The Gardening thread.....

[hifi_dave]

Is that a Camelia in bloom ?

[Roy S]

Is that a Camelia in bloom ?

It was

[hifi_dave]

Wow !!!

Unfortunately my soil isn't suitable for Camelias, Magnolias, Heathers, Rhodedendrons etc. They don't die, just hang on and don't put on any growth.

[struth]

pretty bush.. my neighbour had lots of that when he was here. sadly garden has suffered since the left

[struth]

Wow !!!

Unfortunately my soil isn't suitable for Camelias, Magnolias, Heathers, Rhodedendrons etc. They don't die, just hang on and don't put on any growth.

you could try growing them in big tubs.. fill them with an acidic compost and keep them out of wind..

something like this... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Westland-11...a-905802812059

[hifi_dave]

I have been successful with Azaelias in large tubs with Ericaceous compost but the larger shrubs need to be in the soil, either that or it's my fault for not looking after the larger shrubs as I should. I think to be successful you need to change something like 1/3 of the compost every year, feed regularly and repot into larger pots every couple of years. None of which I do regularly.

I have come to the conclusion that I'm not a gardener, more like a tidy-upper.

[struth]

I have been successful with Azaelias in large tubs with Ericaceous compost but the larger shrubs need to be in the soil, either that or it's my fault for not looking after the larger shrubs as I should. I think to be successful you need to change something like 1/3 of the compost every year, feed regularly and repot into larger pots every couple of years. None of which I do regularly.

I have come to the conclusion that I'm not a gardener, more like a tidy-upper.

my mum grew them; lots of them in back garden... they got huge if you didnt be very severe with them. garden did have a fairly acidic soil, and we added fresh stuff and fertilizer most years. if you were not careful the grew to 8 ft in one season if not pruned properly. those and roses, which i was inclined to look after; we had over 200 rose bushes... gotta be hard with them to and spray, spray, spray lol

[hifi_dave]

200..

We have around 50 Roses and thought that was a lot. They do well in our garden, which is South facing and clay but anything needing some acid is doomed.

[struth]

200..

We have around 50 Roses and thought that was a lot. They do well in our garden, which is South facing and clay but anything needing some acid is doomed.

yeah, mums back garden especially was big but on a heavy slope as house was on a hillside really. so being clay and acidic it could be heavy going doing veg so we sculpted it into beds and grew flowers' mostly roses.(dug loads of manure and topsoil into the garden over years, all carried up a 1 in 6 slope) i liked roses as they minded their own business if to pruned and sprayed regular, and got flowers a good chunk of year. had loads in front and down side too. rhubarb grew well too so i got a lot of that too.. lots of manure

[Pigmy Pony]

I've been told that if I'm to spend less time going out to work, I will have more time for the garden Anita's not keen on the thought of a paid gardener doing what he does outside while I sit on my arse indoors playing records.

I can't be doing with corded power tools any more, so I've put an Ebay bid on one of these:



And I ain't doing stripes either. If she wants me to take on the lawn mowing, these are my terms.

Can't believe I'm getting excited about a bloody lawnmower, must be an age thing.