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Aquilegias help

JOANNA BOWYERJOANNA BOWYER Posts: 6
in Plants
Hi. I'm totaly new at all this. This year was my first and everything I grew, I grew from seed. I have several aquilegias in their first year of growth but need to completely cover the whole area with black sheeting to kill weeds. I only am keeping a couple of things that I grew this year and I know I can lift them OK but will it hurt the aquilegias if I pot them up over winter to get the ground sorted properly before planting them back out next spring?
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  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    Weeds are forever a problem Joanna. Black sheeting won't kill perennial weeds over a winter and annuals can be hoed off. You just have to keep at the b........s.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • JOANNA BOWYERJOANNA BOWYER Posts: 6
    Hi. Yeah I know its an ongoing job, I managed to kill most with the black stuff before planting this year, and to be honest it is 80% better than it was. It was a field full of grass, thistles and stinging nettles along with other weeds. I have made an allotment type plot out of it. Unfortunately I had family illnesses which took me away from the upkeep of it for a few months and that has allowed some little blighters back with a vengeance. I got a fantastic display from my flower side, everything was grown from seed, I was impressed with some plants more so than others, so not planning on keeping all for next season. Most were annuals anyway but eventually want majority of perennials.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,032

    You can lift them and pot them up. Weed suppressant fabric is better for the earth than black plastic as it lets water through, more breathable.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,888

    Welcome Joanna.

    The best weedkiller in the world is a stainless steel hoe, and the best time to hoe weeds, is just before they germinate.image

    Devon.
  • JOANNA BOWYERJOANNA BOWYER Posts: 6
    Thanks guys. Yes it is propper weed suppressant stuff I just call it black sheet stuff lol. It did a fabulous job last year. Thankyou for info. Cheers everyoneimage
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618

    Aquilegias retreat into a thick root structure in Winter. They are often sold like this in plastic bags with a little peat in. If they can survive that, potting them up and then replanting next spring is no problem. If you lose them and want some seed to start afresh, let me know by PM, I have some nice doubles and barlow types.

  • JOANNA BOWYERJOANNA BOWYER Posts: 6
    Thankyou fidgetbones, very kind. Fingers crossed they survive. One of them is called Black Barlow.image
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,888

    black barlow is a beauty.

    Devon.
  • JOANNA BOWYERJOANNA BOWYER Posts: 6
    Ooh can't wait.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    We also have a seed/plant swap thread here Joanna, so you can always swap some of yours and get some different ones form others here. Fidget will get you off to a good start image

    I'll try and find it and bump it for you to have a look.

    Black Barlow is very pretty.

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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