Making a large heatherbed (70 m2). Using mainly winterflowering heathers and some conifers.What other small flowering shrubs/perennials can be added to have some colour in the summer/autumn? The area gets full sun and is exposed to wind. Soil is clay and some added mosspeat.
Are there any disadvantages to using a stone / slate or gravel mulch on beds to stop weeds.
This seems to be affecting my victoria plums. Will the whole crop be lost? Is there anything I can spray the tree with to stop it happening next year? (lost entire crop 2 years ago due to constant rain, no crop last year due to very late sharp frost)
Last spring I noticed a small plant in my garden with a large fig type leaf and I decided to leave it to see what it grew into. When the stem reached about 18 inches a nodding small blue flower with a yellow centre was produced. The plant is now about 3 ft, a single stem, and it has produced single flowers continuously over the summer When each flower dies off a large green seed develops. On doing some research, I have come to the conclusion that it is a New Zealand Kangaroo Apple - a Solanum. Is that correct and is it a rare plant or just a weed? Incidentally, I also came across the same plant on a walking path about 2 miles away - just one single stem also.
I recently noticed an apple blossom on the same branch as a fairly mature apple. It is a small Coronet apple tree. Would that be a usual occurrence?
Both last year and this year, my mother's Sweet Pea has a small fly inside in the middle each Sweet Pea flower, and she does't like giving small posies as gifts any more. What is the reason for these flies appearing and how should they be destroyed? Thanking you.