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[Help] Gardeners Question Time.
- Thread starter Stat Brother
- Start date
Green Cross Code Man
Wunt be druv
The plant quoted is NOT bamboo but a grass. Okay, pedants around may say bamboo is in the grass family...but nevertheless, that Miscanthus is a lovely plant which is strictly clump forming and will not give any trouble at all. Similarly if you buy the 'right' bamboo, you won't have problems as there are two types of rhizome, the 'evil bastards' ones you describe which are hard to control are leptomorph and the type you could go for if you like the oriental look, are pachymorph. Anything from the Fargesia genus would be fine and there are some small varieties as well.
vegster
Sanity Clause
- May 5, 2008
- 27,950
" Never munch on a hunch " is the defining motto.Just try tasting them to see if they are edible.
What can possibly go wrong.
BrightonCottager
Well-known member
The Grockle
Formally Croydon Seagull
That's a Eryngium (sea holly) I think. Lovely plant and quite tolerant of various conditions but thrive in poorer soils with good drainage.
I think your soil sounds pretty good just might need to be amended a little if its overly chalky.
The Grockle
Formally Croydon Seagull
Also don't be tempted to cut them down once they've faded, they look incredible in winter especially when they get tipped with frost
Coldeanseagull
Opinionated
Looks like egeria densa
- Aug 7, 2003
- 7,854
Is there any way of getting rid of invasive brambles / wild roses? I have them growing through rhododendrons, laurels other shrubs and even hanging out of the tops of fir trees. I can't get to the roots or even the base of the buggers without getting shredded.
Cheshire Cat
The most curious thing..
I've been planting Ergynium bourgatii 'Picos Blue' in the verge outside our home today! Augmenting the now fading mini meadow.
They don't mind our thin, chalky soil at all, but I added a bit of compost in the planting hole to encourage the roots out and for summer 1 only will water until thriving.
I love the electric blue colour, both bees and butterflies are attracted.
I found these are amazing, protecting you and double up on old clothes you don't mind being ripped.
Amazon product
Work back from the top of the stems, removing all cuttings and then you need to get all the roots out.
- Aug 7, 2003
- 7,854
That’s the trouble, I can’t get to the roots as they’re entwined around and between the those of the shrubs.
A non-eco last resort solution - remove as much as possible but deliberately leaving some leaves, then use the dreaded Roundup. Some people use a plastic cylinder eg a large ex water bottle with the bottom cut off, placing that over the target plant, so that prize plants aren't sprayed too. Obviously human health concerns with that.
Some say use a plastic sheeting cover for a summer or two. In your confined spaces, I'm not sure if you'll beat it and brambles are prolific.
@jevs and @Jack Straw will have the solution
BrightonCottager
Well-known member
Yes, there bees on the one on Victoria Gardens and I couldn't believe how blue the plants were when I took my sunglasses off. I"m assuming they are an ornamental version of our native vegetated shingle variety. Does anyone know if local garden centres stock them?
I think you're right.
I first visited those gardens about six weeks, the Eryginium stood out and we took photos with pollinators on them. I've noticed a fad .... Nymans, West Dean, Parham, One Garden all have the plant just now.
Do you struggle to find pollinator-friendly perennials that thrive on your soil?
BrightonCottager
Well-known member
Thanks. I don't go to many garden centres so those tips are welcome. When we bought the house, it was rundown and the garden totally overgrown. We got a gardener up the road to suggest plants for pollinators and plant it up. We kept a fuschia which is a tree now and positively buzzes with bees for months. But we have a very dry patch under a Cordyline Australis which nothing except lavender seems to grow under. I'd like to put a seaholly under that.
Yes, there is some of that in the pond, but never seen it flower before.
After trial and error here, sure-fire perennials that don't mind drought, intense heat and chalk/thin soils, are:
Echinacea
Helenium
Salvia
Agastache
Betony 'Hummelo'
Stachys byzantia
All loved by wildlife.
Like everything the cost of buying has increased, but I mail order mainly 9cm potted plants from Claire Austin and Crocus, you get a lot for your money and far greater choice than the cultivars churned out by eg Wyevale.
Creaky
Well-known member
We are getting somewhat worried about a number of our oak trees. They are showing similar symptoms to those showing on our ash trees.
This is the one causing immediate concern
There is very little, if any, new growth. There are numerous dead branches and the amount of leaf cover over the last couple of years is far less than normal.
Other oak trees look perfectly healthy.
We have accepted that we’ll lose the majority of our ash trees over the next few years but it will be very sad if the oaks go as well. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. We did send pictures to the RHS last year but only received an acknowledgment.
This is what’s happening to most of our ash tree.
This is the one causing immediate concern
There is very little, if any, new growth. There are numerous dead branches and the amount of leaf cover over the last couple of years is far less than normal.
Other oak trees look perfectly healthy.
We have accepted that we’ll lose the majority of our ash trees over the next few years but it will be very sad if the oaks go as well. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. We did send pictures to the RHS last year but only received an acknowledgment.
This is what’s happening to most of our ash tree.