A few random questions...
Evening peeps, after a day in the garden I have a few random questions if I may.
Firstly rhubarb: it's in it's first year and I know it's not meant to be picked until it's second year. Do I just leave it to die back or will it need cutting back at some point?
Secondly, clematis: I fear I'll never get the hang of when to prune which ones! When do I prune a Passion flower one (in its first year) and an Early Sensation (again first year) and a Pamela Jackman?
Thirdly, when do I prune a climbing rose (in its first year) called a Madam Alfred Carrier?
Fourthly, when do most people dig up main crop spuds please?
Finally, our lawn is full of weeds this year. I have a tool to get them out but nine times out of ten the root snaps (quite low down in the ground though). Will the weed die or will any last bit of root just mean it'll be back?
thanks for any answers.
Posts
I'll deal with the rhubarb
Just leave it to die down - in the autumn all the nutritional content of the leaves will travel back down the stems into the roots and crown to be stored as energy ready to grow next year
Mulch around the crown (not over it) with well rotted farmyard manure - that'll feed the crown too.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Clematis - the rule of thumb is : if it flowers after July cut it back in the spring to about 12-18 inches. If it is early flowering, then just tidy it up after flowering. Check any of the specialist clematis nursery sites for specific info.
The David Austin site will have pruning info for climbing roses.
Lawn weeds - sometimes it will, sometimes it won't. Just wait and see. Perhaps next year put down a weed and feed in the spring, then attack any further weeds that come up, either with your tool or a specific lawn weed killer.
Potatoes - can't help you there - veg are a mystery to me!
Tootles, your climber doesn't need pruning in it's first year. Mdme Alfred Carrie is a rampant climber growing to 20ft or more. The most important thing you can do is wait for winter and create a frame for it with wire's Mine has a 5 metre wide climbing frame behind it and wires every 2 ft. Training it onto those wires will give you the best display in subsequent years.
This link to you tube is a great lesson for those who are learning. If you follow it you'll get it right first time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf7F5qhChFM
After doing the training, usually in early spring, only minor pruning is required afterwards.
Best of luck.