How about a gardening thread?

[smoky]

	Quote:	Tasebo
	If the bougainvillea is left in a pot it can be brought inside to a cool, somewhat dark place for winter, garage or Kellerabteilung. In the spring cutting back the woody stems shoukd spur on new growth and hopefully blooms. I have one that flowered really nicely for two years - will see how it does this yearAttachment 99584

I would not recommend a dark place for over-wintering - plants Need light.
I notice the Swiss (old folk) who Keep their plants going over winter all place their plants indoors where there`s plenty of light.


I once tried keeping Geraniums over winter, down in the cellar (just a Little light from the small Windows), the leaves all turned a pale sickly colour and seemed to be striving to reach more light, and then had to be weaned out into the open so slowly it wasn`t worth the Trouble.


Indoors where no frost/cold can reach plants, with plenty of light. Plants "breathe" moisture/light thru their leaves.

[Clumsy Maman]

I know what you mean Meloncollie. There is one flowering plant which I absolutely love and miss, the crape myrtle! Gosh, what majestic plants

End of childhood nostalgia

[amogles]

	Quote:	smoky
	I once tried keeping Geraniums over winter, down in the cellar (just a Little light from the small Windows), the leaves all turned a pale sickly colour and seemed to be striving to reach more light, and then had to be weaned out into the open so slowly it wasn`t worth the Trouble.

Geraniums do survive that though.

They look sickly and on the verge of dying, but best is to look away and not think about it because they recover in no time.

Well, mine do.

I've got one set of geraniums that I inherited from my mother and she had them from her aunt so they've been in the family since at least the late 1970s if not longer. Not the very same plants of course but always propagated from cuttings. They seem to do just fine with this treatment.

I've noticed many of the modern breeds are not as hardy though.

[Tasebo]

	Quote:	smoky
	I would not recommend a dark place for over-wintering - plants Need light. I notice the Swiss (old folk) who Keep their plants going over winter all place their plants indoors where there`s plenty of light. I once tried keeping Geraniums over winter, down in the cellar (just a Little light from the small Windows), the leaves all turned a pale sickly colour and seemed to be striving to reach more light, and then had to be weaned out into the open so slowly it wasn`t worth the Trouble. Indoors where no frost/cold can reach plants, with plenty of light. Plants "breathe" moisture/light thru their leaves.

I should have been more clear, I didn't intend to recommend a specifically dark place, but more limited light than outdoors or in main living area is usually tolerated and in some cases useful in encouraging dormancy. Not dungeon dark like poinsettias require to set on blooms.

My bougainvillea has spent the last two winters in a heated (though chillier than upstairs) basement w/windows, but limited light. I would love to plant it permanently but the winter cold is too unpredictable. I grew up in New Jersey and remember the trunk of one random tree we used to pass by was covered from bottom to top with the lovely fuchsia-coloured flowers - so it obviously survives in different climates.

[neddy]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...neighbour.html

[sups]

	Quote:	JanerMacP
	Attachment 99537 Anyone know what this white stuff is? It's moving, like bugs. It's at the base of a flowering thorny climbing plant. You can tell my gardening skills are up to snuff And how to rid my garden of it?

Hi janer mac...sorry just saw your plightful post.
I suspect the wally stuff is what they call willies....i don't have much experience but you will sure find something thru google.
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schmierläuse

[Just_A_Mutt]

EF Garden Friends I need your help ASAP!
My rose bushes are covered in/with black spot! I know I can spray baking soda/non-bleach dish soap and water on them as a temporary fix but it looks pretty bad and is on MULTIPLE bushes. Sadly I think I might need to call in the use of some heavy stuff.
Can you please tell me the name of a good product to use to combat this issue? (Picture of bottle/or ad?) It would be great if I can find it at Migros, Coop, Jumbo or Carrefour. (Directions on how to use it would be helpful as well!)


Ps. I'm already trying to deal with box-tree moth issues..... My kind neighbor showed me the product to use to combat them. He sprayed their side of the garden and I've sprayed once but still have a number of the bugs left so I suppose I will need to spray again?

[Odile]

Watching a programme on the Chelsea Flower Show- and it reminded me of the Chelsea chop?

Does anyone practise this? As I have larger swaves of the same perenial plants in my typical English Curate's borders- I strive to have colour all the time from April to October- and the Chelsea chop really helps.

It's hard to do the first time- eg sacrificing some plants which are just about to flower or have just flowered for a short time - but that means that part of the swave will flower on natural time, and the rest will flower about 1 month later, depending how short they have been cut down in their prime. Great with perenial 'wild' geraniums/cranesbill. I have several pink, 1 white and several types of blue- and the Chelsea chop means they will be with us right through from about now- to autumn.

Grab handfuls from a patch of perenials and cut down with secateurs- and leave the rest. A great trick used by horticulturists to ensure their plants are at their best just in time for Chelsea.

Carlasmom yellow peony confirmed as a (wonderful) tree peony. Yesterday mine burst into flower- the same but deepest crimson. Some of the herbaceous peonies started flowering yesterday too- although I am a lot higher in altitude.

[Belgianmum]

	Quote:	Odile
	Watching a programme on the Chelsea Flower Show- and it reminded me of the Chelsea chop? Does anyone practise this? As I have larger swaves of the same perenial plants in my typical English Curate's borders- I strive to have colour all the time from April to October- and the Chelsea chop really helps. It's hard to do the first time- eg sacrificing some plants which are just about to flower or have just flowered for a short time - but that means that part of the swave will flower on natural time, and the rest will flower about 1 month later, depending how short they have been cut down in their prime. Great with perenial 'wild' geraniums/cranesbill. I have several pink, 1 white and several types of blue- and the Chelsea chop means they will be with us right through from about now- to autumn. Grab handfuls from a patch of perenials and cut down with secateurs- and leave the rest. A great trick used by horticulturists to ensure their plants are at their best just in time for Chelsea.

I've always done the Chelsea chop as my mother did it at home and always had huge swathes of colour from spring until late autumn.
Garden us looking fabulous at the moment and lots more to come so hopefully I will have achieved my goal if having continuous colour too.

	Quote:	Just_A_Mutt
	EF Garden Friends I need your help ASAP! My rose bushes are covered in/with black spot! I know I can spray baking soda/non-bleach dish soap and water on them as a temporary fix but it looks pretty bad and is on MULTIPLE bushes. Sadly I think I might need to call in the use of some heavy stuff. Can you please tell me the name of a good product to use to combat this issue? (Picture of bottle/or ad?) It would be great if I can find it at Migros, Coop, Jumbo or Carrefour. (Directions on how to use it would be helpful as well!) Ps. I'm already trying to deal with box-tree moth issues..... My kind neighbor showed me the product to use to combat them. He sprayed their side of the garden and I've sprayed once but still have a number of the bugs left so I suppose I will need to spray again?

This is what I used for black spot on my roses last year when everything else failed. It worked really well.

[Tom1234]

	Quote:	Just_A_Mutt
	Ps. I'm already trying to deal with box-tree moth issues..... My kind neighbor showed me the product to use to combat them. He sprayed their side of the garden and I've sprayed once but still have a number of the bugs left so I suppose I will need to spray again?

Squash them with your fingers.

We nearly lost a few box bushes a couple of years ago but they have recovered with vigilance (checking regularly) and much squashing of the caterpillars.

[meloncollie]

Catastrophe of major proportions looming* - geranium experts, I need your help!

I believe my geraniums are infected with Botrytis blight. (Leaves suddenly turned yellow, then brown, the flower heads die without opening, covered with a white fuzz.)

I've removed all the dead material, but if my friend Google is right there is still a danger of lingering spores. Articles I have read suggest:

"Fungicide sprays containing chlorothalonil, copper ammonium carbonate, neem oil, potassium bicarbonate or bacillus subtilis can effectively control botrytis blight in geraniums. Apply fungicides after periods of wet weather. Fungicide sprays can contribute to moisture levels, so adequate ventilation and circulation of air around your plant are necessary to prevent further infections."

A trip to B/H and Hornbach proved fruitless - the above mentioned fungicides were not available.

I'll head out the Meier over the weekend to speak with real garden experts, but I'd like to try treating the plants in the meantime. Have any of you seen any of the fungicides mentioned here in Switzerland?

Or have any of you encountered Botrytis blight and successfully fought it off? If so, what did you do?

I would be grateful for any advice.





* Catastrophic, because in my little village poor window box performance is an egregious Integration Fail. I can all ready hear the Geranium Polizei tut-tutting.

(The good geraniums are long gone in the stores, so replanting isn't a great option.)

[amogles]

	Quote:	meloncollie
	Catastrophe of major proportions looming* - geranium experts, I need your help! I believe my geraniums are infected with Botrytis blight. (Leaves suddenly turned yellow, then brown, the flower heads die without opening, covered with a white fuzz.) I've removed all the dead material, but if my friend Google is right there is still a danger of lingering spores. Articles I have read suggest: "Fungicide sprays containing chlorothalonil, copper ammonium carbonate, neem oil, potassium bicarbonate or bacillus subtilis can effectively control botrytis blight in geraniums. Apply fungicides after periods of wet weather. Fungicide sprays can contribute to moisture levels, so adequate ventilation and circulation of air around your plant are necessary to prevent further infections." A trip to B/H and Hornbach proved fruitless - the above mentioned fungicides were not available. I'll head out the Meier over the weekend to speak with real garden experts, but I'd like to try treating the plants in the meantime. Have any of you seen any of the fungicides mentioned here in Switzerland? Or have any of you encountered Botrytis blight and successfully fought it off? If so, what did you do? I would be grateful for any advice. * Catastrophic, because in my little village poor window box performance is an egregious Integration Fail. I can all ready hear the Geranium Polizei tut-tutting. (The good geraniums are long gone in the stores, so replanting isn't a great option.)

My understanding is that Botrytis blight affacts especially plants that are exposed to moisture. So if plants are affacted or in danger of being affected, it is important to make sure you don't get the wet when watering them. If you can water directly into the saucer and also protect from rain.

This may of course earn the disapproval of the Geranium Police as you can't have them in their usual place.

Another approach may be to take cuttings from yet unaffacted parts of the plants and grow them in fresh soil and away from the infected plants (but with prophylactic spraying) in the hope that these won't be affacted in due time.

Of course this takes time, will not necessarily be succesful and will again not provide an immediate solution winning the approval of the Geranium Police.

Unless you have a particularly valuable or special strain of geranium, it may be easier to dump them and buy new.

[MrVertigo]

Calling the brilliant minds of EF for help. I have an invasion of bindweed (liseron in french...sometimes called devil's guts, Zaunwinde in German)...I failed to get rid of them last year and now they are propagating.

What product or method would you recommend to eliminate them?

[Odile]

Depends where they are growing- mine are growing in the middle of my phlox- so spraying is just out! I will have to make sure I dig it all out early spring next year. My neighbour in the UK used to put stakes near them so they would climb on the sticks- then he could use a systemic gel on the tops which would travel down to the roots without affecting other plants. Vinegar won't do for bindweed, sadly! Go and ask in Landi for adivce.

With persistent weeds- dealing with it early makes the work 1000 (perhaps a few more 000) easier- I've changed the '1 stitch in time' proverb, to 1 weed in time safe squillions.

[Belgianmum]

	Quote:	MrVertigo
	Calling the brilliant minds of EF for help. I have an invasion of bindweed (liseron in french...sometimes called devil's guts, Zaunwinde in German)...I failed to get rid of them last year and now they are propagating. What product or method would you recommend to eliminate them?

It is an absolute pain to get rid of completely but keeping it to a minimum so it doesn't completely take over is imperative.
I try to get as much away as possible by carefully teasing the roots as far back as possible. I find a normal household fork very useful for this. By removing as much root as possible you minimise the chance if it coming back but as long as there is even a tiny piece of root there it will come back, it just takes a little longer.
If it's not intertwined too much amongst other plants I've found this stuff to work pretty well. It's a mousse that you squirt onto individual leaves and it gets transported back to the roots. You have to squirt mousse on a certain percentage of leaves for it to work well but it is easy to target only the leaves of the bindweed without affecting other plants.

Luckily I don't have much of it her at all but there was loads in our previous 'rented' garden.

[meloncollie]

Update on my catastrophic geraniums:

Took the plants to the garden center, where the advisor swore that it was too early for Botrytis blight. (The plants had only been bought a few weeks previously, had been taken inside during the rains, so not overwatered, etc.) He advised picking off dead leaves, stems, buds, checking soil for drainage - and then waiting.

I was skeptical but did as suggested.

To no avail.

The leaves and stems look healthy, but the flower buds wither and die immediately. Definitely Botrytis. And so it has come to this:

	Quote:	amogles
	Unless you have a particularly valuable or special strain of geranium, it may be easier to dump them and buy new.

I've had to toss out 35 plants. Too late to find replacements, not a geranium to be had at this late date.

So for the first time in 17 years, I have empty window boxes. I await the inevitable deportation order.

[Medea Fleecestealer]

Good grief. Buy a packet of seeds of something and plant them for heaven's sake. It's not rocket science girl. Or maybe get some trailing tomato plants to put in them - just to be different. Or some herb seeds.

[meloncollie]

	Quote:	Medea Fleecestealer
	Good grief. Buy a packet of seeds of something and plant them for heaven's sake. It's not rocket science girl. Or maybe get some trailing tomato plants to put in them - just to be different. Or some herb seeds.

Different? In Schwyz?


I take it you don't live under the thumb of the Geraniumpolizei over there in free-wheeling Romandie.

Think the WI. With the power of life and death.

[Belgianmum]

	Quote:	meloncollie
	I've had to toss out 35 plants. Too late to find replacements, not a geranium to be had at this late date. So for the first time in 17 years, I have empty window boxes. I await the inevitable deportation order.

There are still loads of lovely looking geraniums and other window box plants around here. They may not be the super cheap ones you get from Aldi etc but they are very nice plants.
I'd be happy to post some to you ( very carefully packaged) if you want.

[meloncollie]

	Quote:	Belgianmum
	There are still loads of lovely looking geraniums and other window box plants around here.

Good to know - thanks for the offer, but it sounds like a good excuse for a road trip across the Rostigraben. Haven ventured out that way in years...