Poaannua's Outbox

Dont cut back to ground level, but you should be able to prune back this years growth, as long as there are leaves on the branches beneath, dont prune to bare wood. Despite giving this advice. Eventually all mine died and I dont have any at all.

Take some cuttings. The life span is always short, but dry hard conditions prolong life. They will grow well in a Wall. and need to be in a sunny well drained soil without much food.

iQuite often when Shrubs dont bloom its because they are growing too lushly.or are in shade. Try giving a feed of Tomato or Rose fertilizer, this provides Potash and phosphorus that encourage flowering.

The best thing to do is remove the bulk of the wands, leaving only fresh green ones or cutting all the canes down to ground level

It will need a strong dose as some Geraniums are partially resistant to Roundup.

It looks like Platycodon Balloon Flower, but leaves are not quite as I remember them.

This is a particularly well coloured variety worth saving the seed. They don't trnsplant at all well so sow them in Spring where you want them to grow.

I have seen these Beetles on Dock plants. They resemvble the bright red Lily Beetles, if so . I think it is too late to do much about them. Next year you may find it helps to put fleece over the plants, whilst they are still free from attack.

Willows are one of the most popular food plants for several difffent Caterpillars, What do is keep a careful watch over the new growth and at first signs, pinch out the shoots which are being eaten, second growth is often left uneaten.

It sounds like Honey Fungus. Usually there has been a tree cut down or fallen down nearbye from which the fungus has spread. If not perhaps the other cause is posssible,

Possibly CONVOLVULUS CNEORUM A tough little shrub that needs sunshine and good drainage, and dont overfeed. Cut back after flowering.

You may indeed have overfed it, I think you should remove the Manure, which could upset the symbiotic fungus that it relies on to help keep it healthy. I never feed my ones in the ground , and only sparsely when potted. That helps make them cone too.

Roundup should kill it when there are only young shoots, it is a grass so should succumb quite easily. but yiou will have to spray it more than once as it willprobably sprout again from deeper down.

Sorry you had such a nasty encounter. If Council dont come out. try Wasp killer from local Garden Centre. I killed a Hornets nest last year. wrote a blog abou it. The spray sends out a long jet of white froth that sticks around the nest entrance and after two goes thaey were all killled.

Great Pics and Poem. My Butterflies always fly away at sight of the camera.,or is it me?

What a beauty. Never seen one like this before.

That is a fine show of blossom.. Reminds me that now the one on my porch has gone over. I must cut it back before it bites someone.

Great picture. lovely flowers

Glad you like it Sandra, but watch out for it spreading . It spreads by seed as well as runners. Despite their spreading I also like Pilosella and Hieracium maculatum. They all give me extra weeding but I still welcome them.

There are several varieties of Fargesia . The one which I had was a terrrible invader. However it flowered three years ago and is now dead but its remains are still a problem requiring great efforts to remove.. Do check which type you intend to use if you do decide on it. There are suitable Bamboos clump forming which you should be able to obtain.

It may be Little Princess'. Even if it isn't it is a nice name.

You could try Japanese Privet Ligustrum japonica. This makes a teller tree than the ordinary Privet and flowers quite pleasingly.

I find that the best way if they are potted is to lie them down and squirt a jet of water from the hose, this removes a large number, after which use a picture painting brush, with some plants i dip it in methylated spirits.. but best test this on the peppers as I only do it on succulents.

It is probably a Sempervivum tectorum variety. There are now several hundred different named Semps. many of them hard to tell apart. especially as they tend to vary greatly in appearance through the year and whether in sun or shade. Best results are from growing in full sun and not overfeeding. They are a very addictive plant to collect.

So glad iit all went well I wish I lived near enough to have been there. Your garden looks lovely and a Nursery too, Very best Wishes..

If it is a small area , just fork out the perennial weeds like Couch and Gout Weed with running roots. The turf should suppress all\ other annual weeds.

Hello Lilimac. You can cut back the Rocket, to encourage itr to make new flowering growth, if possible leave some uncut , they often make side growths that willl flower if the main head is removed. I imagine the Coriander too will improve if cut back.

Perhaps Prunus cerasifera pissardii are thei inside of the fruits plum stones or apple seeds?

This is a Bromeliad that lives in the rain forest, so would like shady, moist conditions , I have grown them on the floor of my greenhouse taking water drips from the shelf above.but mine never flower so lets hope someone else can help.

You could plant another Rowan. or an Amelanchier. Perhaps one of the Cotoneasters . I have a Cotoneaster watererii. which keeps berries until Winter when it is visited by the migrant Thrushes. Redwings and Fieldfares.