Maxgarden's Outbox

Clipping the tree down should encourage bushy growth and it won't be long before you're getting even more of those lovely new red leaves sprouting up. The instructions on the one I bought from a garden centre a few years ago encouraged regular clipping for that very reason. And it's worked fine!

It could be that your plant is in need of a good dose of ericacious feed. Ericacious compost or/and some form of sequestrine treatment often brings these acid loving plants back to good condition.

Hi Nstressful. Bromeliad it is. But they are also called Guzmania, so take your pick.

Lift the canna as soon as the first frost has blackened the foliage and cut the stems down to about 6 inches. Keep the plant whole and don't be tempted to divide the clump. Repot the plant into a plastic container of slightly moist, peaty compost. Place the pot in a frost free environment such as a garage, shed, greenhouse and do not allow to dry out. But keep only slightly damp.

Divide in Spring when the new growth reaches about 2.5 inches.

Try this site for hundreds of well described plants: macgregors-shadeplants.co.uk. As the name suggests they specialise in what you're looking for. Happy hunting.

I think Ligularia too. Possibly dentata 'desdemona' variety judging by the maroon coloured backs of the foliage. If so you'll get daisy like flowers on tall stems in mid to late summer. The common name's Golden groundsel. But whatever it is you need to get some slug repellent around it or those lovely leaves will soon get shredded. It looks gorgeous at the moment.

I have had two Pieris growing in north wall shade for about 4 years now and both are doing fine. I give them a decent dose of ericaceous compost in mid winter and on they go. They do get a touch of sun in the early morning. When there is any sun to be had here that is! West Midlands U.K. Go for it 1198, they're a good all year round shrub.

I give my clay soil a good dose of manure, compost and any other bargain soil improver I can get hold of each winter. The soil's getting better year on year. I spread a couple of inches over the surface and churn it well in with a four pronged cultivator. It might sound crude but I'm well pleased with the results.

Sorry, Sid. I have to go with Photinia too.

What a lovely tribute and memorial to your folks, Eggbox. You do your family proud.

It's nice to see those bits of green. The growing season's on its way.

Scan back to Page 6 for comments on your Lords and Ladies. It's on the Corsican Arum lily. Date March 19th.

The Gunnera and the Phormium immediately catch the eye. Then I feel drawn to the rest of the planting scheme. Then I'm wandering what's behind the Gunnera and that low hedge toward the back. Lovely layout Eggbox. Let's see more, please. Just how big is your Gunnera at moment?

We have quite a lot of maggies in our immediate vicinity. They kick up a right fuss when feeling threatened so they tell me where my cat is when she's out on the prowl. Like Dibber says they're funny with their acrobatics when feeding. They tend to leap up and down to get at the fatballs I put in the trees or splatter food from the bird table over the lawn. But that's o k because it allows the groundfeeding birds a look in. I like them, they're part of nature, part of life. Enjoy,Hazel!

I have a Miscanthus sinensis Purperesens and always cut it right down about now, just as the new growth is beginning to show through. Although I have not divided it yet (and it must be about due) I did dig it up and relocate it last year, again around March time. No harm done at all - except to my back I would say! As Bluespruce rightly points out, Those things weigh a ton.

All this is just a month after snow. What a recovery!

Very neat and complimentary. The Hostas go well together.

Lovely scheme here. Nice one Mike.

Beautiful flowers, Mike. Are they Monardas and how tall do they grow?

Very tranquil. Bring on the summer eh, Sid?

I like these a lot, Sid. Are they evergreens?

I checked a couple of websites - gardenweb.com/forums and www.mobot.org/gardening help/plantfinder (both American). Plenty of info regarding Arum italicum or Italian Lords and Ladies as they're commonly known. They're lovely plants but apparently very invasive and difficult to control if allowed to get out of hand. If you need more sites try keying arum italicum onto your search bar.

Yes, Asparagus fern. Had one for years in our lightly shaded bathroom where it thrived. It climbed up the blinds in the growing season. Lovely soft, feathery foliage.

Thanks everyone. Your replies are very reassuring. I'll keep you informed of progress.

Smashing plants. They really earn their keep in the winter garden,flowering profusely when there's not much colour around. Apart from slug protection, they don't take much looking after either.

The idea of deadheading is to trick the plant into thinking it hasn't flowered giving it incentive (and energy) to produce more flowers. After all, flowering is what they exist for.

Andrea's right, Harli. The Rhus has beautiful leaves in spring and summer and the autumn show is gorgeous. But these trees have a suckering habit and you'll find their babies popping up all over the place - even through your lawn if you have one. They're easily yanked out though and the tree's well worth keeping for its long season of interest.

Divide these plants after flowering and you'll be well rewarded. They flower profusely in winter when there's not much else around in the way of colour. Regular deadheading will ensure a long, hardworking season from them too. They certainly earn there keep.

Hi Harli. This is a Euphorbia Lathyrus. I have a few of these in my own garden and just this evening planted a few seeds. They self seed very easily though and if you cut through one they quickly branch out and make lovely sculptural plants. But beware! The milky sap from any Euphorbia is very poisonous if ingested, and if you get the stuff on your skin and into an open cut or an eye it'll smart like hell. Don't be put off by that, however. There are loads of varieties and I've never seen one yet that wasn't pretty,and they seem to tolerate any old environment. The lathyrus seed pods are like tiny pumpkins about the size of a ten pence piece. The seedlings will begin to appear around next spring,but if you don't want to move them or keep them they're easily disposed of.One jerk with a hand fork and they're out. Overall they tend to be a short lived plant anyway but I do use mine in the dryish shade of a big conifer where other plants refuse to grow. Can't agree with Sid. It's a very useful easy goer. Nice photo. Best wishes, Mack.

Hi Jessica. I have the same problem with my Red Robin and posted a question on this site on the 9th of Feb. It's on page 5 with a photo and several answers entitled "Photinia leaf discolouration." I'm hoping it's just winter damage so I'm just keeping an eye on it for the moment. Assuming yours has the same symptoms, maybe that's your problem too.