Stjohntongue's Outbox

Hornbeam as an alternative.

Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum).

I would say yes, if they are kept warm enough, kept out of draughts, recieve plenty of light (12 hours min.) and not overwatered.
Good luck.

Remember plants under trees are taking moisture and nutrients from them.

Not to stop the compost but to stop the plant roots getting inside the tyres making removal difficult when changing plants in subsequent years.

Yew is not a good choice if you or your neighbours have children or pets as the leaves, seeds, twigs, bark and roots are poisonous.
If your property borders grazing land and cattle eat your yew hedge you are liable for their demise.

Advice is there to be taken but not necessarily acted upon.

Easy to grow, just like tomatoes.
However you need to grow at least two as they need to cross polinate.

Have you applied for a tree work application from your local council? Even if the tree is yours, you must apply before starting work. The council tree officer will tell you what pruning you can carry out.
If you don't, you could end up with a hefty fine and a criminal record!
I don't know if this is so in Ireland but it is in England.

I tried to grow prarie fire last year, however they didn't germinate.
Try The Chilli Seed Company (Devon I think).

Cotoneaster ssp., flowers attractive to bees, berries attractive to birds, Autumn leaf colour attractive to us.

I agree with Spritzhenry.
Brown foliage is usually a sign of water deficiency. These trees are prolific growers and require plenty of water. Often requiring extra water during drought conditions. This is more likely when grown as a hedge. Alternatively it may be insect attack, though I doubt it myself.
To see if the tree is dead, scrape a piece of bark up with your fingernail below the brown foliage. If the innerbark is green then the tree is still alive and may recover in a few years. If its dry and brown all foliage above this (on this branch) is dead and should be removed.
I hope this helps.

Wait until the heavy frosts are finished first.
Pyrancantha - yes.
Laurels - don't know.
What else? Eh, eh? ;-)

Only too pleased to help.

If you know anyone with one of these, ask for a few cones as they are very easy to grow from seeds. Failing that, any reasonable garden centre will probably stock them.

Leigh, do you think I stressed enough how essential good drainage is?

Hi, Fiona welcome to GoY.
It can be done.
Depends on a number of factors. What do you mean by a 'big tree'? 6', 8', 10', 15', more? Will it be permanently placed? Where? Full sun, partial shade, full shade.
The container will need to be big enough to contain enough growing medium to support the tree and remain stable in very high winds. The right growing medium for the type of tree. Will it be in a secure location? (theft).
Deciduous, evergreen or conifer? Flowering, fruiting?
Good drainage is essential. Good drainage is essential. Good drainage is essential.
NOT: hawthorn, blackthorn, monkey puzzle (slow growing and thorny), beech (not drought resistant), laburnam, yew (poisonous), Lime (aphids), ash (last to leaf, first to drop leaf), leyland (grows too fast), sitka spruce (very sharp/prickly leaves), pines (sharp needles and produce stick sap when broken).
Good types: Maple, different types have attractive leaves, pale green in spring, darker in summer, beautiful Autumn colours. Rowan (mountain ash), many varieties lots of brightly coloured berries attractive to birds, good Autumn colour. Hornbeam can be a big tree but will be stunted a bit by growing in a container. Many conifers, some of which have attractive smelling foliage.
Japanese maples (my favourites) come in many varieties with beautiful leaf shapes and colours, stunning Autumn colours, slow growing, can be relatively expensive, susceptable to windburn (leaf tips crisping in cold winds) and a target to theft.
p.s. Think of the poor caretaker who'll have to sweep up the leaves in Autumn, you can't leaf them (bad pun intended) as the kids might slip on them.
I hope this helps. If it doesn' at least it gave you something to read. ;-)

Very hard wood. good for walking sticks and tool handles.

Don't use diesel, as you'll be illegally contaminating the environment.
There are products on the market that are for rotting tree stumps.

Or you could drill the stump and pour night water (urine) into the holes.
p.s. don't do this from the source as you might receive complaints from the neighbours, collect it in a container first.
Urine contains uric acid which will kill and rot the stump.

The odd shaped thing next to the pot is a carpet of lichen that was growing on the surface of the pots soil.
Proves there's no polution as lichen will only grow in clean air.

Not sure, Sid. I'll let you know in late Summer when/if my peppers develop fruit.
I have two types of sweet peppers and about five hot chilli peppers.

I bow to your wisdom, Bamboo.
I saw Castor oil plant and didn't think there was more than one Genus. I should've checked first.
Sorry Steve25, didn't mean to alarm you.
Good job Bamboo is here to keep us right.
Ya see, plants are more complicated and diversified than expected.

Good point, Moongrower, or was the question 'Can I transplant a 3yr old Wisteria?'

It rather depends on the type and species as some trees transplant better than others.
Broadleaf or conifer?
Deciduous or evergreen?
Age and height would be helpful as well.
Location of new position (sunny, shade, partial shade, windy, frost pocket, etc.).

I use Bubblewrap and up to three paraffin heaters in my 6' x 8' greenhouse as I grow chillies and have no electric.
Paraffin is bought from the local allotment association (3 quid per gall.) as its a lot cheaper than buying from a garden centre (5 quid +).

Overwatering? Not enough light? Too cool growing conditions?
Oops just saw where you are, so forget the last one.
Are you growing them in pots or in the ground?

I grew Scotch bonnets, Tepin, Birds eye, Thai thin (Capsicum fruitescence), Jalapino, last year here in the UK (heated 6' x 8' greenhouse).

Some chillies produce a bigger crop in their second and subsequent years.
Prune now to keep compact/in shape. Prune roots by one third, placing plant back into pot on fresh potting medium and top off with potting medium. Protect from frost and move into heated growing area in late March. Start feeding about six weeks later. Keep pinching out growing tips to keep in shape. It will start to produce fruit in later Summer/early Autumn (fall).

I've got one of these, don't know what it is as the plastic pot was a freebee from an aunt and this plant was in the pot - just like in your top photo.
It eventually put out more leaves and in summer produced a blue flower.
Hope this helps. If it doesn't, at least it gave you something to read. ;-)

Try bonsaitreeforums.com in the citrus section you will find help on potting mixes, pruning, root pruning, feeding, light requirements and watering. Whereas you might not be growing a bonsai per-se, you are growing a tree in a pot.
I hope this is of assistance.

Fatsia seeds contain 'ricin' one of the most deadly poisons known to man!
In the 70's a Russian (I think) diplomat was murdered in London by being stabbed in the thigh with an umberella. the brolly point had a microscopic steel ball that was impregnated with ricin. the diplomat suffered a long painful death.
I'm not sure of the details (check it out on the web) but the substance was ricin.
I don't mean to be an alarmist but its worth checking out as the poison is very potent in minute quantities!

Yes it does get sold as a bonsai. However as a bonsai it should be grown indoors. But it is susceptable to draughts, overwatering, underwatering, overfeeding, moving to a different position (often shows this by leaf drop), too much light, not enough light and last but not least - dry air.
Welcome to the wonderful world of bonsai.
If you bought this as a bonsai from a shop, it will need to be repotted into a fresh potting medium as it will probably be potted up in clay (mud) which does not allow the tree roots to breathe and is difficult to re-wet when it dries out. Most survive six to twenty four months before failing.
New bonsai enthusiasts would be better off with a different type of tree/shrub to grow such as Cotoneaster horizontalis (Rockspray cotoneaster) because they are sooo easy to grow.
Serissa foetida (Tree of a thousand stars) is a difficult tree to keep alive for newbies. I wish you well and hope you prove me wrong.