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Garden & Gardening Tips

G G Jean said:
Hi Deniss and I bet you don't get the back aches that acompany Alf's tool. Pete uses it at the caravan too. Jean.
Click to expand...

Jean have thought that post through PAINT ROLLER have extension pole which I have for mine that's why I use it for making drills for my seeds.
I also can use an old broom stale:)

You don't think I would go grubbing on hands and knees at tender years
 
Oh Alf you have the answers and yes that sounds good. Maybe you could patent it and make some money. Remember on a previous thread I said Steve had bought me a garden set well a few of them have extentions too. Our drive down the van though Pete does cheat and put that weed killer down. I know it isn't a garden tip but we have frogs hopping all over the garden tonight in the rain mind you get some frogs and they will keep the insects down. No slugs tonight though but it isn't quite warm enough is it. Jean.
 
Don't forget old CD discs to keep birds off your Veg:2140:

Couple of canes a bit of string between rows.

JEAN IF YOU GET ANY TRY THIS

A standard net fence or electric fences are effective for armadillos. Electric wires set a few inches outside of conventional garden fence will shock armadillos when they come close to investigate.
 
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Like Langy I have redisgened my back garden. New, badly behaved neighbours is the reason. I have been forced to plant a hedge of very hardy Fuschia shrubs. Because of this I have had to plant my show Dahlias in a different bed. This has forced me to change everything around. I also had another problem. I have coposted all my green stuff for forty years. I also sometimes buy J.Innes soil for my tomatoes. The result is I now have too much soil. It is difficult to access the garden with a heavy wheelbarrow so it would not really be possible to have the excess taken away in a skip. Whilst altering my garden I have raised the soil by three inches all over. When I laid the path I used concrete and got rid of many buckets of stones and broken slabs. I will have to raise that path now with new slabs on a bed of sand and cement. I have a few slabs that I move around each year depending on where I grow my beans and such. It has been hard work but it is almost all done now and I have all my veggie plants and a few flowers from seed ready for the end of the month.
 
Hi Mike, Its alright liking pigs but keep away from them
if they have "flu". Quote;If your wife want to learn how to drive dont stand in her way.

Bernard67 Arnold:D
 
Hi Ladylinda ,your Grandad must have known that bananas and their skins are rich in potassium which is also used in many fertilizers, My doctor told me to a eat
a banana a day as my potassium levels were on the low side.
Bye Bernard
 
Hi Bunny nice to find a gardening thread cos I have a problem with MOLES pesky things! How do I get rid of em?
ps I put my nana skins on top of soil in my containers.......
 
Washing up liquid diluted Norma:)

A spray prepared from a couple drops of washing-up liquid to a gallon of water as an acceptable organic method of control; so are insecticidal soaps made from plant fatty acids. Avoid spraying in sunshine to prevent scorching the plant.
 
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I'd add a garlic tea concoction to to the washing up liquid and water!
Just crush and boil up a couple of garlic bulbs,allow the mixture to cool,then spray! The washing up liquid helps the mixture to stick to the plant leaves.Be sure to spray the under part of the leaves as well!
Another way to get rid of greenfly organically is to crush a clove of garlic and bury it at the roots of the rose bush!
 
Hi Pauline, Ive never had moles, only on my face, you try Putting a pipe down into the ground and then play
Des O conner tracks down it, it seem to work for Eric
and Earnie. As for the lady wanted to get rid of pestsI
, I have found that washing up liquid diluted in a spay bottle is good on roses etc, it has to be Fairy though!!
for the gentleman who had too much soil is you can get
the interlocking boards made from recycled plastic that
give you raised beds alround. Its in most of the garden
mags; thats all for today folks

Bernard67 Arnold;)
 
Stitcher,

Moving your show dahlias to a new bed could be a good move. I left mine in last winter for the first time and they appear to have survived well. When I moved them this spring the tubers were enormous. What 'secret recipes' do you use for their cultivation?
I use a dressing of Epsom salts.
 
Linda will try the garlic trick on our roses. Does it affect the scent of the flower though?. Daft question I know. Jean.
 
Hi
This year for the first time I decided to have a go at growing tomatoes (Gardeners Delight variety) and red peppers. Both have done very well, the tomato plants have reached a height of 8ft and have produced quite a few tomatoes. The peppers are doing just as well but I'm not sure when to remove the fruit. Do I wait until they're fully red? I know it must sound daft but I've never attempted it before!

Macca
 
I really do prefer small toms like gardeners delight and several other varieties that do not get too large, so last year I tried a tumbling variety and was very well pleased with them. This year I am groing them in hanging baskets attwo per a basket. This leaves the greenhouse free for other things.
 
I have a plot where I am going to plant my herb garden when I get the plants off Steve. Part of my b'day pressis. Will be coming for tips as our gardening books are put away upstairs ready for the central heating. Should have the tomorrow sometime. Jean.
 
I had eight plants last year and my wife picked 12-15 tomatoes most days right through the season.
 
Thanks folks some good tips here. This is a good tip for the elderly or less able, I was asked by an elderly neighbour if I could come up with something to help him hold is green plastic recycling sacks up for him whilst he filled them. He also could not lift stuff very high so using an ordinary dustbin (Miskin to Brummie folk) to hold the sack was out of the question.

The simple solution was to get an old dustbin and cut the bottom off, this allowed the sack to be held upright and when it was full the bag could be tied and then the lightweight dustbin lifted up over the sack. He then could manage to drag the bag ready to be put out for collection. He was very pleased with the "invention" and if he sees me in the street he always point's to me and "shouts bloody genius that bloke!" Others normally shout "where's me dustbin gone!"

On the question of stopping Moles digging, I have always found the easiest solution is to take their shovels off them!
 
hi all
well without being sexist the best tool in my garden is the mrs, shes better than a guards drill sgt when spotting weeds and flagging plants overgrown borders and lawn weeds, and by god she lets me know,
regards
paul stacey
 
Great tips everyone especially about filling those bags. Jean, there is so much information online about gardening. I hardly use my gardening books these days. I do have lots. I use my father-in-law's old Readers Digest gardening book just to use a gardening book. Otherwise, I just type in what I want to know on Google and in your case if you put UK after your query you will get lots of links.
I bought two tomato plants yesterday and we'll see what happens to them.
I am looking for some herbs to grown in a planter this coming weekend.
Things like parsley, basil, thyme, etc.
 
I have to smile when people talk about black bags and dustbins! we have had wheelie bins for over twenty years and there are the best thing since
sliced bread, I thought the Birmingham City motto was "Forward" not where rubbish is concerned its not.


Bernard67Arnold
 
Thanks Jennyann I am using the on line advice more these days. Still have to fetch my herb garden from Steve's. My hostas have massive holes in their leaves and have followed various suggestions and have covered the rocks they are growning in with vaseline as Mossy suggested. Have not seen any more snails but something is having a free meal. :cry::cry:. Jean.
 
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