Spritzhenry's Inbox

The RHS Encyclopaedia (my bible!) suggests that normal pruning consists of removing misplaced or crossing shoots to maintain a permanent healthy framework in late winter or early spring while the shrub is dormant. Although the species plant can reach 15 feet, 'Red Robin' is described as 'compact'

I read that this shrub can get up to 15' if left to it's own devices in favourable conditions. It tolerates moderate pruning or shearing which encourages the classic red tips

Oooohhhhh Andrew lol I do my share but there are bits like Spritz I need help with.

My book on pruning states these shrubs often throw up strong growths from the base and these can be used to replace old branches. It also says that old shrubs do not produce much new red growth and the plant loses strength. I would be inclined to give it a heavy feed in the spring and see how it responds

Hmmm - what is wrong with the female of the house doing some digging and keeping fit?"

It's looking great Spritz!! Giving me ideas and making hubby go "Oh my back!!" Wimp!!
Keep giving us updates as things develop

Did your canna come in a sealed pack with a picture on it? We had a couple from a local canna nursery giving a talk at our local Garden Club last night. He was critical of some outlets who sold cannas in this way because what was pictured on the pack bore no resemblence to what the rhizome in it was capable of producing. Probably more of a problem with the supplier than the Garden Centre itself.

we have an 11stone newfoundland who nearly came to grief drinking water that a toad had been sitting in, his back legs :went: and he could not focus vet called but no treatment, just water to drink.

Some more ideas to extend the season - erica carnea 'Springwood White' flowers in late winter/early spring and is lime tolerant, winter aconites, potentilla alba (herbaceous and flowers two or three times a year for me), fuchsia 'Hawkshead' (pure white flowers and still going strong). Grasses - stipa tenuissima is probably nearest to white, or how about imperata cylindrica which goes bright red in full sun and a moist soil?
Foliage lasts longer than flowers. Clematis recta 'Purpurea' is herbaceous and upright to six feet with white flowers. Sedum 'Purple Emperor' has the darkest leaves I've seen in a sedum. And cotinus can be grown as a small shrub, stooling it back each spring to grow it just for its foliage. There are purple leaved forms and 'Golden Spirit' is a bright yellow-green

My anemone blanda are growing in an area shaded by a flowering cherry. You might want to give them some shade

Any new border is exciting and the list of things you want to plant in it usually exceeds the space availabe (well, it does for me anyway). Have you thought of planting any evergreens so there is something to look at in the winter? Some ideas - phlomis fruticosa, a small purple phormium and variegated euonymus. Maybe a winter jasmine for winter flowers and then crocus for early colour. Don't get me started, I'll never stop!

I must be lucky ,I have grown them only from corms, maybe mice like them!!!

It's a very satisfying feeling when you achieve something like that, it's looking really good, what other plants are you putting in

Well I hope you have more success than I have ever had. I have planted them off and on, in every possible method over the last 30 years or so and never managed to get one corm to grow. I have them in the garden growing from bought plants, but never from dried corms.

No need to soak,better planted in groups, will self seed very quickly and have a habit of appearing where you did not plant them!!!

Just plant them out. Mine have self sown/spread over the years so they must be pretty easy

As far as I know Spritz it is unlikely to flower now as they need 6 hours of sun a day! Down here they are all starting to die back.
I might have found a reason for the non flowering of yours though!!
It might be an agricultural canna rather than a horticultural one!. They are grown for their rhizome which is full of starch and tend to be sterile.
Have a look at the Wikipedia entry on Cannas

Thanks for that! Know wht I`ll be doing in the morning?

You can always contact your local County Organiser about opening under the NGS and discuss it with him/her. There is curently a series on gardens applying to open - BBC2 on weekday afternoons at about 3:15.Might help you to decide

Hi Spritz and David - have a look at this list for some hints http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/dogs/index.html

Thanks for that, I have tried cuttings of penstemons as well but I think I must be doing something wrong as they seem to be wilting!

Yes I did see the pictures of the vine thanks, I posted an answer alongside the picture, I get a bit confused where the best place is to post answers to other members! It looks a great plant and such lovely colours for Autumn, I think I will give it a try. Do you prune it at any time or just when it gets too rampant?
Many Thanks - Andrea

Your garden plants look beautiful, can you advise on planting annuals? I have read that they can be planted at this time of the year and over-wintered in the greenhouse tnen planted out next spring- have you tried that? I planted my sweet peas in October last year for the first time and they were really hardy plants by the time I planted them out about March and have been beautiful all summer long.

that looks beautiful, I've seen on the net the fantastic heleniums they have

One criteria for opening for the NGS is 45 minutes of interest. If you don't have a very big garden, try and find some gardening friends nearby for a Group Opening

I'd like to see your garden 'open' too. Nice plants you have growing, didn't do many annuals this year, although the cornflowers and godetia have done well, I think I lost most of my hardy annuals to rain/slugs this year.

ooo yes! you definately should and we can organise a mass Grows on You convergence on your garden! I, for one, would come armed with both cameras and extra memory cards!

What interesting plants ,it looks a lovely garden ,do you open for NGS.?

That is gorgeous Spritz! The blue centre really draws the eye into the flower.

I agree that vets should, in this day and age, produce a list of poisonous plants for animals. Surely it would not be too difficult to research and put together? After all, we have them for many human ailments such as nut allergies and gluten intolerance? I found a plant on this site with an appropriate name for our WizardofOz garden - Emerald Fern - but on research via Google found that it is poisonous to domestic cats (we have one), so I cannot have it. Someone should be employed to compile a list of plants dangerous to domestic animals, especially when we are being encouraged to keep pets, livestock, grow our own, etc.

Hey Spritz - you are lucky that your fence survives - badgers are real creatures of habit and often stick to the same route through fences or under them - wouldnt it be wonderful to see them paddling? Mum has a badger-flap in her fence that they can push through and trundle on their merry way!