The zombie army COVID-19 Gardening thread.

[Harry Flashman]

Promised Land said:

I put some allium bulbs in maybe 4 or 5 years ago now, certainly did not plant 9 in a clump which is what’s there now, tallest around 7 foot, cannot remember what type though.

That's Allium Summer Drummer. I have a bunch!

[Promised Land]

Harry Flashman said:

That's Allium Summer Drummer. I have a bunch!

[NMNeil]

Swervin_Mervin said:

Anyone have any solid recommendations for slug and snail control beyond just nighttime sweeps of the area? They're mullering so much at the moment.

Never had any luck with egg shells or coffee grounds nor, more recently, wool matting. I'm loathe to go down the pellets route so there don't seem to be many options other than possibly nematodes?

Copper. snails and slugs supposedly will not cross it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyr1ax4V5To

[MrHappy]

Very pleased to see some fresh growth on some of my phormiums, about a foot so far. They’re normally 6ft high with flower spikes to 9 or 10ft but, like most, took a severe beating over the winter.

[RichB]

Did a bit of pruning this morning, still much more to do! This pile will go through the mulcher/chipper then into the compost for use next year.

[Harry Flashman]

Dealt with rambling roses yesterday - a big post flowering prune.



Lavender and alliums!

[MrHappy]

A very impressive Allium display at Hampton Court today.

[RichB]

RichB said:

Did a bit of pruning this morning, still much more to do! This pile will go through the mulcher/chipper then into the compost for use next year.

More pruning of the rhododendrons today. Filled a dumpy bag with that last session, once it went through my mulcher/chipper. It's cooking away nicely now. I'll have to get another dumpy bag because I'll easily fill another. Plus I've already got 3 compost bays on the go. Still, my wife says she'll use it all so I produce as much as I can!

[mcelliott]

Some unusual sunflowers coming through in our meadow.

[Swervin_Mervin]

mcelliott said:

Some unusual sunflowers coming through in our meadow.

That's stunning Mcelliot.

How much management do you have to do to keep the meadow looking that good?

I ask as we have a c30sqm area at the bottom of our garden that we wildflower turfed about 5-6years ago and it has tended towards the grasses taking over. I actually sowed some yellow rattle last year in a bid to start tackling the grassess, with some success, but I think it's going to take a couple of years of continual sowing to get to a point where the grasses are suitably subdued. Plan this year is to sow more yellow rattle, but also some cornflowers and poppies.

It also has a habit of all keeling over around mid-June so goes from looking great to terrible fairly quickly!

[mcelliott]

Swervin_Mervin said:

mcelliott said:

Some unusual sunflowers coming through in our meadow.

That's stunning Mcelliot.

How much management do you have to do to keep the meadow looking that good?

I ask as we have a c30sqm area at the bottom of our garden that we wildflower turfed about 5-6years ago and it has tended towards the grasses taking over. I actually sowed some yellow rattle last year in a bid to start tackling the grassess, with some success, but I think it's going to take a couple of years of continual sowing to get to a point where the grasses are suitably subdued. Plan this year is to sow more yellow rattle, but also some cornflowers and poppies.

It also has a habit of all keeling over around mid-June so goes from looking great to terrible fairly quickly!

Thanks, the prep work was pretty labour intensive trying to get rid of the stronger grasses which we managed to some degree, the flowers are at their peak around now but I expect other things to come through going into the tail end of the summer, going forward I will get the tractor on it to cut it down to about 4" then cleaned, after that it's a case of waiting till next year to see if the grasses take a hold or I just need to throw some more seed down.

Edited by mcelliott on Thursday 13th July 13:37