Does anyone know anything about gardening?

shed will be on 4/5 courses of brick because i want it taller. that will sit on a concrete pad foundation.

Rhododendrons are shallow rooted, tough as old boots and move easily and generally successfully. They transplant best in the winter. Holly is deep rooted, good luck with that one. Can you not just remove any lower branches of the Holly which would be in the way of the shed?

Thanks for that. The holly was about 12ft across at the base when we moved in and I ragged it the fuck back so it's a bare trunk up to about 8 feet up now. Good to know about the rhododendron.

Leave the Holly in then, give it about 18" away from the shed. Don't just cut it down as it will grow back with multiple stems from the stump. If it has to go, poison the fuck out the stump.

poison the fuck out the stump

I have a holly that needs to go (too near the house). I could use glyphosate but is there anything more interesting I can use?

18" away from the shed.

is that a good rule of thumb for most of those shrubby/tree things in the pics?

SBK is probably the most effective poison available to the public, pour it neat into the biggest holes you can drill in the stump, several inches deep.

@fizzy.bleach: if you allow about 6" of concrete in the area of pad nearest to the tree that should be fine.

Hoping these chilli plants make it through until the spring warmth arrives. They've been kept in an unheated porch all winter and are looking pretty sad in places. I'm really way of overwatering them but they get so sad looking if I don't give them a drink every few weeks.
Some of the branches are looking pretty brown and crusty and some of the fruit are turning black.
What do we think? Prune the worst bits off? Leave it be? Prune them hard and hope for the best?
I'm about to start off some seeds just in case they don't make it.
I've started bringing them in at night to avoid the lower temperatures.

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going back a page, does anyone know what the bush on the right is?

dark picture, i know

A close up of the leaves will greatly aid identification.

Choisya?

My plant app expert people reckon it is a Hebe, possibly a Willow Hebe.

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It does indeed look like a willow hebe

yes, willow-leaf hebe or koromiko (same plant) could be it

What do we think? Prune the worst bits off? Leave it be? Prune them hard and hope for the best?

Yea I'd definitely prune stuff that's dry already or that looks like it's not going to make it.
Hard to tell from the picture what's exactly going on but might have been a bit cold for them
(chilies don't like temperatures below 5°C, some can't even handle 10°C).
If possible pull them out of the pot and see if they're dry or actually still moist (don't overwater, they don't need a lot with the cold temps).
Ideally put them in a place that's still bright but a bit warmer, maybe you have a staircase with windows?

Good luck!

Have a new decent sized raised bed at the front of our house that is NW facing so full sun in summer. Want to put a small tree in that won't put down big roots.

My fav trees are acers which obs won't like it there so just wondered if anyone has any other suggestions? eg something like a Photinia / Red Robin?

if i want to transplant that willow hebe, do I want to wait until the spring when the soil is warner as it's an evergreen? that's what the internet is telling me

NW facing so full sun in summer

Are you in the southern hemisphere?

No, I'm London!
Maybe I messed up my direction but the front of the property gets loads of afternoon sun.

Sumac. Interesting shape snd good autumn colour. Ours in our northwest facing front garden is quite happy after 2 years.

Sumac.

Thanks for the suggestion
Is that a staghorn Sumac?

Correct. Be sure to dig deep and fill the hole with lots of nice soil to help it get established.

Any tree surgeons on 'ere that work in SE London/Kent (specifically Bromley)?

Neighbour has a large tree that sadly has become engulfed by ivy (arm width roots going round the trunk, tree branches completely covered by a mass of ivy leaves and branches).

It's pretty close to our house so would like it removed, or saved and cut back to a lot shorter if possible but seems unlikely.

Any idea of cost?

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I've chuck the mulch from my composite bin over my veg patch.

Underneath is a few layers of cardboard in a sort of no-dig attempt.

Do people think it's worth covering the current mulch with something to keep the heat in and help it break down? Or just leave and don't worry?

Cheers.

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