I don't know how to send my mind map on here to show you but the way i've done the mind map is, an image of an Acer Palmatum bloodgood plant with facts in circles around the image. What i've got typed around the image are 9 facts which are,
Height – 15ft,
Flowers in Spring
Leaves turn orange in Autumn (i'm not sure about that one)
Sun and partial shade
Fully Hardy
Well drained soil
Tolerates Clay soil
Deciduous Tree
Common name Japenese Maple
For the plants in my book that are under the section Plants for clay soil, what should i say in my mind map please as i get different answers in work.
That sounds pretty accurate and informative to me.
For your other plants I would get your information from the RHS website ... just put the name of the plant into this page https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/Search-Results and see what information they give you.
The RHS is about as authoratative as it gets and not many people would argue with them.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I don't know about other forum members but I would struggle to hold all the information about the plants in my garden in my head. I frequently look back at scribbled notes I've pencilled into my gardening encyclopedia, along with using the internet as a source of information when I'm unsure.
The RHS website (that Dove has linked above) has all the basics you need to know, easily accessible in a few clicks. This forum is great for answering any questions I might have on a wide variety of random subjects as well.
For your job in the garden centre Ashley, could you get access to an iPad/tablet to assist with customer querys? I see them used by staff in many retail places nowadays.
I feel that you are tying yourself in knots, trying to absorb knowlege that takes "the professionals" decades to aquire. Take full advantage of the internet, I say. It certainly makes my gardening life that little bit easier 😊.
Ashley, I think the best idea for deciding what colour Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' goes in the autumn, is to find one in your garden centre when its leaves are turning colour and decide for yourself - is it red? Is it orange? Or maybe it's orangey-red.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
Hi Ashley I hope your boss is impressed you certainly are trying hard to get your head round things. According to RHS site Acer Palmatum Bloodgood will grow in a range of soil types it lists loam,clay,sand and chalk but must be both moist AND well drained. Magnolia Soulangea will grow well in clay or loam but must also be moist but well drained. So clay soil will hold a lot of water but get get too waterlogged in winter so roots could rot. This is why it also specifies well drained soil you could add grit,sand and compost to the planting hole. Many plants will do well in a lot of different soil types but might do really,really well in just one type. There are all sorts of things you can do when planting to make the conditions better for the plant. For instance if you planted that Acer on sandy soil it would be well drained but would dry out quickly so wouldn't be moist, so what you would do is to put compost in the planting hole to help retain moisture. I agree use RHS site as your authority it doesn't get any better than that and see if you would be allowed an ipad/smart phone to help you look up stuff. Even better what about doing an RHS Level 1 course at college maybe your boss would give you day release to study? Well done.
There is a tremendous amount of knowledge to attain when working with plants ; as I've always maintained , gardening is a learning curve and there are no 100% experts . 'Raw experience' and practical work , maybe alongside a professional gardener would be of great benefit to you .
Some people specialise in a particular group or genus of plants , and become exceptionally knowledgeable in their designated subject , but as always , the opportunity for more information is usually welcomed .
Good luck in your chosen vocation (or career) and hope it all works out well for you!
Do you want your measurements in metric or non metric Ashley 20 feet or 6 m? The only thing I would add is to shelter from cold winds because cold and frost damage the flower buds in Spring.
Posts
Height – 15ft,
Flowers in Spring
Leaves turn orange in Autumn (i'm not sure about that one)
Sun and partial shade
Fully Hardy
Well drained soil
Tolerates Clay soil
Deciduous Tree
Common name Japenese Maple
For the plants in my book that are under the section Plants for clay soil, what should i say in my mind map please as i get different answers in work.For your other plants I would get your information from the RHS website ... just put the name of the plant into this page https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/Search-Results
and see what information they give you.
The RHS is about as authoratative as it gets and not many people would argue with them.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
The RHS website (that Dove has linked above) has all the basics you need to know, easily accessible in a few clicks. This forum is great for answering any questions I might have on a wide variety of random subjects as well.
For your job in the garden centre Ashley, could you get access to an iPad/tablet to assist with customer querys? I see them used by staff in many retail places nowadays.
I feel that you are tying yourself in knots, trying to absorb knowlege that takes "the professionals" decades to aquire.
Take full advantage of the internet, I say. It certainly makes my gardening life that little bit easier 😊.
There are all sorts of things you can do when planting to make the conditions better for the plant. For instance if you planted that Acer on sandy soil it would be well drained but would dry out quickly so wouldn't be moist, so what you would do is to put compost in the planting hole to help retain moisture.
I agree use RHS site as your authority it doesn't get any better than that and see if you would be allowed an ipad/smart phone to help you look up stuff.
Even better what about doing an RHS Level 1 course at college maybe your boss would give you day release to study?
Well done.
Height 20ft
Deciduous tree
Fully hardy
Flowers in Spring
Soil – Clay or loam
Moist well drained soil
Sun and Partial shade
My book is by RHS and says likes sun, but on rhs website it says it likes sun and partial shade. Any alterations??There is a tremendous amount of knowledge to attain when working with plants ; as I've always maintained , gardening is a learning curve and there are no 100% experts .
'Raw experience' and practical work , maybe alongside a professional gardener would be of great benefit to you .
Some people specialise in a particular group or genus of plants , and become exceptionally knowledgeable in their designated subject , but as always , the opportunity for more information is usually welcomed .
Good luck in your chosen vocation (or career) and hope it all works out well for you!
The only thing I would add is to shelter from cold winds because cold and frost damage the flower buds in Spring.