Homeowner Forum / Lawn and Garden / October 2008

Hi all, I'm new here <- guess my post count'll say 1.. lol :D
So i'm from south yorkshire, and am just discovering some interest i
gardening at age 26.. find it therapeutic, enjoy it, and can see a lo
of practical uses.

Preferably coniferous ones, (not leylandii) as a neighbouring farmer has
just erected a large outbuilding which towers over the fence at the bottom
of our garden and we don't like looking at it :(
Any suggestions gratefully received.

Well, I managed to get 12 rhodos in about three weeks ago, but the rest
of the garden that I want to plant with ground cover is still bare.
Would it be foolish to go off to the nursery on Monday and fill the back
of the car with various things?  Is it too late?

Something is digging up (and I assume eating) all my daffodil bulbs. I know
that squirrels do this but these were planted under largish pebbles (say 2
inches across) and in around some quite big (say 8 inches across) rocks. the
pebbles have been scrapped away and the rocks rolled ...

As part of a bigger job I need to (tomorrow/sunday) lift up and throw away
about 4 square metres of grass.
What is the best way? I tried some today with a spade but as it is wet it is
all a bit messy as the garss is hard to pull apart from the mud.

In Spring 2007 I planted eight bare-root saplings in our
lawn.  Followed advice and created a metre diameter bare
area around each. But several times the trees have
appeared sickly.  

I've just been driven through Johannesburg under road-bridging arches
of Jacaranda in blossom.  Such a stunning colour and what a display!
Could I plant one in Lincolnshire, do you think?  How would it do?
Bob H

I have a pink Robinia (Robinia pseudo.decaisneana) tree, planted as a
seedling bought from a nursery about 10 years ago.  Four years ago, a
smaller plant appeared about 2 m from the original tree (I'm not sure if
it was a seedling or a sucker from the original) and I let it grow.

I was just at the store looking at garden hoses and I noticed that all
of their labels carry a warning which says that they contain lead,
one should not drink from them, and one should wash their hands after
use.

I have a 2-stroke mower (Victa) and bought a petrol line-trimmer (Talon).
I've been using Victa's Formula-V oil for the mower at the recommended
petrol-oil ratio of 50:1.  For non-Victa oils, Victa recommends 25:1.
The line-trimmer requires 25:1.

Midwest US.
What to do with a plot of hosta at end of season?
We get frost next week. If I leave 'em, they'll turn to mush?
Cut 'em off at ground level now?

This is my first post to this newsgroup.
I need some advice, as I have been given two very different opinions on
this.
I have recently purchased two quite large holly trees (Ilex aq

Pam.,
There is a very good article on growing asparagus in today's
(25.10.2008)Gardening Telegraph and it is reproduced here
http://tinyurl.com/62vqcx except that an excellent colour photo. showing

I found this plant growing outside on the balcony after clearing away
dead pansies. I noticed it had plantlets along the edge of the leaves,
ready to fall off and propagate.
Thanks for any feedback.

I have given a small Bougainvillea plant to a friend, its about 8" tall, in
a pot, and it was outside all summer, she has taken it indoors, but thinks
its going to be happier outside, I am almost, In fact I am sure that it
should be indoors for winter, but need your expert advice ...