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Sarcococca

treetop1948treetop1948 Posts: 15
in Problem solving
I have a couple of sarcocca shrubs that the pigeons have been eating, I am thinking of putting them in pots to try and rescue them. My question is, is it okay to plant them in
ericaceous  compost?

Posts

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    It's fine to pot them in ericaceous compost. Make sure there is some grit or similar to create good drainage.
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    ? Why ericaceous compost?
    All our plants in in our garden are in in clay soil.
  • treetop1948treetop1948 Posts: 15
    Because I already have surplus ericaceous compost, I don't see the point in wasting time and money unnecessarily. If they can tolerate ericaceous then I will use it. I just needed it confirmed. My post explains the reason I have lifted  them out of the  soil.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    The RHS website says they're not fussed about their soil being acid, neutral or alkaline so if you think potting them will save them, go ahead with your ericaceous compost @treetop1948 but I'd have thought that some form of netting to keep off the birds would be better. 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    They'll be fine as long as the ericaceous compost is loam-based.  I wouldn't use a multi-purpose compost for sarcococca or any other shrub for more than a very short time.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The pigeons won't care if they're in a pot or in the ground, so I can't see how potting them would make any difference to them eating them or not. The netting or something similar [ as suggested] would be far more effective.

    However, yes - compost won't sustain them for long so you need something heartier if you  keep them potted for more than a few months. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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