a likely cause though, but perhaps different species react differently.  There over 200 different species.

[Hugo]

I must admit that I do pack as many bulbs as I can in to the large pots but the bulbs are removed and then stored  after the leaves have gone brown so that shouldn't be the problem.
I've planted some bulbs from the same pack around the base of the tree in my back garden and they are doing ok.
The Daffodils that have been planted around the Laburnam Tree are good too, so the reason why the Daffodils in the pots are blind is just one of Mother  nature's mysteries

[SteveH]

It's not long until the clocks change and it's time to, ahem, spring into action and get busy in your garden. Longer days and an improvement in the weather means it's a pleasure to spend time outside – and there are lots of things to get on with.

March can still be a bit nippy, but many plants are beginning to wake up after their long months of dormancy. As early-flowering bulbs come into bloom, plans need to finalised for summer planting.......... cont https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/7-essential-gardening-tasks-to-tackle-in-march?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[Hugo]

Yesterday I spent at least two hours digging up a large Choisya Bush  (  Mexican Orange Blossom ) and then cutting it up into small bits and putting it in to the Garden Waste bin as the binmen are calling here today.    In fact I managed to fill three garden waste bins  as the shrub was that big.  Now I'm left with a big open space to fill up as well as tidying the root systems up
It's a shame really because the bush has shiny evergreen leaves and was clothed in fragrant white flowers.  The trouble was that I had allowed it to become leggy and it became unsightly so it had to go

[SteveH]

April has brought dazzling sunshine and clear blue skies across much of the country. Plus, now the clocks have changed, there's noticeably more daylight which increases with each passing day.

While it's still a bit nippy, spring is in full swing and there's lots to see and do outside. Pots and borders are awash with daffs, tulips are coming into bloom, forsythia is bringing a vibrant splash of colour and elegant magnolia flowers are unfurling.

"As we come into April, our gardens are showing visible signs of new life and fresh growth," says gardening expert, Jamie Shipley, from Hedges Direct. "The arrival of milder temperatures and sunny spells can also bring April showers, setting the perfect conditions to nurture outdoor spaces."............ cont https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/springs-here-and-9-jobs-need-tackling-in-the-garden?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[Hugo]

Why burying leftover lemons in your garden soil is a brilliant idea this spring
If you've been wondering how to use leftover lemons in the kitchen, don't throw them out. Gardening experts say there are three big benefits to sticking them in the soil instead
I have used Lemons near our bird feeders as they are supposed to deter cats from coming near the Lemons, if I see it failing then I revert to Plan B and that is to let my dog loose in the garden.     That soon does the trick



https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/property/burying-leftover-lemons-your-garden-31341672

[Hugo]

I mowed the lawn on Friday for the second time this year and gave it a close cut but on Saturday there were dozens of bright yellow Dandelions in flower.
What I did then was to pluck all the flowers to stop then going to seed and I thought that would be the end of the Dandelions but oh no!
On Sunday there were even more of them in flower so I did the same with them
It must be a good year for them because when I walked in Bodelwyddan today there were thousands of them on the verges,  I did also notice British Bluebells were  also out in flower which seems quite early for them

[DVT]

I heard something the other day saying that you should leave the dandelions as the bees need them.  Pick the flower heads off as soon as they go over.

[Hugo]

That's true DVT  but what I've done won't make any difference to the Bees in Colwyn Heights.     There are about 250 varieties of Dandelions in the UK and some of my neighbours must have them all.    One even has the tallest Dandelion in the world at nearly 5 feet tall and another neighbour has not cut the grass for the 20 years that they have lived there
Their idea of a low maintenance garden is to spray weedkiller on it once a year         

In no mow May, I might give the lawn mower a rest but we'll have to wait and see

[Hugo]

I think that I've been invaded by the Dandelions because there were dozens of the yellow flowers looking at me when I went in the garden this morning.
I pulled all the heads off again but I expect that they'll be back again this week     

[Hugo]

This morning I sorted out all the Daffodils that are in large pots and failed to flower and think that I've found out the reason why the Daffodils failed to flower.
There are two reasons, the main reason is because the bulbs planted were too small and also the fact that some were planted too deep.    I normally lift bulbs up from the pots and store them ready for the next year but in this case they have all gone in the garden waste bin.        I'll buy more bulbs in the Autumn but they will have to be at least twice the size of the bulbs I've chucked away today

[Hugo]

I have been buying Giant Begonia tubers online from Mirror Garden and have always had a nice display of flowers for long periods during the Summer.   After flowering I then lift up the tubers and store them for the following year.
I needed some more this year so I had a look online and there was an offer from Dobbies for mixed Giant Begonia tubers.   It looked good offer so I sent off for them and they arrived yesterday.     That old saying came to mind when I opened the box of tubers " if it looks too good to be true then  it probably isn't
The photo shows five of the new tubers and a 10p coin to give you an idea of the size.      On the right of the photo is a tuber I bought last year and stored over the Winter
I have planted all the new tubers in tubs but think that they'll need copious amounts of Miracle Gro if they are going to flower

[Hugo]

I've just had a delivery of an order I made online recently.   They were Begonia Double mixed and 5/6 cm and they were all a decent size.     I'll plant them out in pots as soon as this Bank Holiday weather improves and see how they compare to the 1/2 cm tubers I bought from Dobies.
Size does matter as I found out with all those small blind Daffodils that I've chucked away this year

[Hugo]

With this prolonged spell of dry weather I'm having to water the plants quite often .   Luckily I have two water butts and as we have a combi boiler I'm saving that water as well.    Our water is on a meter so it would be a shame to waste it
This afternoon I hope to mow the garden again and I've never ever seen so many Dandelions in the lawn so I need to mow them before they go to seed