Calling all gardeners

[wellinghall]

We have two beds that are beginning to look a bit scraggy now the summer flowers are going, and a large tub with a pear that has withered and died. All have good-ish soil in, and partial sun; the tub gets rather dry.

Is there anything we can plant now, either for colour (or food!) over the next few months, or as part of a longer-term project?

Thanks

Comments

[reverendgrim.livejournal.com]

I know nothing about gardening but my wife works at the RHS. Have a look at their plant selector: http://www.rhs.org.uk/rhsplantselector/

Hope this helps!

[amalion.livejournal.com]

It largely depends on where the beds are (do they get a lot of sun or are they in shade} and what sort of soil you have (acid, alkaine or neutral). Do you want evergreens which look good in the winter? For the tub you could grow bay which looks good and you can use the leaves for cooking. They are pretty hardy and grow quite well in tubs. For the beds, do you want shrubs which look good all year round? There are quite a lot of shrubs which grow well in acid soil, such as skimmias which are evergreen and the males have red buds on them throughout winter, which open out to white flowers in the spring. Hollies grow well but would need to be pruned to stop them from getting too big. Hydrangeas are also good and look reasonable in winter because you can leave the dead flower heads on the plants and they still look OK. The flower colour often depends on whether the soil is acid or alkaline.

If I'd known this before the weekend I could have brought my easy gardener books for you to borrow as they are very useful.

The SSS

[estiel.livejournal.com]

I have six tall Georgia pines in my backyard (called [quite erroneously] by the Brits "garden"). In addition, just over the fence in my neighbor's yards are two massive liveoaks, four more pines. Also in addition, in all our yards, are sundry redbuds, dogwoods, and mimosas. Also in all our yards are a gazillion squirrels. Bulbs are hopeless, seeds are useless, as well as small plants of any kind. They are all eaten by squirrels.

My neighbor in desperation bought a BB gun. She did not want to kill the squirrels, only to give them a memorable experience. She was never seen again. Recently, I made the mistake of trying to chase a squirrel away from a new plant. Immediately I was surrounded by a chattering army and drug away to the base of a pine tree where I was thrust underground through a tunnel. Landing on a sea of acorns and pinecone cobs similar to Aragorn's skulls in the kingdom of the dead, I was then dragged before the Squirrel King. Under torture too horrible to describe, I admitted the Secret Superiority of Squirrels. Only then was I released, after having vowed never to interfere with their activity again. I have learned my lesson. I do not attempt new plants. I fear the SSS.

Re: The SSS

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

*laughs uncontrollably, causing strange looks from my colleagues ... *