What am I growing??!!
alitoft24
Posts: 7
I have a selection of plants that I don't really know what they are or what I should be doing with them.... please can anyone help??!!
i live in Manchester.... not known for its sunshine, but my garden stays sunny, when it's sunny, most of the day
lavender...
should I be pruning when flower heads go brown? How much water do they like?
Hydrangea .... I think
i think I have 3 types of hydrangea- all pink/ purple but one has massive head that's just started to go brown - I looked at deadheading but it's not a single flower head... please does anyone know what I should do with the two that I've added as pictures?
lilac... I think ????
His leaves are curling and he doesn't look happy - does he need sunlight, or shade? Am I watering him too much or is he being slowly drowned?!
the other 'lilac' didn't flower but seems happy:
mystery plants...
see pics!! Any advice truly genuinelily appreciated- I'm new to gardening and I get so much pleasure from it. I want to expand my flower beds (100% flagged other than where I've already pulled up flags and planted over last few years) but I want to keep/make my plants happy!!
thank you so much in advance!!
lou x
Posts
Mystery plants are aquilegias. The laves are a bit mildewed. Shear them off, water and feed for new fresh growth.
I leave lavender heads on over winter as the goldfinches pick the seeds out of them, but when the last florets are done, you can tidy the plant up by giving it a gentle chop back. Don't cut into old wood or it won't resprout.
Hydrangeas gently fade. If you don't like it cut it off. You could leave it over winter.
Stuff in pots needs more water than you think in summer.
Thank so much for quick response!!
when u say "shear" the leaves... do u mean I should cut it right back?
If I cut back the giant hydrangea- do I cut each 'floret' or just lop off the whole head at a stem join!
Ty again
lou x
Cut the aquilegia back to stumps about three inch from the ground.
Hydrangea, just cut the head back to the first leaf beneath it.
Thank you so much- I will do that tomorrow:)
lou x
I always leave the dead heads on the hydrangeas, cut off in March or April, the dead heads protect the new buds from frost. Then you cut the whole head back to a big new bud, that will give flowers for the same year.
The one in the little black pot won't do a lot, the pot is too small, they are hungry plants and prefer to be planted out in the garden.
I agree with Lyn regarding the spent flowers on the hydrangeas.
I think the lavenders need at least the new soft growth left over winter to protect the older growth. I always trim mine in spring to neaten them up and stop them getting leggy. But as fidgetbones says, don't cut into the woody growth!
I highly recommend taking lavender cuttings - it's pretty easy and gives you a back up in case something happens to your established plants.
thanks for the advice and taking the time - it's greatly appreciated, so ty all.
hydrangea
i do normally leave the hydrangea heads, so I'll continue with that into next year.
i am planning on extending buy pulling up some more of the flagging - i was thinking of planting new hydrangea ( hoping for white flowering one!) but after the suggestion of repotting of the smaller hydrangea- now I'm thinking I could replant both hydrangea into the new extended section - greedily using your expertise/ experiences, do u have any suggestions re this?
Lavender
ive successfully cut fuscia and that did grow a little rootball, so I just transferred it to soil - how would I take lavender cuttings and can I do it with water and root powder still?
Im thinking of cutting and pasting my lilac queries into a new thread - is this appropriate, or wrong forum etiquette?
im currently trying the water/root powder method with both cherry blossom tree and the lilac... not sure I'm doing it right tho and my successful fuscia was a fluke!!
thanks again,
lou x
Last edited: 17 August 2017 13:32:14
To take lavender cuttings, trim off a piece a few inches long, cutting just above a leaf node on the parent plant. Then cut just below a lead node at the base of the plant and strip away the leaves of about half the length. I've never actually used rooting powder - use as you normally would at this point, I'm sure it'll help! Then insert into free-draining compost up to the lowest leaves. Take a few for insurance and put them round the edges of the same pot.
I usually pinch off the top to encourage the cutting to makes roots rather than new leafy growth. Keep in a warm but sheltered spot that doesn't get too much direct sunlight (so it doesn't dry out) and keep moist but not sodden (otherwise it'll rot). Once you see new growth happening it's ready to pot separately, as then it'll have new roots.
With fuscia, keep pinching out the new growth. This will encourage a nice bushy plant to form.
Good luck!