Saying hello and asking quiestions
Blue Dragon
Posts: 74
Hi,
I've decided to join here as I'm in need of some help/advise.
I'm afraid it may end up as a bit of a story, as this began last year. But I'll start off with mentioning my two young Honeysuckles. They were bought last year as very young plants and were establishing well, quite quickly making their way up and along my outside 'banister' on one side of my path.
However, late last year the counsel (who I rent my home from) came, unannounced, and ripped both the Honeysuckles off their support in order to paint it. Had I known, of course, I would have tried to take them off.
Needless to say I was upset, both at their disrespect and also because the poor plants needed to be cut right back as their newly grown stems were ripped and broken.
Since this time one of them, 'Halliana' has been struggling. They have both since been re-potted and the other one, 'Serotina' has been fine. However Halliana is a worry. It's straggly, with few leaves and those leaves that are the older ones seem to now be suffering from what I have guessed to be some form of mildew.
It is still producing new leaves, but they seldom seem to get far before either becoming infected or simply discolouring and falling off.
However, more bad news came last week when people came, again unannounced, to carve up my garden to re-lay the path and re-build the wall. I am very angry and upset by this as not only did my two Honeysuckles get ripped of their support for a second time, but all my plants got a generous coating of poisonous concrete dust.
I am a strong believer in organic and bio treatments only, not least 'cause half the plants I grow are for eating. And so if anyone can help my poor Honeysuckle I'd really appreciate it. I don't want to loose him as he, along with Serotina, were the first plants I bought to start off my little collection.
Posts
Hmmm.... Welcome to the forum, and you have my sympathy.
Thank you Steve : )
Oh, don't worry. I can't talk to anyone (I have a phobia of people), but my mam is going to explain all this to our local MP, a very nice lady so I've heard.
Unfortunately the counsel won't care. My garden is now covered in lumps of concrete and everything is trampled. But they'd just make the excuse that it was necessary for the work being done...I know this because they've made a habit of such things in the past.
The only good news is that my other plants seem fine after their concrete shower.
How about writing to the council - housing deparment? Going through the MP will take longer.
My mam has emailed her a few times before. She's also on Facebook I believe. She answers very quickly and is always interested to know such things.
I really do think it would be a lost cause saying anything to the counsel at all. People have tried... and most often failed.
However they will, no doubt, send out a questionnaire asking how your experience was and how happy with the work you are etc. I will be making it clear how I feel, and I know for a fact that so will many others in my street.
Sounds reasonable. Off to listen to GQT now. Good luck.
Hi Blue Dragon,
Im not a very experienced gardener but when I noticed my honeysuckles starting to look mildewy I just gave them a good watering and continue to do so every few days when it hasn't rained. The worst one has sprouted new leaves which haven't been affected.
I sympathise with you with regards the thoughtless workmen. I doubt you'll get any result by complaining but it can't hurt to try. The council contractors damaged my railings last month whilst mowing the adjacent grass but I haven't heard back from that.
I had building work done last year and lots of things got trashed even though I moved them out the way- scaffold got chucked in the beds and everything was covered in brick dust and swilled out buckets of whatever. I'm having more work done in the next few weeks- and although I'll do what I can to enable the men to work and save my plants I'm sure some things will get broken.
Welcome to the forum and I hope someone can give you more advice re your honeysuckle
Thank you Victoria : )
Yes, I've had the scaffolding problems too (replacing the guttering). They must have had something fall on my tomato plants and it caused them to collapse. They did survive though with no lasting damage.
They left bits of their scaffolding behind, the joints and such like... so I sold them! X )
Would Photos be helpful of my Honeysuckle?
I could take some later on today and maybe be able to post them on Thursday?