Vauxhall's Outbox

Just had my first ruhubarb pie this week my plant was bought early this year and has flourished with at least ten good stems, so there is no reason not to pull a few in its first year as long as you leave most of the stems on for its first year.

My cherry tree is two year old, this year its had lots of fruit, should fruit every year from now on, i put lots of manure on in the winter and feed with tomato food every spring.

The best time to prune is very late spring, only trim lightly just the dead flower heads, down to a fresh bud. hope this helps

yes cut them back by about half, and give them a feed of tomato food, that should give a good show in a few weeks

I am sure a cherry tree would be fine as long as you puts lots of grit when planting, also Hostas love clay soil, and any shrub would be fine as long as soil is mixed with lots of grit. If you puts horse manure on top of soil at end of year, say in Oct/Nov time the worms will work it down through soil, in early spring the soil will be much lighter to work with. I have same soil and have done this for past few years and mine is fine now. good luck
Vauxhall

i would not use builders sand, you should get it from garden centre, i spiked my lawn last November with garden fork and brushed two bags of sand into holes, it is now all the better for it, nice and dry and getting ready for a light trim ! its hard work but you will feel fitter for it !!!
Vauxhall

I cut mine just before Xmas, wont harm it as long as you just give it a light trim.
Vauxhall

Yes i have the same problem with waterlogging, best thing is lots and lots of sharp sand/grit/ and oragnic material, you will need to do this every year as i have over the past 3 years, mine is improving slowly, i put lots of rotted manure on the top every autumn and let the rain and worms work in through the soil. good luck

you can prune in March, but only remove the top part of branch past where the buds are !

i have had my Wilkinson sword fork for 5 years and would not use anything else, also got the spade and shears. think they also do different sizes for long and short people !

Yes you can cut back hard anytime next few weeks, also cot one in five stems to ground level to, i do this with mine and this winter it has been lovely.

sounds like my garden too ! i believe Eucalypthus Nicholi likes being in wet ground, but not sure of the height of it.

Yes, it will be ok to strim now, just make sure you remove the cut grass