I took risks last winter and left some pots of succulents outside, but while the plants survived some of my terracotta pots did not, having been successively soaked then frozen. So this year it's the pots that are going into the greenhouse for protection!
I left most of my dahlias in the ground last year but put a thick mulch on top and covered them with bracken. They all made it through the winter fine but we're very slow to get going and put on a pretty pitiful display compared to those I had lifted. They also got completely hammered by the slugs because of all the wet we have had. It's a real pain but I'm lifting them all this year because otherwise it's not really worth growing them.
I have a Beaucarnea recurva ( Pony tail palm ) - grown from seed in 1984, he is finally too big for this property. Now planted in the GH ( aluminium and unheated ) and I intend to protect as much as possible with insulation but it's going to be a wait and see project.
Everything is going to have to take its chances. It’s often milder down here anyway, and I’ve tried not to plant anything too precious that I can’t afford to lose. No greenhouse, and few places in the house to overwinter anything much. My late mother in law always had windowsills covered in pelargoniums, and they looked like a bit of a mess to me. I’ll just have to buy new and hopefully hardier stuff next spring.
Last winter was incredibly hard on some of my plants so I'm being cautious this year. I'm still experimenting to see which succulents will survive in the greenhouse but only if I've got backups in the house in case of disaster. Some plants that I thought I was sure to lose have bounced back stronger though so tough love can work.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
@thevictorianzFH0qqPW I think a lot of us found it a hard year for dahlias, between a weird spring, late frosts, snails and slug attacks.
The very cold April here did not affect the Dahlias, who knows what really goes on in gardens? 😂 I am going to protect my beloved laurel. The aeoniums are already inside on the windowsills and perhaps, as you suggest, take cuttings from the pretty salvia I have (don't know what it is, discounted from gc last year). It is going to be an "interesting" winter in more ways than one. Fingers crossed for all our babies. 🌱
I’m tucking my agapanthus pots up close to the house, not much room in the GH, some I have put out in the borders.
I have two old garden tables (plastic) which I place up close to the house and beneath I hide pots of fuchsias and callas. So far so good, they have always survived the long winters here. The huge laurel pot stays where it is but gets thoroughly wrapped up.
I'm curious to know which dahlia you have @Perki? Maybe it's got a taste or smell the slugs don't like!? I have a magenta pink one with white middle, which seems to be unkillable by any means - and of course it's the one I like least grrr.
I'm curious to know which dahlia you have @Perki? Maybe it's got a taste or smell the slugs don't like!? I have a magenta pink one with white middle, which seems to be unkillable by any means - and of course it's the one I like least grrr.
The dahlia is edge of joy, of course if it were a prized dahlia it be ripped to shreds
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Now planted in the GH ( aluminium and unheated ) and I intend to protect as much as possible with insulation but it's going to be a wait and see project.
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