Gardening tips and advice Database

With this new database you can search for answers and tips provided to our members and viewers over on a wide range of gardening subjects

Question
Please could you give me some advice on what plants to put in a Sensory Garden.
Answer
Firstly you need to consider the senses you would like to develop in the garden in basic terms this comes down to 4 which are as follows -
1. Touch - for this a number of plants can be used such as Euonymus Alatus for its corky bark, Betula Jaquemontii for the main stem,
Stachys silver Carpet for its leaves.
2. Sight - sight is in colour mainly but can be combined with movement by using such plants as Eucalytus Gunii or salix trees which provide both colour and movement,
3. Sound - mainly comes from wind a few good plants to use are large leaved bamboos such as Phyllostachys Bissettii or Hornbeam grow as a tree or hedge
4. Smell - is best combined with a touching experience so using plants that has a scent in the leaves is a good idea such as Rosmarinus or other herbs such as lemon balm or mint. Lavender is another good plant to use.
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Question
When do I need to prune my passion flower.
Answer
Passion flowers (Passiflora) are best pruned little and often, because they do not respond well to a drastic cut. Ideally, prune in the spring, cutting out any dead, weak or over-crowded stems. Also, shorten any of the mature stems if they are getting too big for the area you want to keep the climber in. They should also be pruned after flowering. Cut back those shoots which have flowered, to within two or three buds from the main framework of mature stems. Do not prune any harder than this since it tends to encourage lots of leaf growth at the expense of the flowers.. For More information click here

Question
I would like to scarify, top dress and recondition, re seed etc. Is it okay to do this during winter or will this damage the lawn more?.
Answer
Its a good time to start lawn renovation in the winter by scarifying on a dry day from January or February, then overseed and top dress in late February/ early Matrch. This is a bit earlier than the books will tell you but the weather is warming up earlier every year. With the seeding I would also recommend you pre chit the seed this means taking the grass seed and mixing it with 2 or 3 cups of water to make it slightly damp then place it in an airing closet in the dark for 3 days. This will activate the seed and it will start to shoot then apply to your lawn and top dress. If the weather turns dry then you will need to water the important thing is that the seed does not dry out.
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Question
I have two dogs one is a female and the lawn is a real mess, I either need to use something to help the grass or use a completely different surfaces.
Answer
Many people ask us this question the only real solution is to chance the surface we recently helped a member install some artificial turf that he now washes down once a week. In addition to this we are currently trailing a product called Green-UM Tablets. The result will be available later this year.
http://www.canineconcepts.co.uk/item–Green-UM-Tablets–greenum

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Question
How to treat persistent moss in the older lawns.
Answer
moss is often a problem on older lawns especially lawns that have in the past had a good deal of attention and care. This is because lawns are suited to slightly acid soil conditions, these conditions are normally created by the use of artificial fertilizers containing ammonium compounds. However after a number of years treatments a very acid soil is created which makes it hard for the grass to access the nutrients from the soil reducing the grasses growth and allowing other plants to invade the lawn. In common with most grasses most weeds also do not take to very acid soil condition, but one plant ideally adapted to these conditions is moss and will take over such lawns.
the solution is first to carry out a soil test to check the soil Ph anything below Ph 6 will require the application of lime and then scarifying to remove the moss. As the Ph rises after the application of the lime the nutrients in the soil will become more available to the grasses in the lawn and you should start to see a recovery.
If the Ph level is 6 or above ( this is often indicated by the growth of daisies in the lawn) then its almost certainly the lawns drainage that needs to be looked at.
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Question
How do I propagate minature schefflera.
Answer
schefflera are best propagated from single stem node cuttings from stems between 3 to 12 months old. Cut the stem into sections making the cuts slightly abave each node or leaf joint and about 25 mm below. This should produce a cutting with one leaf that can be placed into a small 75mm pot containing a gritty/ opem compost. To get the cutting to root its important that you keep the humidity high around the plant by spraying it with a hand sprayer containing water every day or by placing it into a clear plastic bag and forming a mini glasshouse by sealing the top.
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Question
Which vegetable plants can be grown in with flowers
Answer
leeks,
Winter squashes,
Radish,
Aubergines,
Cherry Tomatoes,
Runner Beans on tripod cane structures,
Lettuce,
Celeriac,
cabbage,
Beetroot,

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Question
Any plants that grow under trees in full shade.
Answer
Ajuga
Alchemilla mollis,
Arundinaria (Bamboo),
Acuba,
Berginia,
Brunnera
Epimedium,
Hedrera colchica,
Lamium,
Pachysandra,
Pulmonaria,
Lonicera pileata,
Skimmia japonica,
Vinca,
Viburnum davidii.
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Question
Bonsai plants with slime around the raised roots what can used to remove it/treat it.
Answer
The slim is caused by stale compost to treat it you need to purchase some charcol sticks from a craft/art shop and break them into 50 mm lenghts and push them fully into the compost around the roots .
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