Search found 2366 matches

by simon
Wed Nov 20, 2013 2:40 pm
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: Wrapped your Nana's yet?
Replies: 25
Views: 2514

Re: Wrapped your Nana's yet?

I don't wrap mine until the leaves have been destroyed. That will no doubt be this weekend judging by the temperatures. I will be sticking with my usual fleece wrapping which works well here for basjoo but is a bit hit and miss for sikkimensis. That often looks good and feel firm until the air warms...
by simon
Wed Nov 20, 2013 1:58 pm
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: Tree Fern Protection
Replies: 30
Views: 3192

Re: Tree Fern Protection

A wireless temp sensor may not work throught a wire cage. the cage is likely to block the RF signal but worth trying.
by simon
Fri Nov 01, 2013 1:13 pm
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: any ideas what this is ?
Replies: 7
Views: 1500

Re: any ideas what this is ?

Nice pictures. The flowers never look that good on mine, they seem to attract the slugs.
by simon
Wed Oct 30, 2013 1:47 pm
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: First windscreen frost
Replies: 3
Views: 963

First windscreen frost

This morning I had to scrape the windscreen for the first time this season. I don't know what the temp was because my car has no thermometer. Clear blue skies, must have been about 4C. I will have to think about digging up and shifting some of the more tender stuff soon. The conservatory was tidied ...
by simon
Tue Oct 29, 2013 4:51 pm
Forum: Exotic Gardeners Question Time - Ask Here :-) (Public)
Topic: Plants for ground cover/fillers.
Replies: 25
Views: 6419

Re: Plants for ground cover/fillers.

But regardless of size, the suggestion is still that these plants are less garden-worthy. I presume you wouldn't call Trachycarpus fortunei a filler, so why is Magnolia grandiflora a filler?
by simon
Tue Oct 29, 2013 4:33 pm
Forum: Exotic Gardeners Question Time - Ask Here :-) (Public)
Topic: Plants for ground cover/fillers.
Replies: 25
Views: 6419

Re: Plants for ground cover/fillers.

The one I saw was only a couple of metres high & been heavily pruned to create a bush effect, in our climate it seldom grow's past 3/4 metre's so for me is a filler!. karl. I don't understand your concept of a "filler". Assuming you mean 3 to 4m and not 3 quarters, that is a substanti...
by simon
Tue Oct 29, 2013 3:30 pm
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: Fatsia Spiders Web
Replies: 21
Views: 3407

Re: Fatsia Spiders Web

Spiders web looks good when planted near Fatsia japonica Annelise.. Would you say that Annelise is a comparable grower to Spider..? Had my Spider in a shelter postition at the base of a bamboo clump for about 3 years, and its only grown to about 2ft, which is ideal. I hope it stays as a miniture......
by simon
Fri Oct 25, 2013 11:02 pm
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: Fatsia Spiders Web
Replies: 21
Views: 3407

Re: Fatsia Spiders Web

I thnk the leaf colour in Spider's Web is light dependant. Mine had good variegation until I removed the tree that shaded it and this years flush has much more green. Side shoots at base level which are heavily shaded are virtually all white. I would give it as much shade as possible if you want ple...
by simon
Fri Oct 25, 2013 10:45 pm
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: begonia luxurians
Replies: 26
Views: 4211

Re: begonia luxurians

I don't think "root hardy"is the correct term, as they won't sprout from a root. What actually happens is they sprout from the stem at a leaf node below ground level, providing it is planted deep enough. Here are my 3 That makes more sense icon_thumleft Surely if the roots survive winter ...
by simon
Fri Oct 25, 2013 1:04 pm
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: Black Bamboo - The Final Chop
Replies: 12
Views: 1532

Re: Black Bamboo - The Final Chop

I am in the process of doing the same with my Fargesia robusta. It has got to big for the spot. Its footprint has expanded faster than the Phylostachys nigra 'Boryana' and Chusquea couleou near by and they were all planted at the same time. I have left a few culms intact so I can remove a piece to t...
by simon
Mon Oct 14, 2013 1:02 pm
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: Transplanting T Rex
Replies: 2
Views: 952

Re: Transplanting T Rex

Spring?

That is when I moved mine. Before the regrowth started. They don't seem to make much in the way of capillary roots that hold the soil together, so don't be surprised if all the soil falls away and leaves you with bare roots.
by simon
Wed Oct 09, 2013 1:22 pm
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: Tropical Winter/Spring Bulbs
Replies: 45
Views: 3396

Re: Tropical Winter/Spring Bulbs

You don't have to avoid Daffodils just because they are common. There are may unusual varieties that you don't see in other gardens. The most exotic looking are the doubles and the cylamenious ones with the swept back petals. I just planted some last week, along with some Erythronium "Pagoda&qu...
by simon
Fri Jul 26, 2013 11:35 am
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: Devastating fire at Mark and Gaz's
Replies: 18
Views: 3018

Re: Devastating fire at Mark and Gaz's

It is terrible news. It is awful to see something destroyed that has had so much hard work and dedication put into it. I'm sure with a combination of natural regrowth and replanting it will look amazing again in no time. Mark and Gaz are such a nice couple and very generous, with plants and advice. ...
by simon
Fri Jul 05, 2013 12:22 pm
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: Paulownia tomentosa
Replies: 80
Views: 12537

Re: Paulownia tomentosa

I would say, any time between December and March would be ideal. Once into April there is more chance of setting it back. This is just an ideal. It won't do it any harm by pollarding later. It just means it will be later to leaf up. I cut my big one down late this year because I wanted to wait for i...
by simon
Fri Jul 05, 2013 11:09 am
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: Paulownia tomentosa
Replies: 80
Views: 12537

Re: Paulownia tomentosa

yep I thought this was one the fastest growing trees in the world.... :( I cut my big one down this spring as it had got too big. The trunk was 12" across and I counted four rings. It had been pollarded for a few years before I let it go, so that is four years from a stump to a big tree with a...