Thank you so much Alan, Mel and Lirio (will be posting a pic of a unknown tree later, someone said might be a Liriodendron this morning btw), am going to go for the chicken wire cage as I have a roll in the shed going spare. Will have a look at this comfrey stuff too, just can't be paying out all the time for food, especially as home grown is so obviously better. I love Beechgrove btw, very informative. My figs are there but not ripe yet, apparently they are all late around here this year. Will give me time to work out what to do with them anyway.
Off to play with my manure now, so excited!
P.S. what do I feed my azaleas with? Cheeky, sneaky question in at the end.
“Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?” —Betsy Cañas Garmon
Happy to answer cheeky, sneaky last-minute questions... Slow-release fertiliser for ericaceous plants, in spring. And on last night's GW, Monty Don recommended watering azaleas & rhododendrons for the next few weeks, to make sure the flower buds don't drop off.
Liriodendron leaves are shaped a bit like a tulip flower...
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
Comfrey can be grown from seed, but if you know anyone with a plant they will also grow from root cuttings. Comfrey liquid feed is made the same way as Nettle feed but it most definitely stinks!
Hi again DD. Yes, I'd say it was too early to feed azaleas now - but if you suspect the pH of the soil is too high (ie it's too alkaline for them) I'd give them sequestered iron now. (Sequestrene or similar.) If you've only recently uncovered them from under loads of weeds I'd guess their off-colour-ness is probably due to the stress of competition for water etc. You could mulch them when the soil is moist, with something non-alkaline (leafmould is ideal... )
Will check out your lirodendron post.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
Thanks Liri, the soil is acid so that shouldn't be a problem, will try the mulch and perhaps now they have seen light of day might come around on their own.
“Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?” —Betsy Cañas Garmon
Morning D ,as your garden has been left a little time whats the wild life like among all the brambles and the like , must be quite interest not knowing whats jumping out next, morning all from erein now at last sunny Norfolk .
If you have room - and I think you have you can make a leaf compost bin very easily. Mine is made from 90cm tall plastic netting (about 2 cm holes) in a metre square with 4 broomstick handles to hold it up. Did this for first time last year and is decomposing nicely. Should be ready next year
I am going to make another one this year.
We chopped up the leaves by raking them into long heap and then ran our rotary mower, (one that collects grass) on a high setting along the heap.. Then just added to compost bin. Leave it open to the elements, no need to cover though others may say cover
Posts
Thank you so much Alan, Mel and Lirio (will be posting a pic of a unknown tree later, someone said might be a Liriodendron this morning btw), am going to go for the chicken wire cage as I have a roll in the shed going spare. Will have a look at this comfrey stuff too, just can't be paying out all the time for food, especially as home grown is so obviously better. I love Beechgrove btw, very informative. My figs are there but not ripe yet, apparently they are all late around here this year. Will give me time to work out what to do with them anyway.
Off to play with my manure now, so excited!
P.S. what do I feed my azaleas with? Cheeky, sneaky question in at the end.
Happy to answer cheeky, sneaky last-minute questions...
Slow-release fertiliser for ericaceous plants, in spring. And on last night's GW, Monty Don recommended watering azaleas & rhododendrons for the next few weeks, to make sure the flower buds don't drop off.
Liriodendron leaves are shaped a bit like a tulip flower...
Hi Damsel.
Comfrey can be grown from seed, but if you know anyone with a plant they will also grow from root cuttings. Comfrey liquid feed is made the same way as Nettle feed but it most definitely stinks!
Hi again DD. Yes, I'd say it was too early to feed azaleas now - but if you suspect the pH of the soil is too high (ie it's too alkaline for them) I'd give them sequestered iron now. (Sequestrene or similar.) If you've only recently uncovered them from under loads of weeds I'd guess their off-colour-ness is probably due to the stress of competition for water etc. You could mulch them when the soil is moist, with something non-alkaline (leafmould is ideal...
)
Will check out your lirodendron post.
Thanks Liri, the soil is acid so that shouldn't be a problem, will try the mulch and perhaps now they have seen light of day might come around on their own.
Morning D ,as your garden has been left a little time whats the wild life like among all the brambles and the like , must be quite interest not knowing whats jumping out next, morning all from erein now at last
sunny Norfolk .
If you have room - and I think you have you can make a leaf compost bin very easily. Mine is made from 90cm tall plastic netting (about 2 cm holes) in a metre square with 4 broomstick handles to hold it up. Did this for first time last year and is decomposing nicely. Should be ready next year
I am going to make another one this year.
We chopped up the leaves by raking them into long heap and then ran our rotary mower, (one that collects grass) on a high setting along the heap.. Then just added to compost bin. Leave it open to the elements, no need to cover though others may say cover