Bernard's Outbox

Don't want to be a Jonah, but these sorts of industries did have bad habits when it came to disposing of waste, so before committing a lot of effort and expense, do have a careful look over the area for any signs of plants struggling to grow and either carry out soil tests or have it done for you by a professional.

What a fabulous lot you are! The first reply from Bernieh arrived before the ink was dry on my original post. GoY is undoubtedly developing into the premier gardening forum on the Net and the quality of the membership cannot be faulted.
Thanks again folks, I am in your debt.
Bernard

Hear,hear, I agree with Garrya being hardy and needing no coddling.

I think one of the worst aspects of the grey squirrels behaviour that we have observed is that they can get virtually anywhere in a tree that a bird can and have a fine old time scoffing the eggs throughout the nesting season. If I could be sure of killing it rather than injuring it, my air rifle would be put to good use!

I have to disagree with Heron about the amount of work involved in a pond. I speak from experience having established a pond which very quickly became infested with blanket weed which required constant and time consuming work with a small rake to heave it out at least weekly. Plants needed constant attention to keep them under control especially the vigorous root-spreading varieties. We had a cobble beach at one end for wildlife access and every spring we had to remove the cobbles to clear out all the rampant growth that had invaded it. Bindweed invaded the surrounding rockery and was a nightmare to remove, but the blanket weed was by far the worst and none of the products advertised to control it did a scrap of good. I came to the conclusion that the pond was much more labour intensive than the rest of the garden and we would never have another one.

And welcome from me. I know from experience what a fabulous group the GoY members are. Never lacked a helpful and informative reply to all my questions.

Thanks everyone for the info. I hang my head in shame at confusing Fatsia with Phormium - even I should know the difference. I've had a really good look at the plant and it is very badly infested, I tried to get rid of the infestation by cutting off the affected leaves, but there are so many and it seems to continue right down into the crown of the plant that I think I will have no option but to replace it. Boo Hoo.

Much obliged, Bamboo - I'll follow your advice.

Thanks, Bamboo, as usual you've come up with the goods. Do you think Trachleospermum jasminoides would be OK growing against a West facing wall?

Thanks for your prompt replies. It's certainly given me plenty to think about. Owdboggy - Roseclear is a systemic fungicide, I am told. What living things would the spores lie dormant on? - our dog isn't showing any signs of mildew :-). When the first attack of mildew happened, it was in the Spring and I didn't realise what it was soon enough, but all parts of the plant were attacked, especially the growing shoots, and it was awful to see how quickly the plant collapsed.

Thanks Vincent, for the correction.

Thanks folks,

I think I'm clear now.

Thanks for your input Vincent. I'm slightly uncertain because the pictures on the web aren't that brilliant, the leaves on my tree seem to lie more horizontally, although they are a bit more vertical at the top. I've taken a photo of the leaves of mine and posted it on my home page in 'Garden' with the title C. lawsoniana 'Columnaris' leaf detail. Perhaps if you can find it you might like to comment on this. If it makes you more certain you are right, that's fine by me.

Personally, I leave it over the winter because I find the birds are keen on the seeds and then trim it back to leave a bud or two on last year's stems. It isn't a good idea to cut back into the old wood.

This one is in a pot, do you think this misght be a contrbutory factor?

Bamboo

How about if we put some in a plastc bag and send first class?

Thanks for the really useful information.

Thanks all, for the info

Our acer is growing in a big pot and looks good and healthy. As it is in a pot it will need feeding. Would you be able to recommend a good and suitable feed for this shrub?

Bamboo - we could send you a leaf if you like.

Right then, more information. the plant is actually in my daughter's garden in Oxford, so it has taken me a while to get the information.
The brown marks are part of the leaf, not on the surface and make no difference to the texture of the leaf.
No sign of any insect activity.
The plant is growing up a timber post supporting a porch roof and faces Northeast.
It doesn't seem to have affected the vitality of the plant which has flowered normally and produced seeds.
As far as my daughter can remember, it happened last year as well, she's not too sure when it starts.
Over to you.

Thank you all for the comprehensive info. We already have Vinca minor and this one has larger leaves. I guessed it would need watching which I don't mind doing and prefer this to a plant that sulks in a corner and won't tell me what's wrong!

Thanks folks. How nice to have unanimous agreement!

Thanks for the info, people.

OK folks, more information.
Height and spread - 760mm x 600mm
The plant is in a shady spot , but the colour is virtually the same as our Stachys byzantina but that isn't flowering.
The leaves are gorgeous to touch, soft and furry and quite thick.

Thanks for the information. I will chase them up on Google to get more info, especially pictures.
Aint Google grand!

A combination of GoY and Google is unbeatable.

Regards
Bernard

OK, I'll rephrase the question.
Is there a variety of Liquidamber that has red leaves from when they appear to when they fall off?

Thanks folks for your helpful and reassuring replies. The damaged roses have duly been snipped. Bamboo, the objects you spotted on the bud turned out on closer inspection to be greenfly, so they also are gone!!

Mine are dark blue. Is it a different variety or am I colour blind?

One thing has always fascinated me about the rule of not watering in the sun because of leaf scrorch. We have just had a heavy shower leaving all the leaves sparkling with droplets. Out has come the sun, hot as you like and no sign of leaf scorch. Does nature know best?
It seems to me that a better reason for not watering the foliage is to put it where it's needed, ie at the base of the plant, because I know that in the wooded part of my garden it can rain for half an hour and not a drop reaches the ground under the trees.