On 28/07/2016 08:10, Chris Hogg wrote:
On Wed, 27 Jul 2016 11:19:35 +0100, T i m wrote:

On Wed, 27 Jul 2016 10:32:30 +0100, Chris Hogg wrote:

It would be worth checking to see where the ants are coming from. If
they have set up home in the pots, I'd use an ant killer to eliminate
them, such as Nippon http://tinyurl.com/jyby946

So would they potentially affect the privet to the detriment? I have
no problem with them being there if they aren't likely to be doing any
harm?


The RHS has an item on ants in pots http://tinyurl.com/nczvoeg . They
say they do little direct harm to the plants, but IMO their tunnels,
chambers etc keep the soil dry and don't help root development.

I think I have read that feeding these plants with a liquid fertiliser
(he has bone meal of some sort there) isn't the best thing but they
(because they in pots) do need some feed at some point (because the
natural nutrients in the pot will diminish over time).

Pot plants certainly need the occasional feed. You mention some sort
of liquid bone meal. I've not come across it, but Googling for it
suggests that it's a 0-12-0 fertiliser (N-P-K,
nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium), which would make sense as bones are
calcium phosphate.

I'll get more information for you re the actual stuff.

But plants need more than just phosphorus, and in
particular they need nitrogen to help keep them green. I'd pop into
your local garden centre or shed and get a small packet of balanced
fertiliser such as Phostrogen and give them a feed with that, and see
what happens http://tinyurl.com/zou6ao3 You might find they green up
quite quickly.

Yes, I have read about a more long term feed that you apply once a
year type of thing.

ITYM slow release fertilisers. These are usually pelletised, with a
core of fertiliser surrounded by a permeable or degradable coating,
which allows the fertiliser slowly to leach out into the soil. IME
they're usually added to the compost before the plant is potted up,
but they can be scattered over the soil surface and a little bit of
fertiliser is leached down into the soil with each watering.

I wonder if you are worrying about nothing.
There is a variety of box that has yellow tips
see http://www.buxus-sempervirens.co.uk/...ves/4567844307