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Holly bush with no berries

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  • Thanks everyone for your input - I will try everything you've suggested and

    hope for the best next year.  I'll have to try to get some fake berries to tie

    on my holly for Christmas this year!  I did wonder about the cold, late Spring

    this year and I remember being really worried about the lack of bees in my

    garden - I didn't see any until well into summer, but by then it was too late.

    Today I took delivery of a lovely bee house, which I hope will help some of the

    poor things to survive whatever this winter throws at us all. Will let you know

    how it goes!   image

  • archiepemarchiepem Posts: 1,155

    got lots but will put a few old cds in the branchs to scare the birds

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,441

    Flowers, ivy berries dipped in red paint are good for decoration,



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Brilliant!  Thanks a lot for that tip Nutcutlet - I have lots of ivy berries, so will

    keep that in mind as Christmas approaches.  image

    As you are my main mentor Nutcutlet, I wonder if I could ask you if you know

    anything about bee houses?  As mentioned in my previous post, I've bought

    one, but now I'm not sure whether I should situate it flat against a south facing

    wall.  It comes provided with a wire to hang it from, but I'm a bit worried about

    the bees swinging around in the sea breezes!  However, if I fasten it against

    the wall, will that stop the bees from using it - maybe they need a front and

    back exit?  Any ideas gratefully received!  Think I'll try and pop a photo on

    here later so you can see what I'm talking about!image

  • Hi here's the photo of the bee house!  I wonder if I should leave a gap between

    the wall and the bee house, so that they can crawl straight through from front

    to back - there probably isn't much room for them to turn around!

    image

     

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,441

    I have to admit my only bee box was screwed to the wall by someone else. I've always just let them find their own homes in the past and I'm sure they coped very nicely but I didn't get to watch them. I'll have more bee homes next year



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Thanks Nutcutlet.  I've never had a bee box before......just bought it on a whim!

    I'd really like to put it near my wildflower garden  but worry that it might

    get saboutaged by youngsters on their way home from the local pub., so 

    think I'll put it on the front of the house, as it faces south, so should keep them

    cosy (if we get any sun this winter that is!!)  I'm about to PM you! image

     

  • seaslickseaslick Posts: 2

    I have a holly bush which is about 20 years old and at this time of year the berries start to develop but never grow full size and never turn red. Any ideas. 

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,441

    Have you got a female that isn't being fertilised by a male. Hollies need male and female plants to reproduce (ie make berries)



    In the sticks near Peterborough
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