The first rule of potting shed is YOU ALWAYS talk about potting shed. The thread continues.

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Here goes, and feeling bit cheeky as I didn't post much on the last one.

A fine autumn day here, with much seasonal clearing done. Now I come to think of it, is there ever a non-clearing season? :o

Has anyone heard from shovetheholly lately?

No Ginger I don't think shes been back on since her holiday. I messaged her a few weeks ago but I haven't heard anything back yet. I really hope she's okay

Can anyone tell what's up with this rose please? It is in a pot on the patio. Last week it looked healthy but I weeded the pot as it was grassy, topped up compost, added rose feed, watered and then added mulch. Since then has wilted

I've been wondering about Holly as well .I wasn't quite sure of the etiquette of asking .
I wonder if Astrantiamight have heard from her ?

LIZS I wonder if you you used rose feed or something else. My Rose feed is in a black spray gun and so is the round up. I nearly made a mistake last week and I have now got two separate boxes. One for feeding things and one for killing thimgs.

It was RHS After Plant Rose Feed. Granules which you sprinkle and mix in.

You are not as dopey as me then.

I would take it out of the pot and see what is going on with the roots. Then maybe plant it in a new pot with fresh Compost. Maybe wash away some of the existing soil to check for insects. I can't think of any insect that would do that though. Is it a shrub rose or a climber?.

My standard roses looked awful this year. I was advised on here to trim the tap root and repot, but I scandalously decided that life is too short and binned them. Shocking, I know. I'm struggling to keep up with watering the things I like, let alone the high maintenance ones.

Hi Astrantia here under a new name. I wondered about Shove too. I just assumed she was away, because I think she said sOmething about changing Chelsea Tickets because of a date clash. I hope she is O.K

Oh I hope she's okay

I may take it up and repot. Can't throw as was a gift 2 years ago ! Hasn't flowered since though.

If it has never flowered, I think I would prune about it back about half.

Was it in the same pot when you were given it? Often potted up gift, roses and other plants are in poor unsuitable soil. I'd do as others have suggested, prune and repot using good quality compost. Keep watered and feed when it has made new growth. Roses are quite resilient, as long as there is no infestation of weevils in the soil.

I repotted it last year. I think I'll take it out and start again with new compost etc. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Hello all, I've been in our house for over two years now and am enjoying getting the garden sorted and learning as I go.
Most of the plants are from the previous owners. We have a beautiful rose by our front window but it's got quite a few greenfly on it. Someone back on one of the earlier pages mentioned buying ladybirds, is this really something you can do?? I've never even considered that before!

In the meantime spray with a solution of washing up liquid.

I've repotted it in new compost and mulch and pruned back to the greener stems. Couldn't see anything in the soil or roots so will have to see how it goes.

We will all be on 'Rose Watch' now for the first sign of green shoots.

I had ladybirds for the greenhouse once but I think they all flew away ! The larvae are pretty effective until they hatch.

My lovely neighbour has just appeared with a tray of runner beans. I've picked up a wildflower mix in Aldi today for another neighbour as she said she wanted some out the front bit is housebound. Good value for £1.49 if anyone is looking for some, they have other ones too.

Very productive afternoon. Bought 3 large garden pots and some compost. Then planted the courgette, lettuces and runner beans people gave me.

Am trying one of those shake and rake mixes which looks like it has a fair bit of cosmos in. Also weeded the bit along the roadside I'm trying to make look a bit better. It's sunny but poor soil and under leylandii. 5 of my 6 tiny lavender plants I got for £3 last autumn have survived. I have some Mexican fleabane from seed (really easy to do and they flower their socks off once they get going. Also some asters and geranium rozanne I split last year. The shake and rake mix was £1.49 so with the lavender have spent less than a fiver as the rest were free. Am hoping there will be flowers this summer.

The very small clematis, climbing hydrangea and evergreen Honeysuckle have all survived their planting in a tiny bit of soil and put on growth in the last week. Hopefully in time they will cover next door's trellis. Clematis Freckles has severe transplant shock and looks very unwell.

I'm jealous of your Mexican Fleabane, Mirabelle, it's one of my favourite plants and I've tried to grow it three times from seed and failed miserably!!

Thanks for the black spot diagnosis, I've plucked and sprayed with Multirose, hopefully that will help with aphids too!

Very busy day in the garden today, think I'm going to fall into the shower then have an early night!!

Got a load of plants at my Dad's church plant sale, including an Obedient Plant, which apparently moves its flowers when you go near them.

I haven't been able to germinate Mexican Fleabane either, Rue, although I find other seeds are OK.

I ended up buying MF plants (Sarah Raven did 5 plugs). Mine don't even seed themselves but flower well. I do love them.

Maybe it depends on how fresh the seed is? The plug plants see currently reduced on Sarah Raven.

Today I risked looking like a total head case as I went round the street sweeping up leaves for mold from the gutters, pavements and nature strips. Two years ago I only went for one kind, this time I'm mixing it. I've got my eye on four species in nearby streets, and two at school.

After lunch I took the hound to the beach for stick-throwing and a bath. It's how he gets clean, as despite being water dog, he hates baths, hosepipes, etc.

The afternoon was wonderfully warm so sat in the front garden reading, and watching the salvia "Anthony Parker" full of bees. I grew some marigolds from seeds I took from a rotary market plan last year. Every single seed sprouted, and though the flowers are only one colour, they are about 20" tall, very dramatic, and have been in bloom for three weeks now. The stalks are so heavy they need staking.