(not that i think the latter even read this newsgroup,
but hey...)

first, this is a usenet newsgroup called rec.gardens.
it is not a website forum. the gardenbanter site acts
as a go between and makes it look like a webforum, but
it is not. please read up on usenet, ettiquette and
basic how to ask questions on usenet before asking a
question. thank you very much! it would be appreciated.

second of all. questions are great, and most people don't
mind helping when asked a question. the trouble is that
the questions that don't contain enough information
tend to spend a lot of peoples time in asking for more
information. after a few hundred rounds of "Please
tell me more" it gets old.

next, you can improve your site (gardenbanter.co.uk) by
educating your users on how to ask questions so that
they will get the answer they seek on the first
few rounds and save others time in having to ask
the same questions repeatedly. that will improve both
gardenbanter and rec.gardens for everyone.

and last for those who are unable to figure out
how to find information on usenet newsgroups or
how to ask a question here is what i can think of
that would help a lot:

- give your location (general is ok, but a microclimate
can make a difference) country, county, state, province,
USDA zone or other reference common in your area

- give the plant name (scientific and common name, both!)

- describe the plant and the problem use as much
as you can. the more you write the first time
around means that if someone later has to ask
a question they can ask a better one in return

- size does matter, if you are using measurements use
metric, describe the size of the plant

- describe the planting location and surrounding
plantings that might influence it's growth

- describe the drainage of the area in general

- describe how much water it gets

- if you use watering devices describe them

- describe the soil

- describe any use of fertilizer (what kind, how
much, how often, how applied) or other amendments

- describe how the plant was planted

- describe anything else you are doing to encourage
(or discourage in the case of weeds) growth


anyone else have anything to add to this list?


songbird