Hobbies and Crafts

Hi Gill yes the internet is handy, especially for situations like yours, asking advice. I would check any climbers you put in as their roots might spread more. Large grasses and bamboos can be thugs but smaller growing grasses are ok, Heucheras don’t spread a lot. Bulbs will usually grow among other plants I find, especially miniature varieties. I think with planters and containers it is a bit of trial and error. Good luck.

I've had a look online at the plants you all told me about and they look great, thanks again everyone. The only problem I have now is how many and what type of plants to put together, I'm worried the roots might choke each other if I put the wrong ones together.....I suppose that's the problem with planters, there's not much space for the plants to grow. I was thinking of adding some bulbs, as like Kandj said it'll soon be bulb planting time and then I'll have some colour in the spring.

All the painting is finished on the planters now and I've moved the back two wheels more to the corners as the planters were tilting backwards slightly, it seems to have sorted the problem out. Unfortunately the plastic I wanted to put inside I couldn't do as it started to rain. Hopefully it'll be dry tomorrow so that job can be done.

Yes, Ann I'll let you all know what I planted in them when it's all finished. I just need to find some plants where the roots aren't to big, so they have plenty of room in the soil.

You're right Ann, I really missed the Internet and it was only off for a couple of days, I think I rely on it far to much, but it's so handy isn't it?

The planters sound great Gill, let us know what you decide to put in them.

We don't realise how much we rely on the internet being available when we want it until we haven't got it. :-D

Hi folks

I haven't had the Internet for a couple of days, thanks for all the suggestions I will take a look at them online as I haven't heard of most them. Because I couldn't get online my husband and I have been painting the new planters, we are hoping to finish them today and line them with some plastic, we'll put some holes for drainage in we're hoping the plastic will save the wood from rotting to quickly. We've added some wheels to the planters to, otherwise we'd never be able to move them.

I'm sure your lawn will recover in time Kandj, mine is starting to green up with the bit of rain we've had, we have watered it to which helped.

Sorry for my late reply and thanks again everyone for all your help.

Patience Kandj it will recover.

I will chase Gill up on the other thread and see if she has checked back.

Actually passion flower would cover the trellis or honey suckle but both would have to be kept under control.

Hello and welcome Gill. If you are looking for quickness to cover your trellis the russian mile a minute is an option but you will need to keep it well controlled. Evergreen honeysuckle is something else to think about and soon it will be bulb planting time to give you a beautiful display next Spring. Good luck.

The small amount of rain has greened some of the lawn but not all, and it looks unsightly and a mess to me. Perhaps needs to be scarified?? No energy for that.

Oh and there are some frost hardy grasses as well, black grass (can't remember its proper name) is frost hardy. I would suggest mix the colours with evergreen and red leaves etc.

Welcome to the thread Gill.

If you are looking for evergreen how about Sarcococca (Christmas box). It isn’t a climber so won’t clamber up the trellis. It’s quite slow growing but eventually will reach 1-2 metres. It doesn’t mind a bit of shade, is evergreen, has lovely smelling little white flowers in late winter/early spring and berries which turn black around autumn time.

What’s more they seem to be happy in troughs. I have several troughs just a little bit smaller than yours and two of them each have two plants in. They seem to be thriving :-D

Heucheras, sedum, heather, small (check size they grow to) pine trees. spring bulbs (miniature daffodils, crocus, miniature tulips.)

If you put alpines in make sure there is plenty of grit in the soil for drainage.

Just noticed this gardening thread and was wondering if I could ask some advice. I've just bought two planters 4 foot long and about 18 inches wide and deep and was wondering what would be the best plants to put in them for winter colour. They both have a trellis on the back so the overall height is around five and half foot, so something tall would be good, or even a climber so long as it doesn't take over any other plants that I put in them. I love evergreens rather than bare looking plants in the winter, any ideas would be great. Thanks Gill

Yes I cherish mine and often think of how you must feel Kandj.

Indeed I do kandj.

I know you will be cherishing your memories <3 <3 <3

I miss my "Master of Disaster" more than I can say. Count your blessings ladies.

No Vera certainly wouldn’t. Would not have anyone to moan about then would we?

We wouldn’t be without them though, would we Ann :-D

:-D :-D :-D Well if you had your offer accepted vera it might save you money. Love him, he does try to help. Mine teak oiled the garden seat about ten minutes before it rained!! Teak oil is £10 a squeezy spray bottle.

Glad you enjoyed Cornwall Gwyn.

OH has got no further with the fence painting as it has rained so much that the wood won't dry out enough to paint. I have a feeling that come next year I will still be looking at a fence that is half brown wood and half "willow" colour.

As he couldn't paint OH decided he had time to do a few garden jobs and I saw him eyeing the lavender. Knowing the damage Mr Crewcut did to the lavender last year I very quickly guided him to an 'urgent' job and started on the lavender myself. ;-)

I then thought that if he was going to start chopping plants about again it might be wise to take a few cuttings. As we were low on some of the necessary stuff I sent him off to buy some more compost, a bag of grit and some rooting hormone. Well, he got the compost right! I also ended up with a bag of sharp sand and no rooting hormone.

One pre-loved husband for sale.....any offers.....he's going very cheap :-D

We've recently been to Cornwall, somewhere I've never before visited. It was lovely and so GREEN ! What a treat to see such lush grass and pretty gardens.
We also visited Clovelly the day after the judges for Britain in Bloom had been there so it was at it's best, although quite busy.
Back home we still have barren landscape, but the recent rain will help.

I was reading online about some rare trees which have flowered for the first time in decades, because of the unusual weather and was wondering whether perhaps any of you had seen them?
One in Cardiff has bloomed for the first time since it was planted.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-44882792

I’ve been deadheading and cutting back like mad since we came back from Cornwall as the garden really suffered while we were away, but my hard work was worth it as we now have a lot more flowers again.

OH decided he would paint our new fence himself rather than have it done by the company that put the fence up. I wasn’t keen on him doing it as it is a big job and he is a bit of a perfectionist but he had made his mind up. He is less than half way round with the first coat so far but there is one BIG advantage. While he’s holding a paintbrush he can’t be wielding the shears :-D

My weather app told me this morning that today we would have light rain showers. Huh! It’s been pouring all day - no need to water anything tonight. It will do the gardens a power of good. We don’t have a lawn but all the shrubs already look fresh and green :-)

We are due rain at the weekend I think Kandj, after the weekend a few weeks back when it rained our lawn did recover and has even had a cut, but it needs more rain now. Despite the lack of rain and not a lot of watering everything still seems to be growing in the garden and OH is happily still chopping away and filling the garden waste bin. Keeps him occupied I suppose. :-D