[Help] Gardeners Question Time.

[wellquickwoody]

I sometimes forget what is run of the mill here, is actually rather special in Blighty, and vice versa. Over here right now there is a massive fashion for Hydrangas, can’t stand em myself but there you go.

My three acers (thank god for acidic soil) are all just about to start going yellow/orange/red before losing their leaves, but a couple of them are also about the bright pink first season stems. I will try to get some pics if they look any good, the eldest is only about five years old. This year I am about to plant a Crepe Myrtle which flower in summer but also look stunning with their fiery foliage in autumn.

Also lucky to be able to grow tree ferns easily and they are great value as native locally. Lastly I have three Cycads which are as big as any I have seen (came with the house) and they would be silly money to replace. Pic of Crepe Myrtle below stolen from the interweb.

 

[Weststander]

I sometimes forget what is run of the mill here, is actually rather special in Blighty, and vice versa. Over here right now there is a massive fashion for Hydrangas, can’t stand em myself but there you go.

My three acers (thank god for acidic soil) are all just about to start going yellow/orange/red before losing their leaves, but a couple of them are also about the bright pink first season stems. I will try to get some pics if they look any good, the eldest is only about five years old. This year I am about to plant a Crepe Myrtle which flower in summer but also look stunning with their fiery foliage in autumn.

Also lucky to be able to grow tree ferns easily and they are great value as native locally. Lastly I have three Cycads which are as big as any I have seen (came with the house) and they would be silly money to replace. Pic of Crepe Myrtle below stolen from the interweb.

A similar view on Hydrangeas, largely due to amount of watering required. In your climate, that’s madness.

 

[The Grockle]

Just bought a new (very old) house in Dorset. Moving in in April. Small town garden with good bones but very little stock of worth. North and South facing walls. Very overlooked. Will happily share the renovation journey on here.

Only work done is prune back a very out of shape box hedge. Hoping it will recover and not get blight.

View attachment 179469View attachment 179470View attachment 179471

Looks amazing and won't take much work to look great by summer.

Can I ask where you are in Dorset??

 

[The Grockle]

Our garden is bursting into life now

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Looks amazing and won't take much work to look great by summer.

Can I ask where you are in Dorset??

Beaminster - just north of Bridport.

I think it will take a liitle work. There is ground elder throughout so all that needs to be cleared. The walls are in a state, so will need fixing and then we'll need to plant. But it's a fantastic opportunity and I've very excited.

I'm thinking of pleaching crab apples above the low southern wall to give us so privacy and to encourage birds.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Is that a Eucalypt to the right in the foreground on the second photo?

That's one of my Olives. With the price of Olive oil i'm thinking of starting a new business

 

[Jack Straw]

Just bought a new (very old) house in Dorset. Moving in in April. Small town garden with good bones but very little stock of worth. North and South facing walls. Very overlooked. Will happily share the renovation journey on here.

Only work done is prune back a very out of shape box hedge. Hoping it will recover and not get blight.

View attachment 179469View attachment 179470View attachment 179471

I love a project like this. Keep the photos of progress, coming. Thank you.

 

[The Grockle]

Beaminster - just north of Bridport.

I think it will take a liitle work. There is ground elder throughout so all that needs to be cleared. The walls are in a state, so will need fixing and then we'll need to plant. But it's a fantastic opportunity and I've very excited.

I'm thinking of pleaching crab apples above the low southern wall to give us so privacy and to encourage birds.

Lovely part of the world, Dorchester has all the amenities of a big town with the charm of a small town fir when you have to do a big shop or fancy a night out.

You have all the bones of an incredible garden, very jealous

 

[The Grockle]

Lovely part of the world, Dorchester has all the amenities of a big town with the charm of a small town fir when you have to do a big shop or fancy a night out.

You have all the bones of an incredible garden, very jealous

K

Beaminster - just north of Bridport.

I think it will take a liitle work. There is ground elder throughout so all that needs to be cleared. The walls are in a state, so will need fixing and then we'll need to plant. But it's a fantastic opportunity and I've very excited.

I'm thinking of pleaching crab apples above the low southern wall to give us so privacy and to encourage birds.

Also, I'm not sure if you're new to the area but Abbotsbury sub tropical gardens is a must if you're after some garden inspiration and to see what's possible in our part of the world

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Beaminster - just north of Bridport.

I think it will take a liitle work. There is ground elder throughout so all that needs to be cleared. The walls are in a state, so will need fixing and then we'll need to plant. But it's a fantastic opportunity and I've very excited.

I'm thinking of pleaching crab apples above the low southern wall to give us so privacy and to encourage birds.

I was told to wait for a season before butchering everything as there might be something good hiding under the soil waiting to emerge.

As long as it isn't bamboo or knotweed.

 

[tedebear]

Just bought a new (very old) house in Dorset. Moving in in April. Small town garden with good bones but very little stock of worth. North and South facing walls. Very overlooked. Will happily share the renovation journey on here.

Only work done is prune back a very out of shape box hedge. Hoping it will recover and not get blight.

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Well jealous - thats beautiful, good luck!!

 

[WATFORD zero]

One for the wild flower experts. At the bottom of my garden under some trees I have wood anemones. However, looking at leaf shape and colour, it appears there may be 3 different varieties.

Green thin leafed

Brown thin leafed

Green heavier leaved

I always thought that wild wood anemones were all one variety

 

[Weststander]

@Jack Straw I’ve a question on composting, please. We’ve got some spare pallets that I could recycle into a third compost making pile, the existing two are in the plastic bins and on slabs to prevent rats making home. Is it possible to have an open pallet type compost heap but with no Rattus? I never add cooked food.
Cheers.

 

[Coldeanseagull]

@Jack Straw I’ve a question on composting, please. We’ve got some spare pallets that I could recycle into a third compost making pile, the existing two are in the plastic bins and on slabs to prevent rats making home. Is it possible to have an open pallet type compost heap but with no Rattus? I never add cooked food.
Cheers.

I'll answer that
No, not without chicken wire to stop them getting through. This answer is through personal experience

 

[Weststander]

I'll answer that
No, not without chicken wire to stop them getting through. This answer is through personal experience

Thanks, I guessed as much. When we first moved in we had BHCC pest control visit due to rat/s in a plastic compost bin, the guy said compost heaps are a 5* hotel for rats. I make a lot of compost, II’ll buy another bin.

 

[Coldeanseagull]

Thanks, I guessed as much. When we first moved in we had BHCC pest control visit due to rat/s in a plastic compost bin, the guy said compost heaps are a 5* hotel for rats. I make a lot of compost, II’ll buy another bin.

I was having so much trouble with them, I now use plastic dustbins with 10mm holes drilled in the bottom.

 

[Weststander]

I was having so much trouble with them, I now use plastic dustbins with 10mm holes drilled in the bottom.

The BHCC officer advised me on the base, never have any holes as large as a 50p piece, as Rattus can squeeze through that. So I use loose recycled paving slabs, butted up against each other. For 15 years, never a sign of them!

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

The acer is looking nice. I love it this time of year.

 

[tedebear]

One for the wild flower experts. At the bottom of my garden under some trees I have wood anemones. However, looking at leaf shape and colour, it appears there may be 3 different varieties.

Green thin leafed
View attachment 179548

Brown thin leafed
View attachment 179549

Green heavier leaved
View attachment 179550

I always thought that wild wood anemones were all one variety

I thought that too, but looks like I've learnt something today! ....Your chocolately one in the middle looks like the first one on this site:

Anemone - The Plantsman's Preference

Mail order and retail nursery growing a wide range of Hardy Geraniums, Ornamental Grasses and new, rare & unusual perennials. South Lopham, Diss, Norfolk.

www.plantpref.co.uk

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I thought that too, but looks like I've learnt something today! ....Your chocolately one in the middle looks like the first one on this site:

Anemone - The Plantsman's Preference

Mail order and retail nursery growing a wide range of Hardy Geraniums, Ornamental Grasses and new, rare & unusual perennials. South Lopham, Diss, Norfolk.

www.plantpref.co.uk

The dead one?