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Over ten years, Gerry Daly answered more than 5,000 gardening questions. His knowledge is based in science and practical experience, and by working on radio and television. Access to the advice database is open

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Laurel Hedge failing
I have a laurel hedge which was planted in June 2010. The ground in which it is planted is a heavy clay soil type but I have a land drain running along both sides of the hedge and it is also planted up on a mound of soil which I got from digging the land drain so it is of the same type. This mound is also covered with weed block netting and I have wind block netting around the hedge also. Initially it done very well but this last few years it has gone backwards. The leaves are yellow in colour and the fall off quite easily. I have noticed on one area particularly that the leaves have gone soft and are drooping down. I have put chicken manure pellets around the base of some plants which does work in the short term but then the go back the same again. A friend of mine who works with the forestry seen it and said I need to put down “muriate of potash” as it seems to be lacking some nutrients. He also said that the cure can be worse than the disease so that has me worried that I could do more damage plus I am finding it hard to find a place that stacks it. So is there something similar to muriate of potash but would be safer to use?
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Using sand to fill lawn depressions

I have a large wet area on my lawn and I am currently draining it and this morning after all the rain the trenches seem to be working although i have no pipe or stone in yet.All the grass is dead from water lying on the ground all winter.The problem is the soil is very poor and the tracks left by my ride-on mower were still full of water right next to the drains as the soakage is bad.Will using builders sand fill in these tracks mixed with a little moss peat (sprinkled with grass seed later) or will it just cake into a cement like substance?I was then planning on aerating the soil when i have all done. Regards, Brad

42 views0 answers0 votes
Housemartins

Hi GerryI have housemartins nesting under my eve this last few years and their droppings are destroying my flowers.Will placing a mirror or CD in the apex of the eve deter them from building by causing a reflection of themselves or have you any other methods to stop them building?The are also on my garage but the can stay there as I like them flying around but just not nesting on my house.

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