Hardy Tropicals UK

Been out grafting digging the new border today and extended some of the other ones, still loads to do though! Only done up to the washing line at which point my girlfriend said we should have a semi-circular patio there, I'm weighing it up to be honest. No planting yet, didn't have time today even if I'd wanted too!

Basjoo unwrapped today with the promise of some warm weather over the weekend, should dry out nicely now. Days off on Monday and Tuesday, so can finish the borders off and commence planting, weather permitting!

With the above average temperatures over recent days set to continue, I decided today was a good day to plant the new border. Also I dug the one on the opposite side of the garden so all the palms are now part of the borders and not in the lawn, this should make cutting the grass a lot easier! Today I planted, cordyline red star, Musa lasiocarpa, fargesia murielae, hibiscus syriacus and an olive. Also relocated a peach tree into the new border.

A few more...

Certainly taking shape CP

When is the black paint coming out Reckon that would add some serious depth to the borders and make the plants pop

red cordy and the chammy are my favs in those pics

cordyman wrote:Certainly taking shape CP

When is the black paint coming out Reckon that would add some serious depth to the borders and make the plants pop

red cordy and the chammy are my favs in those pics

I quite like the colour of the fence so I'm going to leave it as is I think, certainly for this year.

Wow, you work fast. In an earlier post you said you wanted the fence up by June, so your over 2 months ahead of schedule!

The plants should hopefully establish well this year and rock in the years to come.

Yorkshire Kris wrote:Wow, you work fast. In an earlier post you said you wanted the fence up by June, so your over 2 months ahead of schedule!

The plants should hopefully establish well this year and rock in the years to come.

Impatience is a terrible thing , But on a serious note its great to be ahead of plans, just maintenance now for this year. I've decided on a semi-circular patio to get over the washing line problem, so it can stay.

It's filling out beautifully, CP! I love that cordy red star. Its a bold move, planting that Olive into the ground too. Great contrast.

My lack of patience strikes again, should have waited until today when the grass had been cut and the sun was shining to the photos. Here's a couple from today in the sun. . I also had the chance to buy some citrus compost and repot my calamondin and a seed grown clementine that I grew from seed about 20 years ago.

Now the back is almost finished, some of bulbs that were started off in the greenhouse have gone in today, just the arums really to go in, and echiums if they germinate. My attention is now drawn towards planning the arid bed for the front. The line shows where it will be and the Chamerops and Agave will part of it. First job is to remove the turf and then dig in some sharp sand and grit, plant and then top with decorative gravel. I have some cacti in the greenhouse to go in. Any thoughts for hardy aloes I can use too? I'm weighing up putting my potted Canary Island date palm in there also in front of agave on the side away from the house, but should it survive it would take over my drive/porch and next doors too!

cheshirepalms wrote:Now the back is almost finished, some of bulbs that were started off in the greenhouse have gone in today, just the arums really to go in, and echiums if they germinate. My attention is now drawn towards planning the arid bed for the front. The line shows where it will be and the Chamerops and Agave will part of it. First job is to remove the turf and then dig in some sharp sand and grit, plant and then top with decorative gravel. I have some cacti in the greenhouse to go in. Any thoughts for hardy aloes I can use too? I'm weighing up putting my potted Canary Island date palm in there also in front of agave on the side away from the house, but should it survive it would take over my drive/porch and next doors too!

Aloe striatula is the most hardy/easiest to grow Aloe that I'm aware of. Polyphylla is a real looker and can be hardy to -8ish if it's true to species and not a hybrid.

Aloe striatula is the most hardy/easiest to grow Aloe that I'm aware of. Polyphylla is a real looker and can be hardy to -8ish if it's true to species and not a hybrid.

Thanks Kris, I'll keep my eyes peeled for that, although I don't think I've ever seen it for sale.

Looking really good