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

[echt]

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

It's the ones in the soil that have improved, Goldfishjane. My pot ones have been OK for a second year but not looking very happy this year, not surprising since I haven't even fed them or anything.

I scored 2 free sacks of lovely compost at my dad's local tip today. I took the home and mulched like a madwoman in the pouring rain.

Fear me!

OK, more detail on my tulips. I planted 20 and there are now 57 heads waiting to open
But they are smaller than they were, assuming the heads won't get much bigger before opening.
I haven't fertilised the bed at all - I intend to get better about stuff like that...

Bert, I cower in fear!

Countess, that sounds so lovely....mixed colours I'm guessing?

They're white with green stripes, can't remember what they're called.

Countess - all of them? Sounds wonderful.

That sounds stunning!

Tulip Spring Green, maybe?

I try to be thrifty and keep tulips (which I always grow in pots) for more than one year, but the results are very hit and miss. Some will happily go on for 3 or 4 years, others look tired and past it by year 2. At the weekend I chucked out several pots of feeble, spindly tulips which looked as if they were coming up blind.

I'm thrifty too, most of mine are reappearing.

I planted out a hibiscus tree yesterday, it's had 2 years in a pot never flowered so we shall see .....

I did buy Lidl Tulips last year - the bulbs were tiny. They are starting to appear- I really don't think they are Tulips.

I was going to join in the no spend but am already down £50 from the local nursery - 2 spirea (1 a bargain £3.99) and 2 climbing hydrangeas. The latter to cover the newly erected fence in the front garden.

I've been drooling over the hayloft catalog also ....

What is everyone sowing? Ive got cucamelons, 3 different tomatoes, chilli, cosmos, nicotiana and sweet peas so far . Trying to stagger so I don't have too much potting on at the same time.

Tulip Exotic Emperor.
Turns out I only planted 14, not 20, so the multiplication is even more impressive, but they have definitely shrunk. Maybe if I feed them after flowering they might manage another year?

Good luck with your hibiscus, Geoff. I have one that flowers spectacularly and briefly. It always leafs really late and makes me think it's dead, because the leaf buds don't even look like leaf buds, they look like unhealthy swelling things. I think they do take a few years to start flowering - mine was there when we moved in.

My hibiscus tree has also been in a pot for two years and no flowers. The pot is quite small. I'm thinking of repotting it. Can't find much information about whether they like their roots restricted or not.

Geoff, and anyone else, do climbing hydrangeas need support? I've got one agains a brick wall with a rather precarious trellis. I don't know whether to remove the trellis while the plant is young or wait and see what happens.

no support needed pickle they stick on themselves like glue!
I have 2 hibiscus which are quite old now - 15+ years. They flower every year, in open ground, not restricted- but boy do they look sickly - for the last couple of years I have chucked everything I can at them, and they survive, but am seriously thinking they have run their course.
I have just got home, and was due to sow stuff, but its horrible cold rain. Have done tomatoes, sweet peas, broad beans so far- all germinated. Due to do peppers, brassicas , leeks and annuals today - sunflowers next week when I have DGS to 'help' :)

Right, off with that tatty ol' trellis! Excellent.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/how-to-grow/how-to-grow-hibiscus/amp/

I've just read the above - you're meant to prune them - mines only knee high. I'll see how it does in the ground- it had certainly outgrown the 10 litre pot.

Hello all on this thread too! I'm annoyed today - I had a real gardening mojo mood going on but the rain has been awful hasn't it!
I'm trying to do a little bit of clearing weedy/overgrown beds every day, ready for planting.

Thanks for the info about the hibiscus. I think I'll give it a repot and a feed. It's a lollipop tree shape and spent last year with my son, who is a very novice gardener, so it probably need counselling!

Weather much better today so managed to get out. Slowly but surely getting out all the weeds/carpet of ivy/dead roots from this section, but it's taking a long time. If anyone has some special tips for removing ivy, I'd love the hear it! DP has ordered me some loppers so I'm looking forward to being able to hack stuff back when they arrive...

I think I've got buds on my rose! First time ever! Can't wait....

I've been searching for acid loving plants today for the bed near the pine tree and wondering why I didn't think of this before I thought all plants hated acidic soil though so it has been interesting!

buds on a rose already? I am so checking when I get home!

What have you been looking at, Gin? Dry is my biggest problem by the trees. Worth digging in some water crystals or compost. And mulch over the top when you have planted.

I'd forgotten about heathers, so I added those in to the azalea, rhododendron mix. The ferns are not looking great. Either it's too early, or they are too dry. The laurel seems to be doing best of all. Bit boring though...

Tiny sprays, goldfish. I'm not totally sure with it not having flowered before but they don't look like leaf buds so...

I've already got a lovely rhododendron bush (which is how I discovered about acidic soil - I was googling why it was so lovely right under a huge pine tree!) but have been looking at heathers and something else which I've completely forgotten!

There were ferns dotted around nearby which I've shifted and added to the bed rather than being buried under some ground cover.

I'm also wondering about replacing either the maple tree which snapped in half by Doris, or the infected wild rose, with a magnolia tree too.

If we cut down the pine tree, would the soil stay acidic for a long while afterwards? I don't want to chop it down and the lovely rhododendron then struggle!