you are right.. when i moved here to sandy free draining soil with strong sea salt winds...from heavy wet clay then baked dry in summer.. no sea air... i had to totally change my plants habits.. couldnt have some of my favourties likes acers.. they just got destroyed..
so i walked around looking at other gardens to see what they were growing.. and i found hebe and small leaved plants did well and those with shiny leaves.. not my favs plants at all.. but now i have managed to bring in other plants.. and of course my tulips do very well here.. never did at old house had to plant in pots only... so it may have it downsides to other house.. but it has infact got more upsides to it.
it is the way of gardening as you say to find out what is best for your little patch.. and to grow them as normal as poss.. i never force my plants on.. i do admit to at times being little impatient waiting for them.. but leave them be
i just wanted to set up thread where little tips gathered by us gardeners over the years can all be in one place to find..
Learn how to identify all the good bugs in your garden. Ladybirds and larvae, lacewings and larvae, hoverflies and larvae, predatory wasps and midges and larvae....always take the time to learn what the larvae look like because some look like little caterpillars and can easily be mistaken for enemies.....spiders, birds, the little red spiders you see racing round when its hot...they eat spider mite. Soldier bug, syrphid fly.
And as Verdun said...learn about the best plants for the conditions you have. So pointless trying to grow something where it doesn't want to be. If push comes to shove and you just have to have it....stick it in a pot!
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verdun
you are right.. when i moved here to sandy free draining soil with strong sea salt winds...from heavy wet clay then baked dry in summer.. no sea air... i had to totally change my plants habits.. couldnt have some of my favourties likes acers.. they just got destroyed..
so i walked around looking at other gardens to see what they were growing.. and i found hebe and small leaved plants did well and those with shiny leaves.. not my favs plants at all.. but now i have managed to bring in other plants.. and of course my tulips do very well here.. never did at old house had to plant in pots only... so it may have it downsides to other house.. but it has infact got more upsides to it.
it is the way of gardening as you say to find out what is best for your little patch.. and to grow them as normal as poss.. i never force my plants on.. i do admit to at times being little impatient waiting for them.. but leave them be
i just wanted to set up thread where little tips gathered by us gardeners over the years can all be in one place to find..
Know your allies.
Learn how to identify all the good bugs in your garden. Ladybirds and larvae, lacewings and larvae, hoverflies and larvae, predatory wasps and midges and larvae....always take the time to learn what the larvae look like because some look like little caterpillars and can easily be mistaken for enemies.....spiders, birds, the little red spiders you see racing round when its hot...they eat spider mite. Soldier bug, syrphid fly.
Slow worms, frogs, toads hedgehogs,newts, ground beetles, ...ok I know don't eat aphids....
There are so many good guys out there and they will come when needed
unless you start using the poisons!
And as Verdun said...learn about the best plants for the conditions you have. So pointless trying to grow something where it doesn't want to be. If push comes to shove and you just have to have it....stick it in a pot!