On 01/09/2014 23:21, Ophelia wrote:
"Spider" wrote in message
...
[pruned]
Bulbs
But you're loving every minute of it, I bet :~). Hope you've left
enough time to plant some bulbs for spring;~).
??? I hadn't even thought about those!!! Do I still have time???
You certainly do! You can tulips off for a bit, but you could be
planting
lots of other lovely gems. Time for a visit to the garden centre, me
thinks!
Yes? Then I shall have a trip there in Sunday
)) I do love daffodils!
Will I be in time?
Yes, indeed. Just grab 'em and bung 'em in! If your soil is on the
heavy side, buy a bag of sharp sand or grit to work into the bottom of
the planting hole to improve drainage.
Thanks, will do) Incidentally, I have seen 'growmore' in the pound
shops. Will that be the same stuff I see in garden centres?
It certainly should be, or it shouldn't carry the name. Have a look
on line so you know what n-p-k proper Growmore has, and compare
prices/sizes before you check out the local cheapie.
I will do that! Thank you err what is n-p-k please?
Sorry! It is Nitrogen-Phosphorous-Potassium. When you buy a plant
feed, look at the n-p-k ratio on the label. It will tell you the
proportion of each nutrient, so you can feed your plants correctly. In
spring, you may be looking for a more nitrogenous feed, so look for a
higher 'n'number. Later in the year, or when a plant is producing
flowers, you will need to look for a higher 'K' number. This is the
'high potash feed' that you will have seen recommended on urg whenever a
plant fails to flower or fruit as expected, but it is also used
regularly by many gardeners to keep their roses (and other flowers) and
tomatoes performing.
Nitrogen promotes leafy growth, Phosphorus encourages root development,
Potassium promotes flower and fruit production (it also helps to
ripen/harden off plant growth and help prepare it for winter).
I am looking forward to my next foray into your garden. Quite an
adventure and remarkably good for my brain. Thank you.
Noooo thank YOU!!! You are welcome into my garden any old time you
fancy ) In fact I welcome you with open arms !!!
Ophelia
Thank you, Ophelia:~). That's truly nice of you.
It would be even nicer for me if you actually turned up ... ;-) Gosh,
imagine me having all that knowledge under my roof!! heh you might get
no peace))
Neither would you ... I'd probably never stop, once started! :~)) Anyway,
I don't know everything. I have my weaknesses.
Well you are very knowledgeable and you have been very kind and generous
with your expertise and time.
You're more than welcome. I've enjoyed doing it.
Now it's time to discuss the 'undercut', so that you don't tear the
bark as your pruning cut reaches the lower side of the branch and the
weight of the part-severed branch suddenly accelerates the fall and
rips the bark as the limb descends.
Ahhhh!! yes, that makes sense! If the bark were ripped like that,
could it kill the tree? Could it not repair itself?
It could certainly be very damaging and, on a plum tree, it could let in
Silver Leaf and heaven knows what. I seem to think you had a torn
stub on
your plum tree. It had partly healed and partly died back, so you'll be
able to see what can happen following a bad cut. That stub needs your
attention since you're going to become an expert overnight ;~)!
Huh! Expert? Me? lol anyway I am not sure which stub you are referring
to. Oh dear, you have me worried now.
I can only guide you to it by looking at your first set of pics, so I'll
go back to that thread, have a look and post again from there.
I've added nothing below so you need not scroll down. I'll see you at
JD's original post.
Thank goodness for the link! That's not easy to explain, but I hope
I've managed to get it over all right. You may not need to do a lot
of that heavy duty pruning, but it's important to know how to do it
correctly. Once you know it, it's just common sense followed by
practice.
If I am allowed, I doubt you have heard the last from me ;-)
You are certainly allowed! It would be a pleasure to help if I can.
Thank you. That is most comforting)
Be well and enjoy your own garden Heh you might even get the time
now)))
I am already much better than I was, thank you. I shall enjoy doing a
spot of my own gardening, but I've got a couple of busy weeks coming up,
but then hope to get stuck in, not least planting lots and lots of
bulbs:~)).
Take care, Ophelia, and enjoy that book and your garden.
Thank you, I will
--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay