How about a gardening thread?

[omtatsat]

how much water does a Clematis need ( amount ) in a pot weekly?

[Tom1234]

	Quote:	omtatsat
	how much water does a Clematis need ( amount ) in a pot weekly?

Clematis don't really like being in pots - they like cool roots so try and keep the pot in the shade (but not the plant!).

Just water it once a week now and perhaps twice a week when it's warmer.

One good soaking a week is much better than a few dribbles from a watering can over a week.

[meloncollie]

Anybody out there with a crystal ball?

Looking at the forecast for the next 10 days the weather will be glorious - and I have a small window of available time, which I'd love to spend putting the tomatoes out.

But but but Dark Side, Eisheiligen - it could all end in tears, even with a cold frame.

It's so frustrating, as if I wait until after the Eisheiligen the growing season is almost too short for tomatoes. I'm usually still picking and then ripening in the nick of time ahead of an October frost.

But if I start too soon, we could still get a killing frost. Seems unlikely with the warm spring we have had, but this is the Dark Side, anything could happen.

So if any of you have a crystal ball, I'd be most appreciative if you could peek just a month into the future...

[omtatsat]

The safest way is to plant the tomato until after the sacred ice age in mid-May. After that you can be pretty sure that there will be no ground frost that could damage the seedlings. It is not only warmer, but also drier at this time. Since tomato plants actually come from warmer latitudes, this comes to meet them.

	Quote:	meloncollie
	Anybody out there with a crystal ball? Looking at the forecast for the next 10 days the weather will be glorious - and I have a small window of available time, which I'd love to spend putting the tomatoes out. But but but Dark Side, Eisheiligen - it could all end in tears, even with a cold frame. It's so frustrating, as if I wait until after the Eisheiligen the growing season is almost too short for tomatoes. I'm usually still picking and then ripening in the nick of time ahead of an October frost. But if I start too soon, we could still get a killing frost. Seems unlikely with the warm spring we have had, but this is the Dark Side, anything could happen. So if any of you have a crystal ball, I'd be most appreciative if you could peek just a month into the future...

[DantesDame]

	Quote:	meloncollie
	But but but Dark Side, Eisheiligen - it could all end in tears, even with a cold frame.

My take on it? Plant half of what you normally plant now. If they freeze, then you're only out a few little plants. But if there is no frost, you're ahead of the game!

You can plant the other half of your tomatoes after everything is officially "safe"

[meloncollie]

	Quote:	DantesDame
	My take on it? Plant half of what you normally plant now. If they freeze, then you're only out a few little plants. But if there is no frost, you're ahead of the game!

Brilliant!

Thanks, DantesDame.

[LearningAlways]

We just moved into a "new" apartment that has large concrete planters facing full south. There is no water spigot available so we need to water by hand. Our problem is that the planters are blocked from getting any significant rainfall and they dry out very quickly. I also sometimes hear the water dripping out as I am pouring it in.

I need help with the following before my husband buys lots of artificial flowers:

1. The soil is old, and surely needs some amendments so that it retains moisture better. What do you recommend and any idea what the French terms are?
   
2. Any recommendations for plants that need little water, will survive below zero temperatures (I live near Lake Geneva, a bit above lake level), and that are attractive. Perennials preferred. And I do know this is a big ask.

My apologies if there has just been a long discussion similar to this - I tried searching first. Any suggestions are much appreciated.

[DantesDame]

	Quote:	LearningAlways
	We just moved into a "new" apartment that has large concrete planters facing full south. There is no water spigot available so we need to water by hand. Our problem is that the planters are blocked from getting any significant rainfall and they dry out very quickly. I also sometimes hear the water dripping out as I am pouring it in. I need help with the following before my husband buys lots of artificial flowers: Any suggestions are much appreciated.

Since no one else has answered you yet, I'll give it a shot:

Go for succulents. I don't know how many are winter hardy, but at least this one is (Hens and Chicks):




And here's a link to 10 more!


Definitely do something with the soil - perhaps add some peat moss, compost or composted manure. Good for you for trying to keep things "green"

[DantesDame]

The garden is certainly enjoying this weather, but I am finding that I need to get stuff done by noon before the heat gets too much for me.

The frogs are a good excuse to sit in the shade though - I love watching their antics







The poor tulips just don't know what to make of all of this heat!

[LearningAlways]

Thank you, DantesDame!

I spent several hours at the locafl Hornbach on Saturday and came home with a big bale of peat moss and a variety of sempervivum and what are described as Alpine plants that will survive anything! Then I couldn't resist a few dahlia bulbs to add a bit of color. We'll see what happens!

	Quote:	DantesDame
	Since no one else has answered you yet, I'll give it a shot: Go for succulents. I don't know how many are winter hardy, but at least this one is (Hens and Chicks): And here's a link to 10 more! Definitely do something with the soil - perhaps add some peat moss, compost or composted manure. Good for you for trying to keep things "green"

[FCBarca]

Anyone with successful experience dealing with campagnols (Voles or field mice) attacking tree roots?

Local stores suggest fumigation bombs into the holes they burrow but curious about any remedies that are less toxic. Read spreading cayenne peppers around shrubs/trees has had success too

[meloncollie]

	Quote:	FCBarca
	Anyone with successful experience dealing with campagnols (Voles or field mice) attacking tree roots? Local stores suggest fumigation bombs into the holes they burrow but curious about any remedies that are less toxic. Read spreading cayenne peppers around shrubs/trees has had success too

May I piggy back onto your destructive voles/mice/unidentified burrowing critter control question?

Something - I assume voles - seems to have been busy building a subterranean city in the sloped area of my garden. They have attacked tree roots here as well, the latest victim is one of my lilacs. But I have an even more worrying problem: The critters have made dozens of holes the size of 1 to 5 franc pieces scattered around the area. I've tried filling them, but the holes open up or new ones appear the next day.

I'm particularly worried as our new little furry rocket races up and down that slope at warp speed - should he land a paw in one of those holes he could seriously injure himself.

Any ideas how I can either fill the holes with some chance of long term effectiveness, or even better convince the critters to upsticks and leave, would be most appreciated. I cannot use any kind of poison or toxic material - for the obviousl reason of the Muttley Crew but also because the area is a green zone to buffer a bio farm.

Now over to all y'all critter wrangling experts...

Many thanks.

[FCBarca]

The holes started popping up in our yard in a similar fashion. We've flooded them and then filled to see if there was any new entries - so far, none. However, they are plentiful and multiply quickly so I expect to see them return - neighbors experiencing similar.

We don't want anything toxic either so looking for some clever deterrence remedies

[legallyspeaking]

I have seen my in laws use this sonic spike device which lets out a high pitched sound at regular intervals. We can't hear it, but apparently the burrowing animals can and they hate it. They said it has been effective for them.

[meloncollie]

	Quote:	legallyspeaking
	I have seen my in laws use this sonic spike device which lets out a high pitched sound at regular intervals. We can't hear it, but apparently the burrowing animals can and they hate it. They said it has been effective for them.

I tried one of these once, many years ago - only to find that that my dogs could hear it too. Drove them crazy, with the expected ensuing behavior, which in turn had the potential to drive the neighbors crazy. So unfortunately not a good solution for us.

(FYI, some humans can hear these; if you try one and a neighbor complains, do take them seriously.)

Finding a pet friendly solution to a critter problem is a challenge...

[curley]

	Quote:	meloncollie
	.... (FYI, some humans can hear these; if you try one and a neighbor complains, do take them seriously.)...

Thank you.
A potentially suffering neighbour whom it will take ages to find out what the heck changed and drives her up the walls.

[legallyspeaking]

May be that's why the neighbor's cat always tries to poop on the device.

[curley]

Just learnt that I don't need to buy a thyme this year - which will die on me again at the end of winter (why always at the end when one thinks it made it?!) - as I got creeping thyme growing wild in my poor excuse of a garden.
And it will still grow there once it's a rockery. Which hopefully it will be turned into within weeks.

Wonder what other flat growing herbs I could sneak in to this rockery - looking pretty, spicing my food? Any hints?

[Medea Fleecestealer]

Just to cheer you all up.

"Knotweed 'cannot be eradicated', Swansea Uni trial shows"

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-sou...wales-43882916

Did anyone try dumping a big pile of salt all over it?

[DantesDame]

Plant identification, please!

It looks like a currant bush (Johannisbeeren), but I have never seen one with flowers like this. I don't recall seeing any fruit last year, either. Thoughts?